I get the type of whiteheads that start off as a tiny white spot under the top layer of the skin (so they are unsqueezable) and eventually, they ALWAYS emerge as a pus-filled zit and become inflamed. Does anyone know what causes this inflamation? It happens regardless to whether I pick at them or leave them alone...

I think many have the same little bumps but they don't get inflamed!

 

I had the same, it is a form of closed comedone. Mine all started as tiny spots skin coloured, under the skin. I had millions and they all would eventually become inflamed. After struggling for 5 years with them (they are the most stubborn form of acne) and using different topical creams and antibioitics, I was put on accutane in august. By month 4 they had all gone, it was the best decision I ever made.

Yeah I was on Accutane too, twice. They came back.

Not as much, but still enough to be visible when they flare up.

I have them I think differin has helped clear some but I'm noticing them coming back right along my jawline and chin. I am getting a little stressed as I know they are all going to become huge pimples and leave red marks. I don't think any of mine have ever cleared without becoming inflamed first.

Same here! Can you explain how Differin helped?

Maybe my story can help you somehow:

I know exactly that my acne is due to cosmetics allergy. I used to have very clear skin (even though I am still acne-prone), but later since I start switching my skincare set & turn to "more expensive" BB cream, after 4 months, I see the bad results.

The most mistake I made was I didn't quit make up and skincare until I find the whiteheads spread 50% of my face. Whenever I wash my face, I feel like millions of pimples are going to attack my face very soon with the millions of whiteheads. I cannot pop it, I cannot do anything. I just wait to see it inflamed (you are luckier since it is not inflamed). The worst thing is that the number of whiteheads is somehow double everyday.

I went to see my doctor and she prescribed me Clindamycin and BP 10%. I used it for 2 weeks. I quit Clindamycin drugs after 2 weeks since I do not see any results, just the side effect, but I still keep BP on the the inflamed pimples.

I turned to Avene Triacnial Treatment which is a Tretinoin & Glycolid acid treatment, together with Avene Soapless Cleanser from week 3.

Well, at that time, I quit all make-up and skincare (very hard decision). My skin start broke out like hell within the next 2 weeks with small inflamed pimples, but at the same time, a lot of non-inflamed whiteheads just pop on my skin, and I can easily extract it with a whitehead extractor. I do the research and know that Tretinoin is a very good treatment for whiteheads, so I think it works. Until end of week 5, I do not new whiteheads everyday anymore.

However, I have made another mistakes when applying the treatment too frequently. My skin become dry & irritated, which caused 7 big pustules which whiteheads never cause. (maximum size normally is just papules)

So I turn to Cetaphil cleanser now and stop the treatment for 1 week. My skin is calming gradually and I am now on the week 7. I count about 30 comedos still on my face but I hope there is no inflamed pimples anymore, so I can extract all the whiteheads after the next 2-3 weeks. I have scars but I don't fear of it, since if no pimples happens anymore, normally my scars go away within 3=6 weeks.

So maybe you should try:

1. Tretinoin treatment. Maybe you can try BP. Actually I do not know the whiteheads is popped out of the skins thanks to Tretinoin & Glycolid acid or BP (since I already used BP for 2 weeks before whiteheads easily come onto the surface of my skin).

2. Don't irritate your skin with many harsh chemicals. Rotate the treatment, take it slow. If not, you will end up with papules, or even cyst.

3. Use a mind cleanser.

4. Make a diary of what you use to treat & how your skin react

Keep us posted about your skin, you will feel more encouraged )

Haha, thank you! Good tips in there! Can you extract whiteheads with this extractor without making them inflamed?

Or, do you use it when they are inflamed and poppable already?

I need it for those that are not inflamed yet and they are quite deep in the skin!

Some get inflamed, some just "purging" on to my skin as a dry whiteheads. However, never ever extract them without seeing a clear "white eye". I made a lot of mistakes by extracting them too soon, which cause the small little bumps to be the big boys ((

The non-inflamed just give me small red marks which go away by 2 weeks but the big boys inflamed costs me at least 2 months to push the scars away.

But again, do not irritate your skin, use little and slow. I am now giving up all the treatment for a while after I "bomb" it with BP & Tretinion. I only take drugs (multi-vitamin and Chinese herbal remedy). I do not see new whiteheads coming about 1 week now but who knows, fingers cross !!!

I think the differin seems to speed the process up... The small flesh coloured spots become inflamed much quicker. It's weird cause I know my skin that well that I know which ones are going to flare up next lol. My Derm has changed my treatment to Isotrex to see if that works better.

They are not whiteheads, they're pustules. Whiteheads by definition are part of non-inflammatory acne.