Acne Cut

Acne Basics

Blackheads vs whiteheads: what is the difference?

Drafted with AI assistance · not reviewed by a dermatologist · Published August 2, 2026 · Last updated October 5, 2026

Short answer

Both are plugs of oil and dead skin cells in a hair follicle, called comedones [1][2]. A whitehead stays closed under the skin; a blackhead opens at the surface, and its dark tip is oil discolored by air, not dirt [1]. Salicylic acid and retinoids such as adapalene target these plugs [4][5].

How settled

Well established

What we read

  1. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Acne: overview, symptoms and causes
  2. MedlinePlus, Acne
  3. NHS, Acne
  4. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Acne: diagnosis, treatment and steps to take
  5. Reynolds RV, J Am Acad Dermatol 2024
  6. DailyMed, Adapalene gel USP 0.1%: over-the-counter Drug Facts label
Two small bowls, one of dark powder and one of pale powder, beside bottles on a bathroom counter
Two bowls of dark and pale powder on a bathroom counter. AI-generated illustration.

Two versions of the same plug

An open jar of pale cream, its lid and cotton pads on a tiled counter
An open jar of cream and cotton pads. AI-generated illustration.

Each pore opens into a follicle that contains a hair and an oil gland. When oil and skin cells build up and block it, the blockage is called a plug, or comedone [2]. Doctors use comedones as the name for these enlarged or plugged follicles [1].

What decides whether you see a whitehead or a blackhead is where the plug sits. If it stays beneath the skin it makes a white bump; if it reaches the surface and opens up, it looks dark [1]. MedlinePlus puts it the same way: a white top makes a whitehead and a dark top makes a blackhead [2].

Both appear wherever acne does: most often the face, but also the back, chest and shoulders [1], and sometimes the arms, legs and buttocks [2]. The table sets out the differences side by side.

Diagram of five kinds of acne spot in cross-section: a whitehead closed at the surface, a blackhead open at the surface, a papule, a pustule, and a nodule or cyst.
Whiteheads and blackheads are the first two panels. Diagram drawn for Acne Cut from the descriptions in sources 1 and 3.
WhiteheadBlackhead
What it isA plug of oil and skin cells that stays under the surface[1]The same plug, reaching the surface and opening up[1]
Looks likeA small bump, often skin-colored[3]A black or brown spot, usually flat, sometimes raised[3]
Why that colorNot open to the air[1]Air discolors the oil; it is not dirt[1]
In doctors' termsA comedone that stays closed under the skin[1]A comedone that has opened at the surface[1]
What helpsSalicylic acid, sulfur and retinoids such as adapalene, used gently and given time[4][6]
What to avoidSqueezing, picking and scrubbing[1][2]

Whiteheads

Whiteheads are small bumps, often the same color as the surrounding skin [3], made by plugged follicles that stay under the surface [1]. You may see them called closed comedones, which describes exactly this: a comedone that has stayed closed beneath the skin [1].

Because the plug is not open to the air, it is not discolored the way a blackhead is, so a whitehead stays pale [1].

Blackheads

Blackheads are black or brown spots that are usually flat but may be slightly raised [3]. The plug has reached the surface and opened, and the dark color comes from air discoloring the sebum, not from dirt [1].

That point matters, because it means a blackhead is not a sign of poor washing and cannot be scrubbed away. The plug sits in the follicle itself [1][2].

Why scrubbing makes things worse

Washing more often or harder does not clear plugs. MedlinePlus advises avoiding scrubbing and repeated washing [2], and NIAMS lists scrubbing the skin too hard among the things that make acne worse [1].

The advice from both is simpler: clean gently with a mild cleanser once or twice a day and after exercise, rinse with lukewarm water, and remove makeup at the end of the day [2][4].

Why squeezing is a bad idea

Squeezing a blackhead or whitehead can feel productive, but aggressively squeezing, scratching or picking spots can lead to infection, slower healing and scarring [2]. NIAMS adds that picking can leave dark blotches [4], and the NHS warns that picking or squeezing spots can cause scars [3].

What actually clears them

Treatments that work on the plug are the useful ones. Salicylic acid helps break down blackheads and whiteheads and reduces the shedding of the cells that line the follicle, and sulfur also helps break them down [4]. Retinoids, which come from vitamin A, help treat spots and help prevent new ones forming [4].

The American Academy of Dermatology's 2024 guideline makes a strong recommendation for topical retinoids and a conditional, weaker one for salicylic acid [5]. Adapalene, a retinoid, is sold over the counter in the US; its label warns that acne may look worse in the first weeks and that it can take up to three months of daily use to see results [6]. The NHS suggests treatments such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, with a pharmacist's advice [3].

Preventing new plugs

Products can add to the problem. MedlinePlus lists greasy or oily cosmetics and hair products among acne triggers, and suggests water-based or noncomedogenic formulas, which have been tested not to clog pores in most people [2]. NIAMS also suggests oil-free, noncomedogenic products, while noting that even these can make acne worse for some people [4].

Other small habits help: keep oily hair off the face, avoid tight hats and headbands, and avoid resting your face on your hands [2].

When a plug becomes a pimple

If bacteria become trapped in a plug, the immune system can react and turn it into an inflamed pimple [2]. That is the step from blackheads and whiteheads to red bumps and pus-filled spots, and it is why plugs are worth treating early.

If you have many spots, or deep, painful or scarring ones, or treating them yourself has not helped, it is worth seeing a doctor [3].

The four evidence labels used on Acne Cut, with “Well established” highlighted for this article.
This article's label: Well established. The labels describe the research, not how likely something is to work for you.

Sources

  1. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Acne: overview, symptoms and causes. NIH, last reviewed July 2023; accessed October 5, 2026. Read it
  2. MedlinePlus. Acne. US National Library of Medicine; accessed October 5, 2026. Read it
  3. NHS. Acne. Page last reviewed September 22, 2026; accessed October 5, 2026. Read it
  4. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Acne: diagnosis, treatment and steps to take. NIH, last reviewed July 2023; accessed October 5, 2026. Read it
  5. Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1–1006.e30. PubMed 38300170
  6. DailyMed. Adapalene gel USP 0.1%: over-the-counter Drug Facts label. US National Library of Medicine; accessed October 5, 2026. Read it

Read next