Blackheads Can Be As Bad A Problem As Acne

Blackheads are also known as comedones. Of course, they are really gross to most of us, but they do not indicate poor personal hygiene as many people believe. They are just caused by excess oil in the sebaceous gland ducts. Exposure to air makes the surface of the comedones appear black.

They are mostly comprised of keratin and sebum and have a brownish yellow appearance when extracted. Your mother probably told you not to squeeze blackheads and pimples and she was right. No matter how satisfying it is to get that stuff out, you can damage your skin and permanent scars may result.

There are comedone extractors made just for the purpose of extracting that nasty sebum. These are stainless steel, inexpensive, and easily sterilized. They work by applying uniform pressure around the blackhead forcing it to the surface.

Extracting Blackheads

You don’t need to steam your face over boiling water before using these, but a warm washcloth used as a compress for 10-15 minutes will help. I’m sure everyone remembers the commercials for Biore blackhead removal strips. OK, I admit it; I tried them and found them not to work very well.

You do need to clean your skin properly and avoid using cosmetics that contain oil or heavy moisturizers. Many products today are labeled non-comedogenic and these are what you want. Most teenagers are familiar with bezoyl peroxide cleansers. Most acne products contain them and you will want something that is 2.5% benzoyl peroxide or more. Using a topical product containing salicylic acid will help to exfoliate the skin. You want to remove dead skin cells that may clog the pores.

Blackheads: Be Gentle With Your Own Skin

We’ve all seen people vigorously scrubbing and using harsh products and scratchy cloths and pads to try and remove blackheads. Keep in mind that if you have acne and blackheads, your skin is already irritated. Harsh products will often make the situation worse, so don’t take a Brillo pad approach and try that as treatment for acne or blackhead removal.

Tea tree oil had been shown to be effective for use on acne and blackheads, but it is very concentrated and some people are allergic to the compound so use care. If your acne is severe or if you hesitate to try and remove blackheads on your own, check with an esthetician.

These technicians are specially trained in skin care and may be able to help you. They will also advise you if a dermatologist is indicated. You want to take care of your skin and avoid the scarring that may result from improper removal of blackheads.