Blackheads vs Whiteheads

Open comedones: pores containing a visible dark plug, rather than trapped dirt. Closed comedones: small blocked follicles covered by skin.

Research updated 2026-10-23

AI-generated educational illustration of Blackheads: 1. Blackheads — Card Image. Not a clinical photograph.

Key differences What is it?What it looks like Diagrams When it starts Triggers Daily Care Treatment Outlook Complications When to get help Questions

Key differences

The same eight facts on every condition comparison.

Usual age

Teens and adults

12 to 25

Where

Nose, face, chest, back

Forehead, chin, nose

Main sign

Open pores with a dark plug

Small skin-coloured closed bumps

Itch or pain

Neither

Contagious

Long term

Comes back without treatment

Improve with treatment

Scars

Rarely

Who gets it

Oily or acne-prone skin

Teens; adults with acne

What is it?

Blackheads

Whiteheads

What is it?

What it is
Open comedones: pores containing a visible dark plug, rather than trapped dirt.

What it is
Closed comedones: small blocked follicles covered by skin.

What it looks like

Blackheads

A close-up of a nose with numerous dark dots in the pores.

Blackheads Small dark pore openings are visible across the nose and nearby skin.

Whiteheads

A cheek with many tiny pale raised bumps and little surrounding redness.

Whiteheads Tiny skin-colored and whitish bumps create a subtly uneven surface.

Skin tones

dark keratin plugs in dilated pores on the nose and adjacent left cheek, with the face turned to the person’s right on light skin.

dark keratin plugs in dilated pores on the nose and adjacent left cheek, with the face turned to the person’s right on medium skin.

dark keratin plugs in dilated pores on the nose and adjacent left cheek, with the face turned to the person’s right on brown skin.

dark keratin plugs in dilated pores on the nose and adjacent left cheek, with the face turned to the person’s right on deep skin.

In the skin

Oil and shed skin cells collect inside a follicle whose opening remains exposed. The dark surface reflects changes in the exposed plug, rather than dirt trapped in the skin.

Oil and shed skin cells block a follicle beneath a closed surface opening. The trapped material creates a small pale bump called a closed comedone.

When it usually starts

010203040506070+

Blackheads. Often begins around puberty; adult acne can persist or start later.

Whiteheads. Often begins around puberty; adult acne can persist or start later.

Causes and triggers

Causes

Oil and shed skin cells block hair follicles; inflammation can develop around them.

Risk factors

Puberty, Family tendency, Oily or pore-clogging products

Trigger

● Blackheads

● Whiteheads

Pore-clogging products

Can contribute

Friction

Can contribute

Daily Care

Blackheads

Whiteheads

Daily care

Habits that help

Wash gently, up to twice daily and after sweating
Use lukewarm water, a mild cleanser and your fingertips; pat dry.
Choose non-comedogenic moisturizer and sunscreen
Moisturizer helps you tolerate treatment; use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin.
Remove makeup gently before bed
Choose products labeled non-comedogenic or oil-free and keep makeup tools clean.
Keep the routine simple and consistent
Give the agreed treatment time to work instead of changing products every few days.

Avoid

Avoid: Picking, squeezing or home extraction
Manipulating spots increases inflammation, infection risk and lasting marks or scars.
Avoid: Scrubs and several irritating actives at once
Burning, peeling and raw skin are reasons to simplify the routine and review how treatment is being used.

Habits that help

Wash gently, up to twice daily and after sweating
Use lukewarm water, a mild cleanser and your fingertips; pat dry.
Choose non-comedogenic moisturizer and sunscreen
Moisturizer helps you tolerate treatment; use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin.
Remove makeup gently before bed
Choose products labeled non-comedogenic or oil-free and keep makeup tools clean.
Keep the routine simple and consistent
Give the agreed treatment time to work instead of changing products every few days.

Avoid

Avoid: Picking, squeezing or home extraction
Manipulating spots increases inflammation, infection risk and lasting marks or scars.
Avoid: Scrubs and several irritating actives at once
Burning, peeling and raw skin are reasons to simplify the routine and review how treatment is being used.

Treatment differences

Evidence labels come from each condition’s own treatment list.

Treatment

● Blackheads

● Whiteheads

Over-the-counter

Adapalene

Listed

Helps prevent new comedones; improvement is gradual. Avoid retinoids during pregnancy.

Paula's Choice 2% BHA exfoliant, La Roche-Posay Effaclar cleanser and a CeraVe psoriasis cream pump

Salicylic Acid

Listed

Can help clear surface plugs; stop if it causes persistent irritation.

Adapalene

Listed

Helps prevent new comedones; improvement is gradual. Avoid retinoids during pregnancy.

Salicylic Acid

Listed

Can help clear surface plugs; stop if it causes persistent irritation.

Outlook

Long term

Blackheads can clear with treatment, but new plugs may form while acne remains active. Regular maintenance is usually more useful than repeated squeezing.

Whiteheads can improve as blocked pores clear, but new ones may form. Consistent acne care helps prevent recurrence; picking can add inflammation and lasting marks.