What are Blackheads? Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

What Are Blackheads?

As the name suggests, blackheads are tiny black dots on the face. They are open comedones that are caused due to clogged hair follicles. Blackheads have large pores which become clogged with sebum. 

Melanin in our body reacts with this sebum, oxidises, and turns the clogged pores black. These are mild types of acne that usually form on the face but may also occur on other body parts like the back, neck, arms and shoulders. 

Causes Of Blackheads:

Many confuse blackheads with trapped dirt, but it is not related to the cleanliness of the skin. So what causes blackheads? Let's Discuss 

Some of the critical factors that may increase the development of blackheads include ageing and hormonal changes. Though blackheads can appear at any age, puberty is the most crucial time when you may experience a lot of blackhead development on the skin due to extreme hormonal change. The hormonal change spikes up the sebum production, clogging pores, leading to blackhead formation. 

During adolescence, both males and females experience high levels of androgens, leading to an increased sebum secretion and the formation of blackheads. 

Other factors that may cause blackheads are:

• Overproduction of skin cells
• Blocking pores with makeup or cosmetics
• Sweating heavily due to humid climate or greasy atmosphere
• Health conditions such as PCOS, PMS and stress
• Overdose of steroid-based drugs
• Intake of birth control

 Blackhead Treatment:

Blackheads can be easily recognised and don't necessarily need a healthcare professional to treat them. Let's discuss how to have pain-free treatment at home. 

1.Salicylic Acid:

Salicylic acid is widely known for its exfoliating properties. It dissolves dead skin cells and prevents hair follicles from clogging pores. To add to this, it helps remove the top dead layer of the skin without causing damage. 

2.Azelaic Acid:

Azelaic acid is found in many kitchen ingredients like barley, wheat, rye and other grains. It is known for its properties like treating skin swelling and killing microorganisms on the skin. 

3.Benzoyl Peroxide:

This ingredient targets the surface bacteria on the skin that causes acne etc. Its most common side effects may include dryness and itching. 

4.Retinoids:

Retinoids such as Retin-A, Tazorac, etc., help break blackheads and prevent clogged pores. 

Though the products mentioned above work pretty effectively in getting rid of blackheads, some blackheads are incredibly rigid and don't go quickly. Other treatments may require professional guidance:

5.Laser Skin Resurfacing:

This technique directs a short, concentrated light beam on the irregular or unhealthy skin. It vaporises skin layer to layer and removes the outermost layer of the skin, i.e. epidermis. The process vaporises the outer layer of the skin, promoting the growth of new skin cells and collagen fibres, resulting in the removal of blackheads.

6.Chemical Peels:

Chemical peels use mild chemicals or solutions to improve the appearance of skin by gently removing the top layer of the skin. A chemical solution is applied to that skin that causes trauma or injury to its layers, eventually peeling them off, revealing the new youthful and glowing skin. 

Home Remedies For Removing Blackheads:

Although there are many treatments available for blackhead removal, we always look out for remedies that may help with our skin condition and treat it well in the comfort of our homes. Hence, let's discuss a few:

1.Use of tea tree oil:

Tea tree oil is renowned for treating skin problems like acne, dark spots and blackheads. It prevents the skin from acne-causing bacteria and controls excess sebum. Applying a small amount of tea tree oil religiously with the help of cotton to the affected area will speed up the treatment and reduce blackheads. You can also apply it by mixing it with our daily moisturiser or face mask.

2.Sugar/Salt Scrub:

Using sugar or salt for exfoliating our skin has proven effective over the centuries. This scrub helps to exfoliate the dead skin layer and promote the growth of new skin cells. You can make sugar and salt scrub by mixing honey with them. Massaging this scrub in a circular motion for a few seconds and rinsing it off with running water will help with blackhead removal. Use this scrub two times a week for best results. 

3.Green Tea Toner:

Green tea is rich in antioxidants, and it helps in excess sebum production, which is the primary cause of blackhead development. A spritz of green tea toner helps keep you refreshed while decreasing the number of blackheads. Making green tea toner is similar to making green tea, and we can store it in the refrigerator for around a week. Moreover, leftover green tea leaves can also massage and exfoliate the skin. 

Products For Treating Blackheads

Blackheads may be stubborn and rigid, making them difficult to get rid of but using the right products will help us remove them easily without much hassle. 

1.DermDoc Salicylic Acid Face Serum:

This serum is excellent for dealing with many skin concerns like acne, blackheads, and whiteheads and regularises the sebum production, making the skin texture smooth and even. Salicylic acid is the most effective and excellent exfoliator among all other chemical exfoliants.

It contains no harmful chemicals such as parabens and sulphates and goes deep into our skin and gently exfoliates. While it deals with acne and blackheads, the emollients and humectants bind the moisture to the skin, making it soft and supple.

2.Good Vibes Activated Charcoal Peel Off Mask:

It is manufactured to deeply clean our pores by squeezing out the dirt, dust, and oil and exfoliating the dead skin cells leaving a naturally glowing skin behind. This mask is exceptionally effective for getting rid of blackheads as it removes them and tightens pores, preventing further formation. It deeply exfoliates and detoxifies our pores, making our skin smooth, soft and glowing.

 3.Alps Goodness Sandalwood Face Scrub:

Enriched with sandalwood and its natural soothing properties, this scrub is suitable for sensitive skin for removing blackheads. This scrub physically exfoliates the skin and cleans pores from dirt, gunk, dust, and oil. It leaves us with glowing and healthy-looking skin. It is one of the best physical exfoliators available across the internet. Here are few best face scrubs for glowing skin. Do check them out!

Frequently Asked Questions:

1.Best way to remove blackheads?

Blackheads can be stubborn but are not impossible to get rid of. To remove blackheads at home, follow these steps:

1. Wash the face with a gentle natural cleanser.
2. Stream the face for around 5 minutes.
3. Exfoliate using a gentle physical exfoliator/scrub.
4. Use Salicylic acid-based serum for further removal of deeply embedded blackheads.
5. Moisturise well with a non-oily gel or cream. 
6. Repeat these steps once a week.

2.Is it ok to pop blackheads?

Popping the blackhead won't solve the issue as it's just the sebum filled into pores that may come back. Also, the open pores may get filled with bacteria leading to further infection and damage. You should follow proper treatment to get rid of them permanently.

Now that we know the common causes and treatment of blackheads do not ignore them anymore. Treat them in the comfort of your home with our trusted products. Visit purplle.com right now to shop for our favourite blackhead removal products.