How to Get Rid of Whiteheads on Your Face

Getting rid of whiteheads on your face depends on opening the closed pores gradually with the right ingredients — not on squeezing or harshly scrubbing them. Whiteheads, or closed comedones, are a type of comedone that differs from an inflamed red spot and from a blackhead, so they need their own approach. In this guide we explain why they form, how to tell them apart from blackheads and pimples under the skin, and which ingredients work safely without leaving a mark.

The first and most important rule: a closed whitehead is sealed over by a layer of skin, and squeezing it breaks the pore wall and turns a simple cosmetic issue into inflammation and a mark you may later need a cream to fade.

Why do whiteheads form?

A whitehead is a pore blocked by a mixture of sebum and dead skin cells, sealed at the top by a thin layer of skin, so it shows as a small white or skin-coloured bump that is not inflamed. Because the pore is closed, its contents do not oxidise and do not darken.

Factors that increase them: excess oil production, over-keratinisation of the pore lining, and heavy, pore-clogging (comedogenic) products. So clearing oily bumps on the face and whiteheads starts by managing these underlying causes of acne, not just attacking the result. If your real question is why they form in the first place and why they return after every treatment, that is covered in detail in what causes whiteheads.

The difference between whiteheads and blackheads

Understanding the difference between whiteheads and blackheads guides your choice of treatment and corrects some common myths.

Criterion	Whitehead (closed)	Blackhead (open)
Pore surface	Closed by a layer of skin	Open at the surface
Colour	White or skin-coloured	Black or dark grey
Reason for colour	No oxidation, because it is closed	Melanin oxidises in the air
Common myth	Not necessarily pus	Not dirt and not to be scrubbed
Response to treatment	Sometimes slower	Relatively faster

The key: the black colour is not dirt, which is why harsh scrubbing does not remove it and only irritates the skin. Both types are comedones that respond to the same family of ingredients, with a little more patience for the closed whitehead.

Removing whiteheads: the ingredients that work safely

Removing whiteheads needs ingredients that open the pore and regulate keratinisation. The mind map below summarises a complete plan rather than relying on a single product.

mindmap
  root((Closed whiteheads))
    Cleansing
      Gentle cleanser twice a day
      Avoid harsh soap
    Active ingredients
      Salicylic acid dissolves blockage
      Retinoid regulates keratinisation
      Niacinamide soothes
    Protection
      Non-comedogenic moisturiser
      Daily sunscreen
    Avoid
      Squeezing and pressure
      Harsh daily exfoliation

The principle is that salicylic acid (an oil-soluble acid) penetrates the oily pore and dissolves the blockage from within, while a topical retinoid re-regulates cell renewal so new whiteheads do not form. Results show over weeks of regular use, not over days. If you are weighing which product to start with, our guide to the best cream for acne compares the key ingredients.

Clearing pimples under the skin that have no head

Many people ask about clearing pimples under the skin, the small bumps beneath the surface with no clear head. They may be deep closed whiteheads, oily bumps, or "milia" (small, firm keratin cysts).

Deep whiteheads and oily bumps respond to a topical retinoid over the long term, but squeezing is off-limits because draining them at home is nearly impossible and usually leads to inflammation and a mark.
Milia do not usually resolve with creams, and they are removed safely by careful extraction using sterile tools in the clinic.

The takeaway: anything with no head that does not respond to topical ingredients within a few weeks deserves a professional assessment, rather than squeezing attempts that leave scars.

Building a routine for whitehead-prone skin

A balanced routine prevents new whiteheads as much as it treats the existing ones.

Time	Step	Aim
Morning	Gentle cleanser + light moisturiser + sunscreen	Protection without blocking pores
Evening	Cleanser + retinoid (gradually) + moisturiser	Regulate keratinisation, prevent blockage
A few times a week	Salicylic acid exfoliation	Dissolve blockage gently

Do not combine all your acids and a retinoid on the same night; building up gradually protects the skin barrier and prevents the irritation that worsens spots — a core principle of a balanced home routine for clearing acne. And moisturising is not the enemy of oily skin — it is a condition of its balance.

Products and habits that increase whiteheads

A large share of recurring whiteheads comes from products or habits that block pores without you noticing, and treating the cause is smarter than chasing the result. Review your routine for these culprits.

Heavy, oily moisturisers and foundations not labelled "non-comedogenic", which trap sebum inside the pore.
Heavy plant oils on blockage-prone skin, such as some pore-clogging oils.
Sleeping in make-up, even occasionally, because it leaves a layer that blocks pores all night.
Frequent face-touching and resting a phone against the cheek, which transfer oil and bacteria.
Overloading on products at once, which irritates the skin so it produces more oil.

The practical rule: choose everything that touches your skin to be non-comedogenic, and simplify your routine. Sometimes dropping a single heavy product is enough to visibly reduce whiteheads over weeks, without adding any new treatment. Try, too, washing your pillowcase and towels regularly — these small details add up on the pores over time.

What to expect from a retinoid in the first weeks

When a retinoid is introduced for whiteheads, it helps to know that the skin often looks worse before it looks better. As the ingredient speeds up cell turnover, blockages that were already forming deep in the pore are brought to the surface sooner, so a cluster of small bumps may appear early on. This is commonly called a purge, and it differs from a genuine reaction: a purge shows up in the areas where you usually break out and eases within a few weeks, while true irritation brings stinging, persistent redness, or a rash in new places and calls for a pause. Introducing the retinoid gradually rather than all at once, and pairing it with a plain, non-comedogenic moisturiser, keeps the barrier comfortable while the skin adjusts. The reward for that patience is fewer new whiteheads over the following weeks, because the pore lining renews in a more orderly way. If bumps are still multiplying after a couple of months of steady use, that is the point to have the skin assessed rather than pushing harder.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to get rid of whiteheads on the face?

The best approach uses ingredients that open pores gradually: salicylic acid, which dissolves the blockage inside the pore, and a topical retinoid, which regulates cell renewal and prevents new ones from forming. Pair these with a gentle cleanser, a non-comedogenic moisturiser, and sunscreen. Avoid squeezing, because it breaks the pore wall and leaves inflammation and a mark.

What is the difference between whiteheads and blackheads?

Both are comedones (a blocked pore), and the difference is at the surface. A whitehead is closed over by a layer of skin, so it stays white or skin-coloured. A blackhead is open at the surface, so its contents oxidise and darken — the colour is not dirt but oxidised melanin. Their treatment is similar, but the closed whitehead is sometimes slower to respond.

How do I clear pimples under the skin that have no head?

Pimples under the skin may be deep closed whiteheads, oily bumps, or milia. A topical retinoid helps over the long term by breaking up the blockage, but squeezing is off-limits because they are deep and hard to drain at home. Stubborn cases or milia are removed safely by professional extraction in the clinic.

Does daily exfoliation clear whiteheads faster?

Over-exfoliating harms the skin barrier and triggers more oil, so it makes the problem worse rather than better. Gentle chemical exfoliation with salicylic acid a few times a week, rather than daily, is better, along with patience. Results show over weeks with consistency, not over days with harshness.

When to see a clinic

If whiteheads are widespread and stubborn and do not respond to topical ingredients after several weeks, or if you find firm bumps under the skin (milia) that do not move, professional extraction and medical exfoliation in the clinic are far safer than squeezing at home. At InJasmine we first tell apart a whitehead, milia, and an oily bump, because each has a different method of removal.