The one-two punch does not always feel great, but it can help remove and prevent those pesky black dots. If you are battling blackheads and have access to a dermatologist, request comedone extractions followed by a salicylic acid peel. If you have the means, visit a professional A blackhead-fighting skin care routine will not work as quickly as in-office extractions, but it will help your pores de-gunk and keep themselves clean. “Retinol, or vitamin A creams, usually used at night, is the most helpful ingredient to unclog blackheads and make them go away,” says Rabach. (The idea is that like attracts like, so massaging a cleansing oil into the skin can help pull other oils from pores and the epidermis.) Need to call in the big guns? Reach for retinol - either over the counter, such as Differin or by prescription. However, it is worth noting that some experts swear by oil cleansers as a way to free gunk from the skin. “Using oil-free makeup and moisturizers and oil-based cosmetic products can dramatically reduce blackheads,” says Rabach. “Exfoliators, especially ones that contain alpha or beta hydroxy acid or even salicylic acid, will help reduce the amount of clogged materials around the pores, unclogging them and reducing the number of blackheads.”įrom there, choose whatever stays on your skin - moisturizers, foundation and the like - wisely. At night, consider following a wash with a quick exfoliation. “The first thing is trying to wash your face every night, removing makeup and other products,” suggests Rabach, who also recommends showering immediately post-exercise to keep sweat from sticking around and clogging pores. Rather than reaching for an extraction tool, opt instead for a solid skincare regimen. If you are looking for a DIY approach, stick to a tried-and-true prevention method If puffiness lingers or you suspect an infection, check with a doctor who may prescribe a treatment cream or drain a particularly upset spot. No touching, no drying treatments, just time. Reach for a warm (but not scalding) wet compress and wipe away any blood or excretion. Say you ignored our warnings and prodded anyway, and now you are left with a red, possibly-bleeding situation. If you pushed and picked, leave it be - and monitor the situation Pushing any dirt further into the skin can even break down the barrier between gunk and dermis, causing bacteria to spread and cause an infection. “Trying to extract the blackhead with a tool can cause mini tears and can push the clogged pore deeper into the skin, ultimately leading to a deeper, more inflamed pimple that can then leave scarring and pigmentation.” That pitting and redness often draw more attention than the blackheads themselves, leaving the DIY extractor-wielder worse off than before. “Removing blackheads is definitely a job better suited for a dermatologist,” says Rabach. Tempted to order your own extraction tool after seeing them on TV? You should really reconsider. A speck of oxidized oil sometimes stays put despite your prodding (or sinks further into the skin), and that fun little tool you just got in the mail? It can lead to scarring, redness and even infection. That does not mean that fending them off is a useless battle - it just means you will have to adopt a consistent blackhead-fighting plan, rather than attacking an ad-hoc basis.īlackheads can appear again and again, even after removal.īut if you have ever fended off a dark bump, you know that looks can be deceiving. When all the clogged material hits the air outside, it oxidizes and the outside turns black.” Because your skin constantly produces oil and sheds old skin cells, blackheads can appear again and again, even after removal. “Dead skin cells and oils collect in the opening to the skin follicle, producing a bump called a comedone. “Blackheads form when a clog develops in the opening of hair follicles in your skin,” dermatologist Morgan Rabach, M.D. Although, they are nothing compared to what the good doctor faces on her show. And with your own at-home extraction tools, just an Amazon click away (and for so cheap, at that!) it can be tempting to use an extraction tool at home on your innocent-looking blackheads. Doctor Sandra Lee pops with ease, digging all sorts of gunk from the depths of human skin. Pimple Popper, you know how addicting cleaning out pores can become. If you have watched the new season of Dr.
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