September 25, 2026
Blackheads vs whiteheads: what is the difference
Both are pores plugged with oil and dead skin cells. A whitehead's opening is closed, a blackhead's is open to the air. How each forms and how to treat them.
By Nick, Founder of Skinli. Not a doctor. General education only.
Part of the Acne types, which puts every step in order.
Blackheads and whiteheads are the mildest form of acne, and they are the same thing at the start: a pore plugged with oil and dead skin cells. The difference is what happens at the top of the pore. This guide explains how each one forms, why one is dark, which one is worse, and how doctors say to treat them. For how acne starts in general, see what acne is. It is part of Skinli's guide to the types of acne.
The difference in one table
| Whitehead | Blackhead | |
|---|---|---|
| The pore's opening | Sealed over the plug | Widened and open to the air |
| What you see | A small raised bump, white or skin-colored | A dark dot, usually flat |
| Medical name | Closed comedo ("closed pore") | Open comedo ("open pore") |
| Red or swollen | No | No |
| Treatment the AAD recommends | A retinoid, plus a benzoyl peroxide wash | The same |
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) gives the medical names and their meanings: a whitehead is a closed comedo, which means closed pore, and a blackhead is an open comedo, which means open pore. "Comedones" is the word for both together.
How a whitehead forms
The AAD says a whitehead forms when extra oil and dead skin cells build up and plug the opening of a pore. The plug stays under a thin layer of skin, so it shows as a raised bump that is white or the same color as your skin.
NIAMS, part of the US National Institutes of Health, describes whiteheads as plugged hair follicles that stay beneath the skin and make a white bump. The NHS says whiteheads are small bumps, usually the same color as your skin, and that some may have white pus.
How a blackhead forms
A blackhead starts with the same buildup inside the pore. The AAD explains that as the buildup grows, it widens the opening of the pore, and you see a blackhead. The NHS describes blackheads as black and brown spots that are usually flat but may be raised.
Why blackheads are black
The AAD explains the color as a chemical reaction. When the buildup inside the pore reacts with oxygen in the air, the black color appears. The AAD compares it to a cut apple turning brown. NIAMS gives the same explanation: the air changes the color of the oil, called sebum, at the surface.
This matters for how you treat blackheads. The AAD's page on acne types says the black dots are not dirt, so there is no reason to scrub them. It warns that scrubbing will only make acne worse.
Where they show up
Blackheads and whiteheads form where pores are plugged, and certain habits make them more likely in certain places:
- Hairline, forehead and back of the neck. The AAD says oily shampoos, conditioners and styling products can cause whiteheads and tiny bumps in these areas.
- Cheeks, chin and forehead. The AAD says makeup that clogs pores often causes many tiny bumps here, with whiteheads that rise just above the skin.
The forehead and chin acne and pimple on the nose pages cover those areas in more detail.
Which one is worse
Blackheads and whiteheads sit at the same level. The UK NICE acne guideline groups both as non-inflammatory lesions, meaning spots without redness or swelling. It places any number of them in its mild to moderate band. Red, swollen spots and nodules are what move acne into the moderate to severe band.
The risk the two share is scarring from picking. The AAD says picking at whiteheads can lead to more whiteheads and acne scars, and that squeezing a blackhead can cause an infection or a permanent scar.
When a plug becomes a pimple
A blackhead or whitehead can turn into a red, sore pimple. MedlinePlus explains that if bacteria become trapped in the plug, the body's defense system reacts and a pimple forms. The AAD says the bacteria that normally live on everyone's skin can multiply quickly in the trapped oil, and swelling follows.
The AAD's names for the next stage are papule, a small red bump without pus, and pustule, a red bump with pus and often a white or yellow center. The types of acne guide lays out every stage from the plug to the deep nodule.
Why squeezing is risky
Squeezing feels like the quickest fix, and the AAD explains why it often makes things worse. When you squeeze, you can push some of what is inside the pore deeper into the skin. That increases swelling and can lead to acne that looks worse, more pain, and scars. You can also carry bacteria from your hands into the skin.
The AAD describes the safe version, done by a dermatologist. It is called acne extraction, and it uses sterile tools to clear blackheads and whiteheads. The AAD says it is usually offered when other treatment has not cleared the skin, because it takes time and can be expensive. It also says blackheads and whiteheads can come back afterward, so a daily routine is still needed.
How doctors say to treat them
The AAD's advice for both is the same. To unclog pores, dermatologists recommend a retinoid, a type of medicine that clears clogged pores. You can buy one retinoid, adapalene, without a prescription. The AAD also suggests a benzoyl peroxide wash, which helps reduce the bacteria on the skin.
The 2024 US acne guideline in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology gives a strong recommendation to both topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide.
The adapalene 0.1 percent gel label sets the method:
- Use it once a day.
- Spread a thin layer over the whole area where acne appears, and avoid treating single spots.
- Expect it to take up to 3 months of daily use to see results.
Skinli's own guides cover this in depth. Adapalene for blackheads and whiteheads explains how the gel works on clogged pores, and how to start adapalene without irritation gives a week-by-week start. Salicylic acid vs benzoyl peroxide compares the two most common store-bought options.
Habits that help stop new plugs
A treatment clears the plugs you have. Daily habits decide how many new ones form. The AAD's pages on skin care, makeup and hair products give these steps:
- Choose products that do not clog pores. Use only makeup, sunscreen, skin care and hair products labeled "non-comedogenic" or "won't clog pores". The AAD says these products do not cause breakouts in most people.
- Wash twice a day. Wash your face when you wake up and before bed, and after anything that makes you sweat. More washing than that can irritate the skin, the AAD says.
- Remove makeup every night. The AAD says even non-comedogenic makeup can cause acne if you sleep in it.
- Keep makeup to yourself. Sharing makeup, brushes or applicators can move other people's oil, dead skin cells and bacteria onto your skin. The AAD suggests cleaning makeup brushes every week.
- Wash what your hair touches. If you use oily hair products, the AAD says to wash pillowcases, sheets, caps, hats and headbands, because the residue sticks to them.
- Be gentle. Apply cleanser with your fingertips, rinse with warm water and pat dry. The AAD says scrubbing irritates skin and makes acne flare.
The same habits appear in the complete acne skincare routine, which puts them in morning and evening order.
Telling them apart from other spots
Up close, the signs are simple. A whitehead is raised and white or skin-colored, with no redness around it. A blackhead is a dark dot that is usually flat. If the bump is red and feels hard, the AAD calls it a papule, and it says many papules together can make skin feel like sandpaper. If it is red with a white or yellow center, it is a pustule. A large, sore lump under the skin is a nodule or cyst, which the AAD says needs a dermatologist.
When to see a dermatologist
The AAD says to give treatment six to eight weeks. If you still see blackheads and whiteheads after that, it suggests seeing a dermatologist, who may offer extraction or a prescription-strength treatment.
Some bumps look like blackheads or whiteheads but are something else. The AAD describes keratosis pilaris as rough bumps, plugs of dead skin cells, that appear on the upper arms and the front of the thighs. It also says hidradenitis suppurativa, a long-term skin condition in the armpits and groin, can show small black bumps that look like blackheads and often appear in pairs. Bumps like these, in places where acne does not usually appear, are a reason to have a doctor look.
To see which spots are on your own face and get a starting plan, Skinli's photo check works from one photo and two questions.
Frequently asked questions
What are blackheads vs whiteheads?
Blackheads and whiteheads are both pores plugged with oil and dead skin cells, and the difference is the opening. The American Academy of Dermatology says a whitehead forms when the plug seals the pore's opening, making a small white or skin-colored bump. A blackhead forms when the buildup widens the opening, and the plug turns dark where it meets the air. Doctors call them closed and open comedones.
What causes blackheads and whiteheads?
Blackheads and whiteheads are caused by extra oil and dead skin cells building up inside a pore, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. NIAMS, part of the US National Institutes of Health, says the oil, the hair and the skin cells that line the pore stick together, so the cells cannot shed. Oily hair products and makeup can add to the plug, the AAD says.
Do blackheads turn into whiteheads?
Blackheads and whiteheads are two forms of the same clogged pore, and the American Academy of Dermatology describes the difference as whether the pore's opening is sealed or widened. None of the AAD, NHS, NIH or MedlinePlus pages read for this guide says one type changes into the other. Both can turn into a red pimple if bacteria grow in the plug, MedlinePlus says.
Are blackheads acne?
Blackheads are a type of acne. The American Academy of Dermatology lists blackheads first among the four kinds of breakouts acne can cause, along with whiteheads, pimples, and nodules or cysts. NIAMS calls blackheads plugged hair follicles that reach the surface of the skin and open up. Under the UK NICE guideline, any number of blackheads without red spots falls in the mild to moderate band.
Are blackheads or whiteheads worse?
Blackheads and whiteheads sit at the same level of severity. The UK NICE acne guideline groups both as non-inflammatory lesions, meaning spots without redness or swelling, and places any number of them in its mild to moderate band. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that picking either one can cause scars, and it recommends treating both with the same type of product, a retinoid.
Do blackheads go away on their own?
Blackheads can last for months without treatment, and they can come back after they are cleared. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a retinoid such as adapalene to unclog pores, plus a benzoyl peroxide wash, and says to give it six to eight weeks. The AAD's pimple popping page says blackheads and whiteheads can return after a dermatologist removes them, so a daily routine is needed.
Do whiteheads have pus?
Whiteheads are plugs of oil and dead skin cells. The American Academy of Dermatology describes a whitehead as a raised white or skin-colored bump over a sealed pore. The NHS says whiteheads are usually the same color as the skin, but some may have white pus. A red bump with a yellow or white center is a pustule, a pimple that contains pus.
What are blackheads made of?
Blackheads are made of extra oil and dead skin cells packed inside a pore, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. NIAMS says the oil, called sebum, looks black at the surface because air changes its color. The AAD compares the reaction to a cut apple turning brown. The AAD says the dark dots are not dirt and advises against scrubbing, which it says only makes acne worse.
Do blackheads cause pimples?
A blackhead or whitehead can become a pimple. MedlinePlus explains that if bacteria become trapped in the plug, the body's defense system reacts and a pimple forms. The American Academy of Dermatology says the bacteria that normally live on skin multiply in the trapped oil, and swelling follows. Treating clogged pores early with a retinoid, as the AAD recommends, aims to stop new plugs forming.
What is good for blackheads and whiteheads?
A retinoid is the treatment the American Academy of Dermatology recommends for blackheads and whiteheads, because it unclogs pores. Adapalene 0.1 percent is a retinoid sold without a prescription. The AAD suggests adding a benzoyl peroxide wash. The adapalene label says to use it once a day in a thin layer over the whole area, and it may take up to 3 months to see results.
Can you pick whiteheads?
Picking whiteheads is a bad idea, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, which says it can lead to more whiteheads and to acne scars. The AAD recommends treating whiteheads with an acne product instead. The UK NICE guideline says picking or scratching acne often raises the risk of scarring. A dermatologist can remove stubborn whiteheads with sterile tools in a procedure called extraction.
Sources
- Acne: Signs and symptoms (American Academy of Dermatology)
- How to treat different types of acne (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Acne (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH)
- Acne (medical encyclopedia) (MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Pimple popping: Why only a dermatologist should do it (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Acne (NHS)
- Acne vulgaris: management (NG198) (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence)
- DIFFERIN (adapalene) gel, Human OTC Drug Label (DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine (label: Galderma Laboratories, L.P.))
- Are your hair care products causing breakouts? (American Academy of Dermatology)
- I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup? (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Hidradenitis suppurativa: Signs and symptoms (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Keratosis pilaris: Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)
- 10 skin care habits that can worsen acne (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, PubMed record)
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Analyze my skinSkinli gives simple tips for skin with pimples. It is not a doctor. It cannot tell you what is wrong the way a doctor can. If your pimples hurt, are deep under the skin, are getting worse, or will not go away, see a doctor.