Whiteheads

A whitehead (also comedone or milium) is the most common form of acne vulgaris.  It is what most of us think of when we think of acne.  A whitehead is a small, subepidermal cyst that appears as a white nodule. Rarely more than 2 mm in diameter it occurs most commonly on the face.

Whiteheads result when a pore is completely blocked, trapping sebum (oil), bacteria, and dead skin cells.  The resulting anaerobic (without oxygen) bacterial infection causes the white appearance as it rises to the surface of the skin.  Whiteheads have a shorter life cycle than blackheads and usually resolve in a period of days.

Acne Whiteheads