Blackheads look like black dots that have formed on your skin. Blackheads are called open comedones. Comedones are the skin-colored bumps that form when you have a pimple. In the case of blackheads, these comedones consist of follicles beneath your skin with very large openings, or pores.
“Some blackheads can persist for days, weeks, or even months if not extracted, while your body usually clears small whiteheads within a week to 10 days,” says dermatologist Laurel Geraghty, M.D. These tweaks to your skin-care routine can help.
Each follicle contains one hair and a sebaceous gland that produces oil. This oil, called sebum, helps keep your skin soft. Dead skin cells and oils collect in the opening to the skin follicle, producing a bump called a comedo. If the skin over the bump stays closed, the bump is called a whitehead.
The white stuff that comes out of your pores like thin strings when you squeeze your nose is called a sebaceous filament. It's mostly made up of sebum (oil that your skin produces) and dead skin cells. This substance typically collects in pores around your nose and chin.
The bottom line. Removing a blackhead once in a while is safe for most people, but it's important not to make a habit out of removing them yourself. If you have recurring blackheads, make an appointment with a dermatologist who can help you address them with more permanent treatment options.
To begin, place a warm, damp cloth over the blackhead for several minutes to help open the pore and make the plug easier to remove. Then, place the extractor loop around the blackhead. Add pressure until the buildup is released – but never try to force the contents as this can damage the skin.
If it becomes infected, you might also notice: redness. swelling. white- or yellow-colored pus.
Removing blackheads may leave the pores open but you can make them appear smaller eventually by following CTM (Cleanser, Toner & Moisturization) routine to tighten the pores. Toner helps prevent breakouts and keep pores from getting clogged, thereby making them appear smaller.
Do blackheads go away on their own? Blackheads can sometimes go away on their own — it depends on how deep blackheads are in your skin. If a blackhead is close to the surface of your skin, it's more likely to go away on its own. However, some blackheads can be deeply embedded in your skin.
Sebum consists mainly of oil which is excreted by a network of tiny glands all over the body. Sometimes the sebum becomes trapped which can result in skin problems such as acne and cysts. Sebum can develop a `cheesy ` smell which is why some people have `smelly` feet.
Although it may look like dirt has become trapped in your pore, that black spot isn't dirt at all. It's actually the plug of your skin's oil that you're seeing. The top of the plug oxidizes because it's exposed to air, and turns into that dark blackish-brown spot your see.
When you have blackheads, these large pores become clogged with a substance known as sebum. A chemical reaction with the sebum occurs under your skin. Melanin is oxidized and turns the clogged pores a black color.
A sebaceous filament is a tiny collection of sebum and dead skin cells around a hair follicle, which usually takes the form of a small, yellow to off-white hair-like strand when expressed from the skin. These filaments are naturally occurring, and are especially prominent on the nose.
Complications from a blackhead
If pores are infected, the skin can become inflamed and cause acne, which is the inflammation that results from clogged pores. The pores can also become inflamed if the blackhead isn't treated. Other conditions can occur as a consequence of the inflamed tissue if you pop pimples yourself.
A dilated pore of Winer forms similar to a blackhead pimple, where dead skin cells clog the pore (hair follicle). As a result, the dead skin cells in the pore create a protein (sebum and keratin) that collects and plugs up the pore, causing the pore to enlarge (dilate).
Where do deep blackheads form? As acne occurs due to an overproduction of sebum, deep blackheads often appear in areas that have a higher concentration of sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands are small glands in the skin that are responsible for the production of sebum.
"Because blackheads are hard and trapped inside pores they can't be 'scrubbed away' or washed off," Sarkar said. "Most often, they need extraction." But even if they're extracted, they could keep coming back because your nose — with all of its glands — will continue to excrete oil.
What causes blackheads on your nose? A blackhead starts to form when your pores become clogged with materials like oil, sebum (a substance naturally produced by your skin), makeup, dirt, and bacteria. Blackheads are noninflammatory acne known as open comedones.
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. This won't shrink them permanently, but it works as a good temporary fix.
A blackhead hole will never go away on its own as the dirt buildup stretches and enlarges it. What you can do is clean it with salicylic acid, reduce inflammation using retinoids, and heal the skin and tighten it with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.
Blackhead holes are pores that are left behind post-removal of blackheads (i.e., they fail to shrink back to their normal state) and is a big problem for those who are prone to blackheads. And despite what advocates of cosmetic cures might opine, blackhead holes are very hard to get rid of.
Prolonged exposure to the air causes the blockage to oxidize and darken. Because the pore gets stretched out of shape, it will fill back up again even after it is emptied. These stubborn pores are most likely to occur on the face, chest and back.
Blackheads are not moles, nor will they ever turn into moles. While blackheads and moles can be similar in appearance, they are caused by very different things. Blackheads are a non-inflammatory form of acne, caused by an accumulation of sebum and dead skin cells that become stuck or clogged inside one of your pores.