Products to Use for Blackhead Removal They include: Face washes, lotions, masks, clays, peels, exfoliants, and gels that help dissolve blackheads. Sticky pore strips. Manual blackhead removal devices (which help you put pressure on the skin around the blackheads)
One go-to ingredient for eliminating blackheads is salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid that increases cell turnover and unclogs pores, says Saedi. Suozzi adds that the acne treatment can help dry active acne lesions because it is a mild chemical irritant. A wealth of research suggests salicylic acid helps treat acne.
Deep blackheads should be removed by a medical professional — usually a dermatologist or medical aesthetician. They use a small tool with rigid metal loops on the ends (blackhead or comedo extractor) to apply even pressure to your blackheads.
Cleansers that combine both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are very effective at treating blackheads, says Burke. Lactic acid: Lactic acid is an exfoliant that helps break up dead skin cells and unclog pores, says Spey.
Applying toothpaste on blackheads: Yes, there's an idea circulating the web that you can use toothpaste to extract your nose blackheads. Don't buy it! Toothpaste can cause dryness and irritation, causing more skincare troubles than it's worth.
Key Takeaways. Blackheads result from clogged pores, often due to factors like hormones, hygiene, and dead skin cell buildup. At times, your skin naturally exfoliates to deal with blackheads, but untreated ones may transform into pimples.
Do pore strips actually work? Essentially, yes. "They work and you can visibly see that they do work in terms of taking the clogged pores out," Tzu said. "But they work to a limited extent." They likely won't remove all of the blackheads that you're seeing (especially if you're not applying the strip correctly).
Blackhead treatment and removal
One such ingredient is salicylic acid. This gentle exfoliating ingredient helps dissolve the excess oil and skin cells that cause clogged pores in the first place. Salicylic acid can be found in a range of products such as face washes, toners, and other acne treatments.
Begoun says that although it's possible to use tweezers to remove blackheads, this technique usually won't get rid of the whole thing, and will only get to the uppermost portion of the sebum. “It doesn't reach the root of the problem hiding deeper in the pore lining.
Chemical peels can help to remove deep blackheads through skin regeneration, but it's important to note that skin irritation can occur but does usually clear within 7-14 days. The good news? You can expect to start seeing the results in as little as 3-5 days [9]. Microdermabrasion is another great option.
While it's not a direct blackhead removal method, some believe that waxing can help in indirectly targeting blackheads. The process of waxing involves applying warm wax to the skin and then swiftly removing it, which can also remove the upper layer of dead skin cells.
The enlarged pore, once emptied of its unsightly contents, will only fill back up again. Repeated squeezing and/or extraction can lead to an infection or cause hyperpigmentation in the surrounding skin cells. Removing a dilated pore of Winer permanently is a job for a dermatologist.
Your body can gradually break down pus and reabsorb its components. That's why small accumulations of pus (like in a pimple) often don't need treatment.
Extractions – for those who have numerous blackheads or whiteheads, a dermatologist may recommend an extraction. It can be tempting to pop pimples at home, but this increases the risk of scarring, inflammation, and infection. Professional extractions are a safe and effective option for whitehead and blackhead removal.
When constantly battling blackheads, online blogs may tell you that hydrogen peroxide is a great alternative to treating acne, but this is wrong. This common household item exacerbates irritation and worsens acne scars.
Petroleum jelly (vaseline) is a barrier and does not melt away a blackhead. In actual fact it can cause more harm than good, this is because it traps the dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells on the skin surface leading to the skin becoming irritated and causing more inflammation.
Turmeric & Honey Mask
When combined with honey, it creates a potent mask that not only combats blackheads but also brightens and rejuvenates the skin. Mix a teaspoon of honey with a pinch of turmeric powder to form a paste, apply it to your face, and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water.