Blackheads (or open comedones) resemble small pimples or rashes that arise due to clogged hair follicles.
These skin lesions appear as black dots because their surface is dark or black.
Open comedones are a type of acne that forms on the face, especially on:
- Nose
- Chin
- Ears
- Forehead.
Blackheads can also occur on:
- Back
- Breast
- Legs
- Groin
- Neck
- Poor
- Shoulder.
Blackheads that are on the back can be very large.
In general, blackheads are caused by an overproduction of sebum that occurs at the time of puberty.
Spikes in hormone production can cause elevated levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is a hormone that triggers the overactivity of the sebaceous glands, which leads to clogging of pores.
Contents
Causes of blackheads
Skin care and blackheads – a myth
Many people believe that black dots can appear on perfectly cleansed skin.
Frequent washing doesn’t make much difference to acne and can even worsen skin symptoms if inappropriate cleansers are used.
In some cases, blackheads occur due to excessive use of:
- aggressive soaps,
- moisturizer,
- Sunscreen
- Make-up or foundation agent.
These products irritate the skin and cause redness and swelling.
Nutrition
According to doctors, food does not cause acne.
Some studies have looked for a link between some dairy products and acne, but there is no scientific evidence for this.
According to the theory of the blood group diet, however, the causes include:
- milk and dairy products,
- Sweets,
- cereals containing gluten.
Stress Stress
does not directly affect the development of blackheads.
However, stress and anxiety can cause people to scratch blackheads and acne, which then leads to skin irritation.
Symptoms of blackheads on the face and back
Blackheads are easily recognizable on the skin due to their dark color.
They are slightly raised above the skin level, but do not cause pain because they are not inflamed like the pimples.
Is it right to express blackheads?
Yes, squeezing is the only way to remove black dots immediately, and when the pore fills with sebum again, it will be much softer and it will be easier to treat it.
However, it is not necessary to express every blackhead you see.
Some are very small and partially covered, which is why expressing them can damage the surrounding skin.
So that only start at pores that are more open and darker.
How to remove blackheads?
- Cleanse the skin with a mild cleanser.
- Steam helps to open the pores and soften the plug.
You can take a hot shower or put a hot and humid cloth on the affected areas for a few minutes. - With the two index fingers carefully press the skin down and push against each other.
- If a blackhead is ripe for exit, this will happen very easily.
Sometimes you can quickly express it and then wipe it with a handkerchief. - Remember: if this is not easy to do, you should leave it alone.
If you insist too persistently, it can damage the skin. - After squeezing a blackhead, clean the area with water.
How to express blackheads on the nose
The nose deserves its own paragraph, because this is a difficult area. In the case of blackheads on the nose, it is necessary:
1. use the thumb of one hand as support on the opposite side of the nose;
2. position the index finger of the same hand on the edge of the blackhead;
3. Press down against the thumb with one finger of the other hand.
Often a comedon squeezer is the easiest solution to remove blackheads on the nose.
What is the therapy for blackheads?
Over-the-counter medicines
Many drugs for acne are freely available in pharmacies. These medicines are available in the form of creams, gels and patches and are applied directly to the skin.
These drugs kill bacteria, dry out the excess oil and remove the dead skin cells.
The pharmaceuticals contain active ingredients such as:
- Resorcinol
- Salicylic acid
- Benzoyl peroxide (acner oxide ®).
Plaster strips against blackheads
The most commonly used patches are from Nivea (clear-up strips) and from Essence (purifying face strips).
- Before applying the patch, it is necessary to moisten the skin.
- Glue the patch strip to the skin.
- When the patch begins to dry (after ten minutes), you have to peel it off very slowly, which pulls out the blackheads.
- If you pull too hard, the blackheads are not removed.
Spreading adhesives on the skin should be avoided as this can cause skin irritation, such as with vinavil glue.
Prescription medications If acne does not improve with over-the-counter medications, the doctor may recommend prescription, more potent medications
.
Medicines containing vitamin A such as:
- tretinoin,
- Tazaroten (Zorac ® ),
- Adapalene (Differin ®).
These drugs prevent the formation of blackheads and promote exfoliation of the skin. They are applied directly to the skin.
The doctor may also prescribe another locally active drug that contains benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics.
In addition to blackheads, this medicine may also be effective against pimples and cystic acne.
Avoiding certain products There are products for the skin that clog the hair follicles and thus promote the formation of blackheads (comedogenic products
), for example:
- Lip balm
- Vaseline
- Paraffin
- Mineral oil
- Lanolin
- Wax
It is enough not to use these products to solve the problem.
Manual removal of blackheads
For a natural removal of blackheads, you can contact a dermatologist or cosmetologist.
1. Dermatologists Dermatologists
are doctors specializing in the skin who use special instruments called comedone lifters to remove blackheads; the lifter has a round loop.
After a small opening of the blackhead, the doctor uses the device to apply pressure to remove the contents from the inside.
2. Beautician
The beautician also cleanses the face and removes the blackheads.
- As a rule, the face is treated with steam or a warm mask is applied for 15 minutes before the blackheads are manually squeezed.
- The type and frequency of treatment depend on the skin type.
As a rule, the treatment for combination skin is carried out three times a year.
For particularly oily skin, treatment every two months may be necessary.
For sensitive skin, on the other hand, facial cleansing can make the situation worse. - To prolong the effect of cleansing and prevent the formation of new blackheads, the cosmetologist recommends home use of special products adapted to the skin type.
Microdermabrasion In microdermabrasion
, doctors use a special instrument that has a rough surface to grind the uppermost layers of the skin.
The skin smoothing removes the substances that cause the blackheads.
Chemical peel Chemical peel
removes the blackheads and dead skin cells that cause the black dots. During treatment, a strong chemical solution is applied to the skin, which can be based on:
- Salicylic acid
- Glycolic acid
With the treatment, the upper layers of the skin dissolve and a smoother skin appears.
A gentle exfoliation is available without a prescription, while the stronger treatments are performed by dermatologists.
Lasers and pulsed light
Laser and pulsed light therapies use small beams of light to reduce sebum production and renew the skin.
Both forms of therapy reach the deep layers of the skin to treat acne and blackheads without destroying the upper layers of the skin.
7 Natural remedies for comedones
1. Sulfur
Excessive sebum secretion, clogged pores and bacterial growth cause acne.
Sulfur fights the last two causes by its properties:
- antibacterial
- keratolytic.
The keratolytic property peels the top layer of skin, thus preventing dead cells from clogging pores, resulting in:
- Folliculitis
- seborrheic cysts.
In this way, it promotes the growth of new skin cells.
Sulfur is an effective treatment against:
- Blackhead
- Pimple
- Psoriasis
- seborrheic dermatitis.
Attention! A localized treatment is recommended so as not to cause dry skin.
It is better to avoid sulfur on combination skin, it can irritate the less greasy areas.
Sulfur acts on the surface and is ineffective in deep infections.
How is sulfur applied?
There are several sulfur-based products:
- Detergent
- Creams
- Soaps
- Masks.
2. Honey pack
The honey should be very sticky in order to be a help against the blackheads.
- It is enough to take a small amount on your finger and brush the areas on the face where the black blackheads are located.
- Apply a clean gauze.
- The honey sticks to the material that is in the pores.
When the honey is removed from the face, the pores empty from the solid residue.
Honey is a mild antibacterial and antioxidant agent. - Leave the honey on for at least three minutes and then remove the gauze.
- Rinse the face with water.
3. Protein for dirt removal
This is one of my favorite means to remove the black blackheads.
- First it is necessary to clean the face, then egg whites are spread on it with your fingers or with a brush.
- At the beginning, apply a thin dish and allow to dry.
- Then apply a next coat over it and let it dry completely.
- After 15 minutes, the mask has dried.
You feel the face tense, that’s positive. - Then carefully remove the egg whites from the face with a warm, damp cloth.
4. Clay mask for sebum absorption
All you need is water and clay (and maybe apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil).
What type of clay should I use? There are several types that cost little:
- bentonite (green clay), apply only to blackheads and not to healthy skin, because it dries it out;
- kaolin (white clay);
- Pale earth (Smektite).
The basic principles are:
- Mix 1 tablespoon of clay with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or water until a lump-free paste is formed.
- Cleanse the face, and then apply the mass to the areas where the blackheads are located.
- Allow to dry for 15-20 minutes.
- Carefully remove the mask with a warm, damp cloth.
5. Water and baking soda
You can also prepare a mask of water and baking soda to cleanse the skin.
- Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda in a cup of water.
- The amount of water and baking soda should be the same.
- Mix until a paste is formed to apply to the face.
- Leave on the face for 15 minutes, then rinse.
6. In case of recurrence of blackheads: clean toothbrush and lemon Use
a toothbrush that is used exclusively for cleaning the blackheads. Never use this toothbrush for the teeth.
After treatment, immerse the toothbrush in a jar of hydrogen peroxide to keep it clean.
How the cleaning is done:
- Put a small amount of lemon juice on the toothbrush with one or two drops of oil for oily skin, such as jojoba or coconut oil.
- Carefully brush the areas with the blackheads with the toothbrush.
- Then rinse with water and apply oil and lemon juice again.
- Perform circular movements.
- Do not use more than once a week.
- Do not brush around the eyes and over open wounds.
7. Remove
blackheads with toothpaste You can reduce the size of the comedones with the help of toothpaste, because this works:
- antibacterial
- detergent
- has the ability to absorb sebum.
Application:
- Cleanse the skin with a gentle facial cleanser.
- Put some toothpaste directly on the blackhead, avoiding the surrounding skin.
For precise application, use a napkin. - Wait until the toothpaste has dried and massage the area gently.
- The first time, wash off the toothpaste after a maximum of 20-30 minutes with lukewarm water, otherwise skin irritation could occur.
- If this treatment does not cause redness, the toothpaste can also remain on the spot for 2 hours or even the whole night (with insensitive skin).
