Fun fact: I, a beauty editor, have a whitehead on my nose right now. And honestly? It's no big deal. Because unlike hormonal acne, bacne, or pimples inside your nose, whiteheads are fairly easy to treat with either the right at-home products—like an acne face wash, full-face acne treatments, or spot treatments—or with a quick visit to your dermatologist for an extraction or a cortisone shot. Still, that doesn't mean it's simple to figure out how to get rid of whiteheads on your own, especially when everyone's skin type is different. That's why I chatted with three dermatologists, Caroline Chang, MD; Fatima Fahs, MD; and Joshua Zeichner, MD, to break down the best whitehead treatments and how to apply them (check out a few quick favorites below).
Our top picks for getting rid of whiteheads in 2022:
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Best Face Wash for Whiteheads
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
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Best Spot Treatment for Whiteheads
Rosen Break-Out Spot Treatment
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Best Exfoliating Toner for Whiteheads
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
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Best Peel for Whiteheads
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
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Best Serum for Getting Rid of Whiteheads
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Exfoliating Blemish Solution
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But before you go grab some random products from this list, keep reading for all the tester reviews, pros and cons, and which formula is best for you. And, because ~knowledge is power~, I also broke down everything you need to know about these zits, including what causes whiteheads, if you can pop them, and how long whiteheads take to go away.
Best Face Wash for Whiteheads
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
Best Spot Treatment for Whiteheads
Rosen Break-Out Spot Treatment
Best Exfoliating Toner for Whiteheads
Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner
Best Peel for Whiteheads
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel
Best Serum for Getting Rid of Whiteheads
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Exfoliating Blemish Solution
Best Face Mask for Getting Rid of Whiteheads
Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
Best Retinoid for Whiteheads
Differin Acne Gel Treatment
Best Hydrocolloid Pimple Patch for Whiteheads
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original
Best Opaque Pimple Patches for Whiteheads
Truly Blemish Treatment Acne Heart Patches
Best Oil-Free Moisturizer for Whiteheads
BeautyStat Cosmetics Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream
Best Body Exfoliator for Whiteheads
Naturium The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash
Best Redness-Reducing Cream for Whiteheads
Aveeno Maximum Strength 1% Hydrocortisone Cream
What causes whiteheads on your face?
Though whiteheads can have multiple causes (hormonal fluctuations, skin irritation, medication side effects), the general idea is the same: Whiteheads are caused by your pores getting clogged with dead skin cells and oil, leading to a pus-filled white bump. Whiteheads are often referred to as "closed comedones," which is when "skin cells stick together and trap oil under the skin's outermost surface," says Dr. Zeichner. Sometimes, these closed comedones can grow inflamed and large, and other times, they're tiny and barely noticeable.
How do I get rid of whiteheads on my face?
Getting rid of whiteheads on your face will fall into three choices: (1) over-the-counter topical treatments, (2) prescription-strength topicals, and (3) prescription oral medications. Lemme break them down real quick:
Over-the-counter topicals
If you get the occasional annoying whitehead, try incorporating over-the-counter topicals with acids to help exfoliate away dead skin to keep your pores from clogging as frequently. "The most common ingredient used to treat whiteheads is salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid—BHA—that works to clear your pores over time," says Dr. Zeichner. How you use it is up to you, but just know that salicylic acid can be drying, especially if your skin is already dry or sensitive. So stick to one acid-based treatment at a time (no doubling up on acid-spiked cleansers, serums, and toners, pls) and use it once every two to three nights until you know your skin can handle it.
Prescription topicals
But if your whiteheads are a little more stubborn, your dermatologist might recommend a stronger topical, like a retinoid. Tretinoin is one of the strongest prescription retinoid that speeds up and regulates cellular turnover, keeping acne-causing bacteria and oil from getting trapped in your pores and causing whiteheads. It's known for being irritating at first, so start with half a pea-size amount one night a week for one week, two nights a week for two weeks, and then keep up with three nights a week once your skin is tolerating it. And always follow it with a rich moisturizer.
Your dermatologist may also prescribe a non-retinoid topical to treat your whiteheads, like a topical antibiotic (like clindamycin lotion, or Aczone antibiotic lotion), or an antibiotic and retinoid combination (like Ziana). Or they could prescribe other topical treatments, like Finacea (a higher-strength azelaic acid), or Epiduo Forte (a benzoyl peroxide and retinoid combination). Basically, you've got options.
Prescription oral medications
If you're dealing with persistent whiteheads that don't respond to topicals alone, your dermatologist may suggest one of the following:
- Antibiotics: A short-term course of antibiotics can help calm inflammation and reduce bacteria growth. The two most commonly prescribed for acne are broad-spectrum doxycycline or narrow-spectrum Seysara.
- Birth control pills: Combination birth control pills (i.e., those that contain estrogen and progesterone) help reduce your body's androgen levels (aka "sex hormones" like testosterone) that contribute to hormonal breakouts.
- Spironolactone: If birth control pills alone don't reduce your whiteheads, your derm may also prescribe spironolactone, a medication that helps block your androgens from overproducing oil.
- Accutane: When your whiteheads don't respond to any other treatments, Accutane (aka isotretinoin) permanently shrinks your oil glands, so it's harder for oil to create clogs in the first place. It does require monthly check-ins with your doc and blood testing, but it's considered one of the most effective treatments for ultra-persistent inflammatory acne.
Just note: Most of these oral medications will take two to three months to take full effect (outside of antibiotics), and your dermatologist will likely combine them with topical treatments as well for full efficacy.
Do whiteheads go away on their own?
Yes, whiteheads will just go away on their own, as frustrating as it is to play the waiting game. "When the whitehead is ready to pop, your body will have already filled in the skin below the pimple before pushing off the whitehead," says Dr. Chang. Dab on a spot treatment or stick on a pimple patch, keep up with your skincare routine (and keep your hands off your face), and wait it out.
Just know that whiteheads can always come back, even if you're using acids, benzoyl peroxide, or retinoids, and it isn't your fault if they do (bodies and hormones are going to do what they're going to do). If this sounds like your whitehead journey, talk to your derm about a stronger treatment option like retinoids, oral antibiotics, and/or spironolactone.
Can you pop a whitehead?
Pls do not pop your whiteheads. I get that it's annoying waiting for a pimple to go away on its own, but if you try to pop it, "you will create an open area of skin that can potentially get reinfected," says Dr. Chang, essentially starting a vicious whitehead cycle. Instead, stick on a pimple patch—not only will it seal the pimple from more bacteria and irritation, but the patch will also help keep you from picking and prodding. If you do happen to pop your whitehead (hopefully, before you read this 🤞), Dr. Chang says to wash your hands, then cleanse the pimple with a gentle face wash before dabbing on an antibiotic ointment.
Why do I get whiteheads on my body?
Whiteheads on your body can be caused by excess oil and grime clogging your pores, whether that's from hormonal fluctuations, heavy sweating, or genetics. To help treat body breakouts, cleanse your skin with a benzoyl peroxide body wash two times a week to help kill some of the acne-causing bacteria, and then spritz on a salicylic acid body spray on the days you don't use your BP wash.
It's important to note that not all body whiteheads are truly acne. If your bumps look tiny, uniform, and in clusters, you might actually be dealing with folliculitis, which occurs when your hair follicles get irritated and inflamed. Folliculitis can be treated similarly to whiteheads (i.e., sudsing up with a salicylic acid body wash, wiping down your body with a body wipe after sweating, and switching to an electric razor with a guard to trim hair instead of shaving), but if you're not seeing results after six weeks, head to your dermatologist for a diagnosis and gameplan.
Meet the experts:
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, NY, who specializes in acne and rosacea. Dr. Zeichner is also the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology and an associate professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC.
- Caroline Chang, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Rhode Island Dermatology Institute in East Greenwich, RI. She is also an associate staff member at Rhode Island Hospital.
- Fatima Fahs, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Hamzavi Dermatology in Canton, MI. She is also the founder of the Dermy Doc Box, a quarterly subscription beauty box filled with dermatologist-approved skincare favorites.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from butt acne to blind pimples. She's an authority in all skincare categories, but is an expert when it comes to whiteheads, thanks to a decade of bugging dermatologists about the fix to her own acne. She regularly tests and analyzes acne treatments for efficacy, while working with the industry's top dermatologists to assess new formulas and brands.
Ruby Buddemeyer was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly three years, and has five years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and celebrity news across print and digital, including body washes for acne and blackhead face masks. Her whitehead treatment picks were based on product reviews, ratings, personal testing, and industry experts' information.
Beth Gillette Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print.
Ruby Buddemeyer Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital.
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