Whiteheads occur when a sebaceous gland becomes inflamed, usually due to excess sebum, dirt, dead skin, or bacteria. In turn, your body produces excess sebum to try and push it out. When successful, the melanin of the dead skin cells turns black as they encounter oxygen and, in turn, oxidize, hence the name “blackhead.”
Because of this, blackheads can form almost anywhere on your skin and can be a pain to deal with, but improper removal can lead to bruising and scarring. Luckily, this article will review how to remove blackheads without damaging your skin.
Prep Your Skin
Before touching your skin, wash your hands to ensure that you’re not introducing any new dirt or bacteria to your skin that would give you more blackheads. Then, you’ll want to cleanse your skin to remove the dirt, makeup, and oil lying on the surface. Once you clean your hands and face, you can begin steaming your face to open your pores. This will allow your skin-care products to be more effective and aid in the removal of blackheads. Just be sure to use clean water, such as boiled or distilled water, as you don’t want any minerals or chemicals from your sink water in the steam.
Use Proper Removal Techniques
Ideally, you’ll leave the blackhead alone for it to go away on its own, but not everyone can stand it, as some blackheads take months to disappear naturally. So if you must squeeze, make sure you haven’t skipped the steaming step, as it’s critical for removing them without hurting your skin.
Additionally, never use your fingers or nails to extract, as this will quickly lead to damage and scarring. Instead, use a comedone extractor designed to remove dirt, such as blackheads, from pores. Press the comedone extractor gently, and if the plug doesn’t come out immediately, let it rest and try another day.
Use the Right Products
If you’re determined to let your skin get rid of blackheads naturally, there are some products you can use to aid the process. As your skin creates new skin cells, it removes the dead ones that accumulate and pushes them up and out. Retinoids are great at promoting this process, and when you cleanse your skin the next day, it will be much more effective at clearing out those blackheads.
There are also ways you can prevent blackheads from appearing altogether. One of the many benefits of charcoal masks is their ability to remove impurities, drawing out the dirt and oil that causes blackheads. If you use an activated charcoal mask twice a week, this can aid in the prevention of future blackheads.
Now that you know how to remove blackheads without damaging your skin, you can get clearer skin faster and without leaving marks and bruises behind from improper removal.
