What Is The White Stuff That Comes Out of A Blackhead?

You’ve seen blackheads before—commonly found on your nose—but what exactly is that white stuff that comes out of a blackhead or pimple? More specifically, what’s the hard white stuff in pimples? Not to fear, we’re here to help you understand this skin mystery and guide you on your breakout-free journey by presenting the 3 commandments of Blackhead Banish 101.

1. PICK: your skin battles

As tempting as it might be, popping blemishes never does your skin any good. Squeezing blackheads or pimples can push inflammation deeper beneath your skin and reintroduce bacteria into the open wound.

Blackheads form when an open comedone becomes filled with skin debris and oil. Exposure to air causes oxidation, turning this mixture dark brown. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not dirt that’s trapped in your pores but old skin cells and sebum. Whiteheads, on the other hand, form when these contents remain beneath the skin surface without exposure to air.

But what is the hard white stuff in pimples exactly? That white, hard material you see when popping pimples is primarily pus—a mixture of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and debris. Pus is essentially your body’s response to infection or irritation caused by clogged pores. Although it might seem tempting to remove this material yourself, it’s best left untouched, as the skin will typically heal on its own.

However, effective skin treatments like the Acne Beta Peel can significantly reduce inflammation and minimise future breakouts by exfoliating gently and clearing pores deeply.

It’s also crucial to avoid harsh cleansers and rough exfoliants, as they can further irritate the skin. Such irritation may cause your skin to increase sebum production in compensation, ultimately clogging pores and forming even more pimples and blackheads.

Instead, opt for gentle treatments like the Acne Peel, which utilises the powerful combination of salicylic and dioic acid to target acne effectively. This skincare dream team helps clear existing breakouts while reducing the likelihood of new ones, leaving your skin clear, healthy, and breakout-free.

How to remove blackheads: DIY or skin treatments?

With Spring making a return soon, discover whether DIY or skin treatments are the better option in your blackhead removal journey to pore-fection! 

What are blackheads and how are they formed?

When your skin is clear, the openings around a hair follicle are free from dead skin cells, allowing the production of oil to flow to the surface normally. Blackheads are formed when the opening around a hair follicle is clogged with dead skin cells and sebum(oil). What you should never do with blackheads

• Use abrasive cleansers and exfoliants as your skin can be irritated further
• Squeeze blackheads as the inflammation can be pushed deeper back into your skin and eventually cause scarring

Acne types

Let’s make this clear – while your skin might not be clear at the moment, there are ways of tackling different acne types – let’s get your blemishes under control.  You may think that acne only occurs when someone’s face is covered in painful looking pimples but that’s not the case! With 85% of Australians aged 18-24 years old having some form of acne, you’re not alone! Mild, non inflammatory types of acne include:

1.Blackheads 

Contrary to popular belief, blackheads are filled with excess oil and dead skin cells, NOT dirt.

2.Whiteheads 

Occur when skin cells and excess oil prevent a hair follicle from opening. 

3.Comedonal acne?

Comedonal acne appears as small skin coloured bumps most commonly found on the forehead or chin. These bumps can often be treated with topical solutions – however skin treatments such as Microdermabrasion are effective to deeply exfoliate, clear away dead skin cells and even out your skin’s texture to prevent future breakouts. Moderate to severe types of acne include:

1.Papules

Left untreated, comedones can become inflamed as excess oil and dead skin cells clog up your pores. This results in papules.

2.Pustules

Appear as a whitehead surrounded by a red ring around a bump usually filled with white or yellow pus. 

3. Nodules

Are large inflamed bumps that feel firm to the touch and develop deep beneath the skin.

4. Cysts 

Similar to boils, they’re pus filled lesions.