A pesky part of beauty, whiteheads are just as irritating as their counterparts when it comes to skin breakouts. Funnily enough, most of us never bother to read up on the reason for whiteheads, although we spent most of our adulthood garnering self-control so we can, for once, stop popping them. But no more! It’s finally time to put a stop to all our whitehead woes.
What Are Whiteheads
Whiteheads are a mild form of acne and appear as small white bumps on the skin’s surface. When a pore gets clogged by sebum, dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria, it forms a round bump. Since the plug isn’t exposed to air, the tip remains white and hence is called a whitehead.
What Causes Whiteheads
The key to effectively treating whiteheads is to first find out the reason for whiteheads. While a whitehead may seem like it just surfaced overnight, their formation can take up to two months. Since the small bump of an infected pore indicates that your skin is trying to push out bacteria, listed below is the answer to what causes whiteheads.
1. Puberty
Most cases of whiteheads come about during puberty, when hormonal changes cause an increase in the production of sebum. The brain releases a GnRH hormone, which tells the oil glands found beneath the skin to produce more oil. As excess sebum fills up the pores, the skin is unable to completely expel dead skin cells and bacteria, resulting in blocked follicles.
2. Genetics
Parents with a history of acne are likely to have children who struggle with the same skin condition. Genetics can impact your inflammatory response; some may respond to bacteria with a stronger inflammatory reaction than others, which could affect the severity of acne.
3. Stress
Higher the stress, greater the chances of whiteheads. Glands that produce sebum are receptors for stress hormones. In a stressful situation, these oil-producing cells are unregulated, resulting in excess sebum production and a higher chance of pore blockage that could lead to breakouts.
4. Hormonal Changes
Many women also find that the appearance of whiteheads and other forms of acne worsen during their menstrual cycle. As estrogen decreases, progesterone levels increase, signalling the glands to produce more oil. Other hormonal causes of whiteheads also include pregnancy, menopause, or birth control pills.
5. Lifestyle Habits
While diet has not been proven to be an immediate cause, numerous studies have observed a connection between certain foods and the prevalence of whiteheads. There’s also been evidence that unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, or an irregular sleep pattern can worsen existing breakouts. Read more…
Also Read : HOW TO REMOVE PIMPLES FOR A CLEAR SKIN
