Though blackheads are a common form of acne and can affect anyone, studies show that Blacks can be more prone to them than other ethnicities. The problem seems to affect women more than men as well. The good thing is that it’s perfectly possible to get rid of blackheads and prevent them from coming back.
Blackheads are a type of acne that’s caused by the accumulation of oil, debris, and dead skin cells. It’s more likely to affect people with oily skin and can be found where you produce a lot of oil such as on the nose.
While blackheads are typically a result of excess oil and dead skin cells, their cause can be more complex depending on where they form.
Generally, your skin secretes oil from its sebaceous glands and many of these are connected to your hair follicles. When one of these glands or follicles becomes inflamed, a blackhead is likely to form.
Factors like too much oil production, the abnormal presence of the protein, keratin, higher levels of androgen, and increased bacteria on the skin can also cause blackheads to form.
Blackheads may also be a result of Hidradenitis suppurativa, a condition that causes small, painful lumps to form under the skin.
The main difference between whiteheads and blackheads is their structure. Blackheads are open comedones while whiteheads are closed and have a thin layer of skin over them. Additionally, whiteheads are generally regarded as an inflammatory form of acne and blackheads are not.
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When oil, debris, and dead skin cells collect in your pores, the result is a blackhead. This type of acne gets its characteristic dark color from oxidation. Since the pore remains open, the plug that forms from the combination of excess oil and skin becomes discolored.
It’s possible for blackheads to go away on their own if they’re close to the surface of your skin. Some blackheads go a little deeper and are likely to get worse if left untreated.
It might be tempting to try and squeeze them but that usually only results in scarring. You also run the risk of not removing the blackhead entirely and introducing more bacteria to make things worse. The best course of action is to seek an over-the-counter treatment or talk to a dermatologist.
If you don’t want to wait for your blackhead to go away on its own, it’s a good idea to look into possible treatment options. Sometimes an over-the-counter or at-home treatment is enough but more aggressive blackheads might need a dermatologist’s intervention.
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At-home treatments can include tea tree oil and green tea while over-the-counter options can be a variety of cleansers or gels that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
You should always avoid alcohol-based and oil-based treatments. A dermatologist may opt for prescription strength retinoids as well as antibiotics.
They may also recommend helpful procedures like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser skin resurfacing. With deep blackheads, you can expect them to use an extractor to get rid of the blackheads and prevent them from coming back.
Here Are 10 Ways To Get Rid Of Blackheads
To prevent blackheads, it helps to have a good skincare routine. You should use cleansers with alpha or beta hydroxy acid, choose your make-up carefully so it’s not too heavy, and protect your skin from damage with sunscreen. If you’re going to exfoliate, don’t overdo it as this can lead to breaks in the skin. It’s also important not to pick at your skin as this increases your odds of introducing bacteria into the pores and making things worse.
Anybody can develop blackheads but you can get rid of them with a visit to your local pharmacy or by seeing a dermatologist. It’s also important to treat your skin well to prevent blackheads. Though you can’t control fluctuations in hormones and the skin’s oil production, you can develop a strategy for fighting the results.
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