Start by applying a product with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to the site of your blackhead.
“Post-picking, you want to keep your skin in a moist environment for optimal healing,” Nava Greenfield, M.D., a dermatologist who practices in Brooklyn, said. “Aquaphor is great until the skin has healed and then Bio-Oil or a silicone gel as a scar prevention.”
Once you've extracted, you'll need to apply a toner, this helps to kill bacteria and bring the PH level of the skin back between a 5.5 and 7. Afterward, apply a pimple cream or acne gel that has salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide as the main active ingredient.
Neosporin does not kill the most common acne-causing bacteria, so it won't typically be effective at fighting pimples or cystic acne. Because it has many moisturizing, skin-healing oils in its ingredients, Neosporin may temporarily tame irritation and also heal areas of damaged, broken skin.
If you're bleeding, she says to “gently blot the area with a clean tissue or cotton pad and clean the area with alcohol.” Once the blood has stopped, she advises applying a spot treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as mentioned above.
Chiu recommends using a gentle facial cleanser followed by a soothing balm or serum to maintain skin hydration. She suggests reaching for any occlusive protectant (aka slippery balm-type products) like Aquaphor to help skin cells heal faster and create a protectant barrier.
You usually don't have to do much after extracting, says Zeichner. Applying a mild, fragrance-free moisturizer is enough to hydrate and calm the skin.
After five minutes, remove the washcloths and plastic wrap and keep the skin moist by applying a bit more moisturizer.
Close the holes temporarily with cold water.
Cold water makes your pores contract, which makes them look smaller. Try splashing some cold water on your face or holding a cold washcloth against the blackhead holes.
It's irreversible damage,” says Dr. Henry. Damaging your skin by squeezing or picking can also cause inflammation, hyperpigmentation and scarring. Squeezing additionally introduces bacteria, oil and dirt from your hands into your pores, which can lead to more blackheads.
How long do acne extractions take to heal? Most blemishes can take about five to seven days to heal after extraction, although this can depend on factors like the depth and severity of your breakouts. Your skincare specialist can give you instructions to follow to make sure your skin heals without scarring.
Keep The Area Clean
A popped pimple is an open wound that can easily get infected. So the first thing to do is to clean the area with a mild cleanser. Avoid touching the affected area to prevent the germs from spreading.
Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment. This will help keep the affected area moist and prevent infection. If you notice the formation of a rash or redness due to antibiotic ointment use, suspend use of the ointment. Protect and cover the abrasion.
Aloe vera gel, green tea extract, turmeric, yogurt have properties to simulate skin healing; these can be applied overnight for maximum effect. Washing your face before going to bed is especially important. It opens the pores, cleans bacteria, and removes makeup residues over the skin (which may cause clogged pores).
It's true – wounds in the mouth really do heal much faster than cuts to the skin. A study has discovered that the lining of the mouth is permanently primed for healing. The finding could lead to new ways to improve wound-healing elsewhere in the body.
“Gently press on each side of the blackhead until it begins to release,” she says. “Apply slow and even pressure, and once you are able, lightly pinch the tweezers and pull the blacked out material from the skin to extract it. If the blackhead does not release easily, do not continue to attempt the extraction.”
Blackheads can develop anywhere but are most commonly found in areas with the most oil glands, such as your back, chest and face. They can cause scarring, which usually appears as tiny “ice pick” scars in the skin and may be associated with a type of acne called comedonal acne.
Don't: Treat with Hydrogen Peroxide
Regardless of whether you have sensitive skin or not, it's a safe bet to treat blackheads with gentle products that are free of fragrances and irritants. Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly misused solution and is neither a gentle nor a valid long-term 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.
Unfortunately, however, there are no permanent and comprehensive fixes to said issue of blackhead pores/holes. But you can minimize the appearance of these pesky pits by tightening your pores and using techniques to prevent the holes from clogging again.