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How to Get Rid of Blackheads

May 22nd, 2006 by admin
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1. Blackheads

Let's face it! Blackhead removal seems to be the most difficult part of maintaining healthy skin. There's no easy way to get rid of these annoying blemishes. However, there are some helpful tips to prevent and get rid of blackheads when necessary.

What is a Blackhead?

Squeezing out his blackheads

Blackheads are technically referred to as open comedones. These bumps are often indented and may look like tiny plugs. The confusion over blackheads and whiteheads has to do with the fact that blackheads accompany oily skin where whiteheads could be present on oily or dry skin.

What Causes Blackheads?

A blackhead is caused by excess oil that has clogged a pore. This clog occurs when the built-up oil is unable to flow to the surface of the skin due to a misshapen or impaired pore and dead skin cells blocking the way. When the pore is open, the oil is exposed to oxygen, which reacts and turns it a dark color, resulting in a black head.

  • Hormones are the leading cause of increased oil production. An increase in the male hormones, androgens, will increase the natural production of oil in your skin causing more oil to build up in the pores, often times resulting in the appearance of black heads.
  • The next big culprit in blackhead formation is the use of skin-care products or make-up. These products will mix with your body's natural oil and add to the build-up that can block pores.
  • Whitehead and blackhead pimple formation seems to be a predisposed condition that is aggravated or increased when combined with the above toxins.

2. Blackhead Prevention

There are many things that you can do to prevent blackheads from appearing on your face. Most involve cleansing and some require the use of medications.

  • Avoid using creamy, greasy, and thick (emollient) products. This alone will greatly lessen your chances of sprouting blackheads.
  • Use a gentle and water-soluble acne cleanser.
  • DO NOT use bar soap!!! The ingredients that hold soap in a bar form can clog the pores in your skin. They can also cause skin cells to flake off prematurely and clog the pores. If you have dry skin you will need to use a cleanser that has a bit of moisturizer in it, but be careful! The excess moisturizers can cause an increase in oil on your skin.
  • Exfoliate to eliminate dead skin cells. If there are no skin cells to clog the pores, the natural oil is able to flow through freely. Skin Exfoliation also removes the built up dead cells from inside the pores that cause them to become misshapen and more-easily clogged. Using an skin exfoliant that contains 1% or 2% beta hydroxy acids (BHA or Salicylic Acid) will penetrate the lining of the pore. If you are unable to use BHAs, you could use products containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), however these acids are only good for surface exfoliation because they do not penetrate the pore lining.
  • Absorb excess oil. If you have oily skin, try using a clay mask that does not contain mint, peppermint or other irritating ingredients. This will absorb the oil that may clog the poor. If you have dry skin, this is not necessary because pimples on dry skin are caused by oil inside the pore, not on the surface of the skin. Also, oil-absorbing papers may help to reduce the oil in your pores.
    • Wash your face
  • Visit your dermatologist. Retinoids, which are a form of Vitamin A, can help regulate the pore shape which will keep oil flowing normally. The most common retinoids are tretinoin and adapalene, found in prescriptions such as Avita, Renova, Retin-A, Tazorac, and Differin.
  • Other medications. Hormone blockers and low-dose birth control pills can lower levels of androgens (the male hormone) and Accutane should be discussed with your physician in severe cases of oily skin and breakouts.

3. Blackhead Removal

Though the best way to remove blackheads is an area of contention, the most common method for getting rid of blackheads is to gently squeeze them. Removing the "stuff" inside of the blackhead helps the skin because you are relieving the pressure which causes the damage. We know it can be nearly impossible to leave a blemish alone so here are some tips for gentle blackhead removal:

    Drying her face with a clean towel
  1. Use a mild scrub or skin exfoliant to remove any dead cells and expose the blackhead.
  2. Pat your face dry.
  3. Place a slightly warm compress on your face for approximately 10-15 minutes in order to soften the blackhead, making it easier to remove.
  4. Pat your face dry again.
  5. Place a piece of tissue on the tip of each finger to avoid slipping, which could tear the skin and cause further damage.
  6. Gently apply even pressure to both sides of the blackhead by pushing down, then up around the blemish. You're trying to apply the pressure from *underneath* the blackhead.

Only attempt this once or twice. If it does not "pop", you may bruise the skin, make the blackhead worse, and could cause scarring.

PORE STRIPS: Using pore strips to remove blackheads is not recommended for many reasons:

    A pore strip on her nose
  • The warnings on the box tell you not to use them on swollen, irritated, sunburned skin; not to use them on excessively dry skin; and not to use them on any area other than the nose. Also, the warnings state that if the strip is too difficult to remove, you should add water and remove carefully.
  • Removing the superficial blackheads, along with some healthy skin, will only help temporarily.
  • Repeated use of pore strips can cause irritation and future breakouts.
  • The adhesive on the strips can tear or injure the skin, especially if you are using an acne medication such as those listed above, or if you naturally have thin skin due to psoriasis, rosacea, or seborrhea.

Vacuum blackhead removers and blackhead extractors are not recommended for the same reasons as the pore strips. Because blacheads are caused by excessive oil production clogging the pores, the most effective way to get rid of blackheads is to control oil on the face by using mild cleansers and by balancing your hormones.

Some of readers suggest Acnezine Blackhead removal.

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  1. Will Says:
    June 27th, 2009 at 3:27 am

    Hey evry1 I’m 14 with a bit of a problem well I just wanted to say that everything I read here made sense n I’m going to try it n to believe I almost gave up. Well here I go

  2. aly Says:
    June 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 am

    how to get rid of blackheads??

    i need tips, esp home remedies because blackheads make me soooooooo insecure…!!!!!!

  3. αveriepαige Says:
    June 1st, 2009 at 5:47 pm

    Seriously , the BEST way to do it , is wash your face twice a day in warm water ( WARM ) .. Then put some clensers on it , or honey , and just do that for a bit .. it worked for me , but i stopped doing it , and i wish i didn’t ): . hope this helps ! :D .

  4. Blackheads Remedies Says:
    May 29th, 2009 at 1:11 am

    Some useful home remedies for blackheads that you can try:-

    a)Wash your face using warm or cool water.I mean “warm water”,not hot water.

    b)Use sorbitol or glycerin soap such as neutrogena to wash your face twice a day because it is gentle in your skin.

    c)When you want to make up,use hypo-allergenic brand.

    d)Always remember to keep your pillow and also your towel clean.

    e)Honey is not only good in taste but also good for blackheads.You can apply honey in affected area in your face as it is more safer than any creams available in the market.

    f)Drink 8 glasses of water daily as it is good for your health.

    g)Last but no the least is your daily eating habit.Eat healthy foods such as veggies,fruits,whole wheat foods and nuts and avoid oily foods.Fast foods and junk foods is a big no.

  5. the pimpleless girl Says:
    May 27th, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    eat a natural human diet and you will not have pimples.

    don’t eat meat. eat fresh veggies and fruits, and grains, anything that is not processed. Drink lots of water, exersise a lot and you will have no pimples at all.

  6. Kate Says:
    May 27th, 2009 at 5:46 am

    i use to have really bad acne when i was a teenager n i tried everything including goin to a dermatologist. however i went to the doctors and got a prescription for a low dose antibiotic, this worked wonders for me and cleared up my acne within one week! i dont have a solution for blackheads however because i still get them. i hope this works for you as it did for me!

  7. jj hollywood Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 2:00 pm

    EVERY 1 SHUT UP AND USE NOXZEMA IT WORKS!

  8. Steven Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    hi all! i am a 44 year old male and have always had very oily skin. i had tried EVERYTHING that was available back when my skin was really bad (blackheads and cystic acne), and wasted ALOT of money on mostly junk. i have been using, successfully, the following routine: every shower, use st. ives apricot scrub (with salicylic acid) OR neutrogena facial scrub on all affected areas. neutrogena facial scrub is more expensive, more gritty but good at removing all that dead skin, st ives alot cheaper, not as gritty, but i think just as good at exfoliation. before using whatever scrub you choose, use ivory soap to get all the heavy oil off, and then proceed to scrub. scrub once or twice at each shower, use hot water to rinse, and your skin will feel great when drying off. wash your face as often as you can during the day, and (for ladies) try to keep makeup to a minimum. your blackheads will gradually reduce in severity and frequency, and will not be so apparent. a facial (if you want to go for the money that you will be saving by NOT buying prescription medication that your dermatologist will undoubtedly tell you is necessary), once every month or so, is a winning combination. good luck to all.

  9. judy Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 10:06 am

    try washing your face every 2 hours and rubbing white powder.dont press any acne on your face it will go on its own and leave no blackheads.

  10. Laura Says:
    May 9th, 2009 at 4:28 pm

    Is It True That Clearasil Makes Your Skin Worse?

  11. Helen Says:
    May 4th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    I use a hairgrip, try that on them!!

  12. Casey Says:
    May 1st, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    Proper grammar clears up your skin.

  13. sam Says:
    April 27th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    Get some aspirin pills or the powdered stuff, not the coated ones, take three from the pack and dissolve in tea spoons of water, less for the dissolved stuff, once its dessolved pour a drop of honey on it and apply to the skin in a circle motion, after that is completed get an electric toothbrush and in a circle motion navigate it around your skin, under all the nooks and crannies etc. only do this twice a week. Also for the blackheads that are embedded steam your face and with a clean tissue squeeze them all out, make sure its clean every use, use cold water to close the pores again. Use your normal facial scrubs as usual. I use the boots clean and clear, the scrub and the antibacterial one. Works really well. The aspirin mask, honey and electric toothbrush is great, if you type aspirin mask into youtube it will bring up a tutorial for you. A great tip someone made is to make sure your bed covers and pillow cases are clean at all times. My face is soft and clean now and looks really clean using all this.

    Hope this helps and Good Luck!!

  14. Roxie Says:
    April 27th, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    i am 12 years old and i have spots. but i THINK i have a solution. i’ve asked my mum about my spots and she buys me loads of lotions and stuff like that but NOTHING has worked !! but she found a solution for me … she has dermititous (duno how to spell it but its red patches on the face and body) and she made me try her perscripted cream, well i started using it about 2 days ago and before that my skin used to be dry and my skin used to be really red from my spots… and im using it now and what you do is put it on the bits of ur face tht u dont like and then they fade. my spots have nearly gone now and im glad she came up with the idea for me ! my skin looks sooo much better ! hope this workes for you (: x

  15. Jemma Says:
    April 27th, 2009 at 10:28 am

    I have a really bad black head problem, its like all of the blackheads are taking a vaccation on my face. I really need some help!

  16. katie m Says:
    April 26th, 2009 at 10:09 am

    arrrhhhh
    nothing works at all believe me i’ve tried the lot.
    and i take these awful pills that make me wanna gag, and they hardly make a difference.
    my skins out of control, ecspecially my back and im going on holiday soon and don’t want to spend my time covering my back up.
    But, i have noticed that when i go on holiday my spots clear up, its great but i can only see the difference at the end of the holiday which is crap.
    the salt water in the sea, and the sun clears up the spots on my back, but i’d like to get rid of them before i go on holiday rather than just for the plane ride back. :(

  17. Edna Mohamud Says:
    April 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

    Hey I Have BlackHeads n I Fink It is Da Cream I Have Been Usig
    I Need Help Im 13 Years Old

  18. lisa Says:
    April 15th, 2009 at 9:53 am

    i cannot keep my hands off my face 4 a secound it full of black head it so annoyin i want some help

  19. oneisha Says:
    April 15th, 2009 at 7:47 am

    heeeey if you guys have blackheads all you have to do to get rid of them are the following:
    1. boil a pot full of water and when you see the steam coming up take the pot of the stove put the water in the boil and get a dry face cloth can put you face over the steming water for at least 5-10 minutes when your done get the dry face cloth and gently srub on your blackhead then when your done that put cold water on your face to close your pores

  20. Pooja Says:
    April 7th, 2009 at 5:26 am

    Hi.. I’ve black head n white heads too…. n I go for facial or clean up once in a month… but they still turn up.. I’m 24 i just wanna come of this stuff.. coos it irritates to the core……..

    Will try stuff n c if this work.. keep my fingers crossed.. LOL pray for me….

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