A whitehead is also called a _____.

• A. Open comedones
• B. Closed comedones
• C. Pustule
• D. Papule

Answer: (B)

A whitehead is a closed comedone. It forms when a pore is clogged with sebum and dead skin cells but remains sealed at the surface, so the buildup stays under the skin and appears as a white or flesh-colored bump. Open comedones, by contrast, have an open pore and the sebum oxidizes to a dark color (blackhead). Pustules and papules are inflammatory lesions—pustules contain pus, while papules are small, raised bumps without pus. When a closed comedone becomes inflamed, it can develop into a papule or pustule.