How to Get Rid of Blackheads

You've heard the term blackheads before - your friends could use the term regularly - your co- workers may talk about them at the office and your older sister never seemed to shut up about them while you were teenagers, but do you actually know that much about what a blackhead is? Read on for a few facts about blackheads and how to get rid of them.

 According to the US Library of Medicine, “blackheads are small, dark spots on the skin, caused by a small blockage in the opening of a pore.”

Blackheads have been considered to be the beginning of acne and much like all forms of acne, blackheads develop due the over production of dead skin in the pore, oil and bacteria.

How Blackheads are Formed

Sebum lubricates the hair and skin, and usually drains from pores. If the sebum/oil becomes blocked by excessive dead skin in the pore then bacteria begins to build up with no opening to the surface of the skin, a whitehead appears. A blackhead forms if the pore opens to the surface of the skin, allowing air to enter.

Why Blackheads are Black

Blackheads are dark in color because sebum contains melanin. Melanin is the substance that gives skin its color. When melanin is exposed to air - it turns dark. The dark color of blackheads does not mean they are dirty, and although scrubbing does help with blackheads, it will not completely remove them.

 Why blackheads on the Nose seem to come right back

Blackheads can show up anywhere on the face. As a skincare professional I mainly hear complaints about blackheads on the nose and under the lower lip.  Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips seem to be popular with blackhead sufferers. However that product doesn’t remove blackheads. Instead, the Biore Pore Strips remove sebaceous filaments from the nose.  You see the body produces these filaments in both the nose and lower lip area and they can be easily lifted out of the pore manually or with a strip.  They also return quickly because they are not blackheads and should be in the pore.

The Difference

Sebaceous filaments will be all the same size, extract and then return very quickly.  Blackheads will not be uniform in size compared to sebaceous filaments.  The blackheads need to be extracted and do not release as easily from the pore.  Blackheads may return but not as quickly as the filaments.  However, blackheads can be controlled by using the correct skincare products at home along with professional extractions.

If you are suffering with blackheads or searching for a way to eliminate blackheads and control acne Skintherapy Skincare and Acne Clinic in Salt Lake City can help.  Our Acne Specialists are trained in managing all types of acne including blackheads.  Give us a call.