Those little white dots on the nose make you feel self-conscious––like everyone is just staring at your nose. It’s time to dig in and clear up whiteheads on the nose.

What is a Whitehead? 

The term whitehead deserves some clarification. Just because you have a white bump on your skin doesn’t mean it’s a whitehead. Whitehead is often used as a blanket term. White heads are blocked pores. Whereas another whitehead looking bump called milia are tiny whiteheaded cysts found most commonly in the eye and cheek area. Milia form due to skin flakes getting trapped under the skin. So let's move on to more about whiteheads on the nose.

More on Whiteheads

Whitehead’s appear just under the skin’s surface. They have no strong delineating border. Most often their size is about the same as the tip of a candle wick. Also, whiteheads are not inflamed or red. And if you pop one, you won’t get puss but a hard white plug. 

The main cause of whiteheads is clogged pores. Pores become clogged with a mix of sebum, dirty, makeup, sunscreen and other surface gunk on your skin. Hormonal changes and increases in stress can trigger more whiteheads. Both stress and hormonal shifts increase the production of your skin’s natural oil, sebum. More sebum means more gunk to plug pores. And whiteheads on your nose seem particularly troublesome. They just stand out and are easy to see. But don’t fret here’s what you need to do to get rid of whiteheads on the nose. 

Getting Rid of Whiteheads on Nose

A large part of keeping your nose clean and clear is starting with a solid daily skincare routine. The importance of the routine can’t be underestimated. The power of daily cleansing helps to remove excess oil build up, dislodge and wash away dead skin cells, and remove makeup. Other important steps include daily exfoliation, and using additional products that reduce redness and inflammation and aid in controlling oil production. Here’s a list of what to do starting with daily skincare. 

What to Do For Whiteheads on Nose

Use Proper Daily Skincare Routine. 5 main steps are outlined below.

1- Always remove makeup before bed.

• This is a must. Never leave makeup on when you sleep. It seems harmless enough, but it’s not. Leaving makeup on while you sleep means that a mix of pre clogging gunk sits on the skin while new dead skin cells are being shed, and while oil production continues. The mix of gunk increases, equalling more breakouts. Plus, at night your body goes through a restorative process for the skin. These processes aren’t as effective when the skin is dirty. 

2 - Daily Gentle Cleansing

• How it works. Gentle cleanse with a product that won't over dry the skin. Look for an oil cleanser or try a double cleanse (oil cleanser followed by gentle foaming cleanser). Cleansing removes the oil/makeup/spf/dirt mix.  

3 - Daily Exfoliation with BHA

• How it works. BHA is short for beta-hydroxy acid, also known as salicylic acid. This acid works well with oily skin to break the bonds that keep the dead skin cells stuck to the skin’s surface. Look for a gentle formula that doesn’t irritate or over dry your skin. 

4 - Retinoids

• How it works. Retinoids are a form of vitamin A. They unclog pores, reduce inflammation, increase cellular turnover, and help reduce breakouts. 
• How often. Begin low and slow. Add the retinoid at 2x a week, and increase depending on how well your skin tolerates it. 

5 - Clay Mask

• How it works. Clay masks work wonders for oily skin, especially ingredients like bentonite clay. Clay decongests skin and dries out pimples or whiteheads, supports skin healing, and has an antibacterial effect on acne.
• How often. Clay masks should be used on a weekly basis. 

What to Avoid For Whiteheads

1- Harsh Scrubs

• Strong, harsh scrubs irritate skin. This creates micro-tears in the moisture barrier, leading to bacteria getting into pores which worsens the condition.

2 - Avoid Sun Exposure

• Sun exposure increases oil production for days afterwards.

3 - Over Drying

• Over drying your skin through harsh ingredients creates a cascade effect. The body senses the over drying of skin, which then triggers its response to make more oil. More oil means more gunk, which leads to more whiteheads.

4 - Avoid Touching Your Nose

• Whenever you touch your face, the oil and dirt from your fingers gets onto the  area you touched. This just added more pore clogging junk. So no matter how hard it is, keep your hands away from your face!

So if you have whiteheads on your nose, never fear. There are many simple options for taking care of them. Always be gentle with your skin. Change takes time. Be consistent in your daily skincare routine and you will reap the benefits.