How to Get Rid of Blackheads

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By Lisa Campana

Ah, yuck! Blackheads are those little black spots that appear around the nose, chin and foreheas - and anywhere else on the body they wish to rear their ugly heads. Read on for our tips on blackhead removal and the best treatment for blackheads.

What Are Blackheads?

Blackheads are technically known as open comedones (closed comedones are whiteheads) - and are those unsightly little black or yellowish bumps that appear on the surface of the skin, usually on the face.

They are caused by blockage of the sebaceous glands, which are found near the surface of the skin and excrete an oily substance known as sebum. Surprisingly, the visible black head isn't caused by dirt, but by the sebum mixing with dead skin cells and oxidising when it hits the air.

What Are Blackheads Caused By?

The sebaceous glands are very sensitive to hormonal changes within the body and any hormone fluctuations (such as during puberty, your menstrual cycle and pregnancy) can lead to an increase in the production of sebum and an increased risk of blackheads.

Blackheads can also be caused by the build-up of dirt and oil on the surface of the skin from the use of excess cosmetics and moisturisers, or if the skin has not been cleaned properly.

Blackhead Removal

The good news is that getting rid of blackheads is easy through proper skin cleansing and extraction methods.

Clean your skin with a gentle cleanser each night before bedtime. Scrubbing your skin within an inch of its life or using harsh abrasive body scrubs on your face can do more damage than good as some oil is naturally needed on the skin's surface to keep it healthy and supple.

To remove a blackhead, first give your face a steam to open pores. This can be done simply by leaning over a bowl of hot water with a towel placed over your head for a few minutes. For a simple home spa treatment, add a drop of an essential oil such as clary sage (for hormonal balancing), eucalyptus (for antibacterial and skin clearing properties) or lavender (for soothing and calming irritated skin) to the water before you steam.

Warning: If you are pregnant, avoid using essential oils altogether - especially clary sage, which is often used in labour to advance the birth (and we doubt you'll be worried about your blackheads if you're in labour).

Next, make sure your hands are clean, then wrap small pieces of tissue around your fingers to protect your skin from your nails. Gently extract the blockage. If it doesn't come out easily, leave it. If you force the blackhead you risk aggravating or inflaming the skin and this might lead to scarring. Not a good plan if you can help it.

Treatment for Blackheads

There are specific products on the market that are designed to eliminate blackheads. Look for cleansing products with gentle exfoliants like sea salt or microbeads, which act to loosen the blackheads. Cleansers containing salicylic, alpha hydroxy or lactic acid work to dissolve dirt and oil and unclog pores. You can also use a peeling mask or blackhead strips to unclog pores and remove blockages from the skin.

If you are in any doubt, a good beautician will offer treatments to banish blackheads and get your skin looking much clearer. They can also offer additional advice on skin maintenance to help banish those beastly blackheads for good. Check out the British Association for Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology to find a specialist.