Health & Beauty 101: How do I get rid of blackheads?

August 11, 11:01 AMDallas Health and Beauty ExaminerCamille Kruse

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Get rid of blackheads with a proper home care routine!

Blackheads are a form of acne and are the result of excess oil, dead skin cells and bacteria getting “stuck” in a pore. Since the pore is “open” (blackheads are referred to as open comedones), this mixture oxidizes upon contact with air and gives off a black hue. They are most commonly found on the nose and t-zone area (forehead, nose and chin), since we tend to produce more oil there.

Use these tips get clear skin...

• Cleanse your skin every morning and night.
  Since blackheads are the result of debris in the pores, you never want to go to sleep without washing your face! Use a clay-based cleanser (which helps draw oil out of the pores) if your primary concern is blackheads. If have additional acne concerns (like inflammation and whiteheads), use a medicated cleanser with Salicylic Acid.
• Check the labels of your skin care and cosmetics.
  It is surprising how many companies use ingredients that are bad for the skin. Why do they do it? Usually because these ingredients are cheap to obtain, and most consumers aren’t aware of the downsides. If you are prone to blackheads, don’t use products with these ingredients: SD Alcohol (which dries the skin to the point where it starts overproducing oil to compensate for the dryness), Mineral Oil (comedogenic), Isopropyl Myristate (in many cosmetics, but very comedogenic and bad for skin), Fragrance (no benefit to skin, can be irritating), and Lanolin (can be irritating and trigger eczema).
• Get a facial.
  While you shouldn’t rely on facials alone, they are a great way to jump start a healthy skin regimen. A skin therapist can use professional strength exfoliants, machines and products to make extractions easier. Once you have a clean slate to start from, at-home maintenance will be much easier.
• Create a proper at-home skin care regimen.
  Getting rid of blackheads is all about using products to cut through oil and keep pores clear. Look for products containing Salicylic Acid (which cuts through oil) and/or Benzoyl Peroxide (which has anti-bacterial properties). If this doesn’t help, speak to a dermatologist about a prescription-strength vitamin-A product like Tretinoin. A sufficient regimen consists of: cleanser, exfoliant, treatment product, moisturizer (designed for oily skin). Incorporating a twice-weekly mask is great, but you know how much time you are willing to spend on skin care. Don’t get burned out…stick to a routine that you can keep up with.
• Use proper extraction methods.
  If you aren’t having blackheads professionally extracted, use the proper technique! Always start with steamed skin to open the pores. Keeping both index fingers parallel to the face, pull apart the skin around the blackhead. Using the pads of your index fingers, make a “mound” under the blemish, then wiggle upwards until the debris is removed. Don’t force it…if it doesn’t work after 3 attempts, leave it alone for a few days.
• Don’t overdo scrubs.
  When many people think about exfoliating, they think of harsh scrubs. These can often times irritate the skin spread bacteria! Chemical exfoliation utilizes ingredients like Salicylic Acid…a beta hydroxy acid that can cut through oil. Exfoliate about 3 times weekly to keep pores clear, and if using a scrub, find one with micro-fine particles that also contains chemical exfoliants.

For more info: 
Watch a video on the proper way to extract blackheads