In general, noninflamed acne blemishes are the only type that a person should ever consider popping at home.
Noninflamed acne includes different types of comedones, which form when plugs of excess oil and dead skin cells become trapped in hair follicles. Examples include blackheads, which are open pores with a black or dark-colored plug on the surface, and whiteheads, which are small bumps with a yellow or white center. Whiteheads form when blocked pores close.
These blemishes are close to the surface of the skin, so it does not usually require much intervention to get the contents out.
The only whiteheads that are suitable to pop are those that look as though they are almost ready to burst on their own.