Regular exfoliation keeps the surface of your skin smooth and free from a buildup of accumulated dead cells. This, therefore, helps to keep the pores from clogging. Whiteheads are closed pores that are clogged. They contain the same debris as blackheads, but since there is no pore opening, the debris in a whitehead has nowhere to go. Because dead skin covers the opening to the pore, sebum doesn't mix with oxygen in the air and therefore maintains its natural white or yellowish color.
Whiteheads can form for similar reasons as blackheads - hormones, genetics, and heavy creams.
Since whiteheads are closed pores. I recommend having whiteheads professionally removed. Never self-extract, as this will only make it worse. Trying to extract whiteheads without creating an opening will force the debris farther down into the follicle wall, causing the potential for infection and scar formation. Copyright 2000 Digital Korea Herald.