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.
For deep blackheads, dermatologists use photopneumatic therapy. The process involves a combination of intense pulsed light lasers and a hand-held vacuum. Using these together allows your dermatologist to get deep into your pores to remove dead skin cells and excess sebum.
Squeezing blackheads out with your fingers might be one of the more satisfying ways to remove them, but Dr. King warns that it's not a good idea. "Squeezing blackheads can traumatize the skin, introduce bacteria and damage the pore,which can spread debris and bacteria deeper into the tissue," she says.
Cleansing. Washing your back with a cleanser containing salicylic acid has the potential to break down oil and dead skin cells that cause blackheads. It also helps promote skin peeling , which treats blackheads and other types of acne.
Use Products With Salicylic Acid
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.
Cleanse with salicylic acid
Instead of benzoyl peroxide, look for over-the-counter (OTC) products that contain salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is the preferred ingredient for treating blackheads and whiteheads because it breaks down the materials that clog pores: excess oil. dead skin cells.
The esthetician wears gloves, and applies gentle pressure around the pore to extract the contents. This may be done using the fingers (wrapped in gauze or cotton) or a special metal implement designed for this purpose.
Via Refinery29, Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., agrees that after the clay mask brings all the junk to the surface, physical massage can "indeed dislodge clogged pores and whatever's inside them."
'You should absolutely not squeeze blackheads. Squeezing a spot can push the inflammation deeper and this can cause scarring of the skin,' she says. Squeezing a spot can push the inflammation deeper and this can cause scarring of the skin.
While cellophane tape could possibly remove surface dead skin cells, it's unclear how effective this method is in removing clogged gunk in your pores. Don't use masking, duct, industrial, or any other type of tape that could be harmful to your skin.
Blackhead extractor
Spoon extractors: Spoon extractors can help doctors remove immature or small blackheads. Loop extractors: Loop extractors are also an effective tool for removing minor blackheads. Lancet extractors: For more mature blackheads, dermatologists can use the lancet extractor, which has a different shape.
Gentle cleansing
Using a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser twice per day with warm (but not hot) water is a nonirritating way to remove excess oil and dead cells from the skin. It is a good idea to wash the face gently, as vigorous scrubbing can cause redness and draw attention to clogged pores.
The 'white stuff' that comes out of a blackhead or more commonly in pimples is pus. Pus is formed from inflamed debris, dead white blood cells and is also produced as the body's response to bacteria invading the system. This can it will heal on its own without treatment.
Due to its bleaching properties, using hydrogen peroxide to remove blackheads has been a common practice in skin care circles. Simply diluting it with water and applying it to the face after cleansing and exfoliating can give remarkable results, from removing blackheads to reducing scars.
"Although it doesn't work for everyone, many people find that spreading a small amount of Elmer's glue on your nose, letting it dry, and peeling it off can remove oil and blackheads," he says.
Dermatologists Weigh in on the Vaseline Method
"I would never recommend this method to any patient," San Francisco-based dermatologist William Kwan, MD, told Health. "Vaseline can clog pores and applying plastic wrap is physically occluding the pores.
Home remedies for blackheads are green tea, tea tree oil, salt scrub or sugar scrub. Green tea helps lower the oil production on your skin while tea tree oil can stop the growth of bacteria. The salt or sugar scrub exfoliates your skin and removes the dead skin that is clogging the open skin pore.
Do dermatologists recommend using pore vacuums? In short, yes. Since these vacuums make the process of unclogging pores and clearing skin a lot faster and easier, many experts have given at-home devices an official nod of approval.
Apply a warm compress
The heat can open up pores, which may draw the pimple closer to the skin's surface and create a head. The formation of a head enables the sebum, cells, and bacteria to exit the skin. The heat from the compress can also help to relieve pain.