Were you one of those teenagers who spent time in front of the mirror trying to pop or squeeze out every last blackhead on your face? Then you were left with red blotches everywhere. Now that you are an adult who is older and wiser, you know you shouldn’t do that. Right? Let’s clue you in on how to prevent and remove stubborn blackheads.
Preventing Blackheads
A blackhead develops when sebum, debris, and dead skin cells get stuck in a clogged pore. This ugly concoction, known as a comedone, sits at the surface opening of a pore and the air turns it black or grey, whereas a whitehead creates closed pores covering the debris so they look white.
If you have oily skin, you are more prone to getting blackheads. Here are the best ways to prevent getting them.
In addition to thoroughly cleaning your face morning and night (that includes taking off all your makeup before going to bed), try the following:
- Look for over-the-counter products with salicylic acid. Use it just once a day to get rid of all the bacteria and debris that lead to blackheads. This is also helpful for those with dry skin.
- Use AHAs and BHAs for gentle exfoliation. Regular exfoliation can help to remove excessive amounts of dead skin. It also helps remove existing blackheads.
- Use a skin brush, but only occasionally. There are many on the market.
- Only use non-comedogenic products.
The “Big Kahuna” Of Blackheads
This is one type of blackhead you shouldn’t try to remove. It looks like an extra large blackhead. Don’t try to squeeze, and no amount of cleansing will get rid of it. The “big kahuna” is known as a pore of winer. It looks like an extra large blackhead and many times there is a bubble or cyst underneath, but don’t worry, it is benign.
This is something Goodless Dermatology, in Orlando and Celebration, FL, should remove, not you. Even if you get some of it out, it will only come back. Allowing a dermatologist to excise and remove all the contents of the pore will guarantee it won’t return.
Contact Goodless Dermatology at (407) 566-1616, or request an appointment online, if you have excessive blackheads or think you may have a pore of winer.