Blackheads are one of the most common and stubborn skin conditions. In simple terms, they are a type of acne that develops when oil or sebum (in medical terms) and dead skin cells combine to form a plug that clogs your pores. Sometimes, cleansing and exfoliating may be enough to loosen a plug and draw it out. But if the plug hardens or is too deep to access, you might not be able to remove the blackhead on your own.
This article talks about concepts related to blackheads and the tricks you can apply to get rid of them.
Begin with Cleansing
- Your first step should always be to cleanse your face. This is best done daily morning and at night. If you work out or get sweaty during the day, you may want to wash your face again afterward.
- Try to avoid over-cleansing. This can dry out your skin and cause more dead skin cells and sebum to accumulate in your pores.
- If you prefer to wash your face more frequently, try limiting cleansing to morning and evening washes and rinsing with plain water throughout the day to avoid drying out your face.
The type of cleanser you use can also make a difference in blackhead removal and prevention.
Many people prefer gel-based cleansers, which:
- Are not as oily as some cream-based cleansers
- Are typically safe for both oily and sensitive skin
A daily cleanser with gentle exfoliants can also greatly help remove dead skin cells.
Use an Exfoliant
- Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, sebum, and other debris from the surface of your skin.
- When it comes to physical exfoliants, there are plenty of options available – but avoid choosing anything too harsh that will irritate your pores.
- Ground-up nuts and other harsh beads may irritate active breakouts or sensitive skin.
Consider something simple, like a do-it-yourself (DIY) natural option or a scrub with gentle ingredients, like oatmeal or gram flour.
Take a Steam Session
Steam can help loosen the dirt and grime that’s clogging your pores, setting you up for a more effective extraction process.
- You don’t need a spa steamer to get these benefits, though. Having a sitting at home itself can do great tricks for your skin.
Apply a Face Mask
- Exfoliation and steam help prepare your pores for extraction but applying a mask first can help make it even more successful.
- Use a clay or charcoal-based mask. These ingredients help deeply cleanse the pores, and you’ll want to get as much dirt and oil out of your pores as you can before using an extractor tool.
- After loosening your pores and applying a mask, you can try extracting deep blackheads yourself.
After extracting debris from your pores, it’s important to soothe your skin to prevent inflammation. You can do this with a cooling gel mask or face serum. When choosing a mask or serum, opt for anti-inflammatory ingredients such as green tea, vitamin E, and almond oil. Apply a small amount in an even layer.
Don’t Squeeze or Pinch
Squeezing out a blackhead might feel tempting, especially if you can’t safely extract it the first time around. Some ways of removing them are safer than others though.
However: You really shouldn’t pinch, poke, or squeeze them. Removing through these wrong methods can potentially lead to:
- Skin irritation
- Larger pores and redness
- Bruising and scarring
Benefit of Pore Strips?
Although pore strips are touted as an effective way in today’s times and have seen great popularity to remove blackheads without picking, they often do more harm than good. These strips target surface debris, which more often than not does minimal to resolve the blackhead number, and additionally also dry and irritate the skin.
Benefit of Home Remedies
Although a quick internet search might reveal dozens of home remedies for blackhead removal, none of them have been scientifically proven to show efficacy. In fact, some of these purported remedies might even make your acne worse.
If you do decide to try a home remedy, exercise extreme caution. Performing a patch test by applying the substance on your forearm first and waiting overnight can help you gauge how your skin will react.
Certain everyday ingredients that some have called blackhead remedies can do more harm than good.
These include:
- Apple cider vinegar
- Baking soda
- Epsom salts
- Lemon
- Toothpaste
Many people believe these ingredients help absorb oil and get rid of dead skin cells. However, they may be too drying, so using them can lead to irritation, swelling, and further breakouts. In today’s times, several professional treatments and advanced procedures are available, wherein blackhead removal and deep pore cleansing can be done using these methods.
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical Peels
- Laser Therapy
Deep blackheads can take time to remove safely and effectively. Once you’ve removed the gunk, the strategies below can help prevent it from coming back. Some of the best tricks that can keep blackheads from recurring are:
- Incorporate salicylic acid-based products in your daily skincare routine
- Wash your pillowcases and bedding once a week without fail
- Maintain a well-balanced diet and hydrate enough
- Remove all the make-up before bed
