About Blackheads

Acne is a common skin condition that occurs most frequently during the teen years. It is often a cause of embarrassment, especially when it continues into adulthood.
Blackheads can occur alone, or may be an early stage of more severe forms of acne. Blackheads can have potentially devastating physical, emotional, and social effects if left untreated.

Significance

A plethora of products exists to treat blackheads. Because blackheads typically occur on the face, they are often a source of embarrassment for teens and adults. Blackheads that are not treated can become inflamed, leading to more severe forms of acne, significant scarring, and permanent damage to skin tissue and pores.

Features

Blackheads, which are medically known as open comedones, are yellowish or blackish plugs in the skin. A type of acne vulgaris, blackheads are caused by the accumulation of sebum and dead skin cells in the sebaceous ducts. The blocked skin pores take on a dark color due to the oxidizing effect of air on the sebum.
The dark or black color of blackheads is not caused by dirt or cosmetics. Blackheads are most commonly located in the T-zone area of the face, where sebaceous glands are the most active. The T-zone consists of your forehead, nose, and the area around your mouth and chin.

Prevention/Solution

The best way to prevent and treat blackheads is to remove the underlying causes: excessive sebum and dead skin cells. The skin should be cleaned regularly and gently. Scrubbing or over-exfoliation can worsen the condition.
Blackheads can be loosened using steam and then removed from the skin using tweezers. To prevent damage to the surrounding skin, only blackheads that have started to emerge from the clogged pore should be extracted.
Although many tools are available for blackhead removal, including loop and spoon extractors and special guns, these should only be used by a trained professional.
The use of harsh astringents on the skin can actually result in an increase of blackheads, as these products strip the skin of its natural oils, resulting in a greater production of sebum.
Over-the-counter (OTC) acne medications, including those that contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, and resorcinol, may be effective at reducing the number of severity of blackheads for some people.
Most OTC medications work by penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin, breaking up clogged pores, and reducing inflammation.
However, these products often cause significant drying, redness, and skin irritation, and it therefore wise to consult your doctor before beginning treatment with any OTC acne medication.
Moreover, salicylic acid is contraindicated in people who suffer from rosacea, a skin condition that is best treated by a physician.

Warning

Attempting to remove blackheads forcibly can result in permanent damage to the pores and surrounding skin. Additionally, squeezing blackheads can force them deeper into the skin, causing tissue damage, severe acne, or infection. Because blackheads consist partially of dead skin cells, they can contain large amounts of bacteria. Frequently touching blackheads can result in contamination of other skin areas.

Misconceptions

Although many people believe that blackheads are caused by dirt, this is not the case. Washing with soap and warm water helps remove excess oil from the top layer of the skin, which can improve acne.
However, blackheads are not directly caused by unclean skin. Moreover, the frequent use of cosmetics is rarely a cause of blackheads. In some people with skin sensitivities, the use of certain cosmetics can result in inflammation and overproduction of sebum. In these cases, hypoallergenic cosmetics are recommended.

Resources

• Acne Talks
• ACNE.org