How to Do a Blackhead Removal Facial

This article gives step-by-step instructions on how to remove stubborn blackheads and whiteheads.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blackhead Extractor – sold on Ebay also sold in drugstores by the nail clippers
• Washcloth
• Hydrogen Peroxide or Rubbing Alcohol
• Mud- or Clay-based face mask – sold at drugstores
• Acne medication that has at least 5-10% Benzoyl Peroxide – also sold at drugstores
• Clean dry towel
• Cotton balls or tissues
• Microwave oven

1. 
   Diagram of a Blackhead

   Definition of a Blackhead:
   
   
   A familiar term for what is medically called an open comedo.
   A comedo, the primary sign of acne, consists of a dilated (widened) hair follicle filled with keratin squamae (skin debris), bacteria, and sebum (oil).
   An open comedo has a wide opening to the skin and is capped with a blackened mass of skin debris.
   By contrast, a closed comedo has an obstructed opening to the skin and may rupture to cause a low-grade skin inflammatory reaction in the area. The common name for a closed comedo is a whitehead.
   Acne occurs when sebaceous glands of the skin begin to secrete oil during puberty. These glands are stimulated by male hormones that are produced in the adrenal glands of both boys and girls. The oil lubricates and protects the skin. Under certain circumstances, cells that are close to the openings of the sebaceous glands block the openings. This causes a buildup of oil underneath the skin. Bacteria, which live in everyone's skin but generally mind their own business, feast on this oil, multiply, and cause the surrounding tissues to become inflamed.
   If the inflammation is right near the surface, a pustule is formed; if it is deeper, a papule (pimple); deeper still and it becomes a cyst. If the oil breaks though to the surface, the result is a whitehead. If the oil becomes oxidized (that is, acted on by oxygen in the air), the oil changes from white to black, and the result is a blackhead. This is how the two types of comedones develop.
   www.medterms.com

2. 
   Diagram of a Whitehead

   Definition of a Whitehead:
   
   A familiar term for what is medically called a closed comedo.
   A comedo, the primary sign of acne, consists of a dilated (widened) hair follicle filled with keratin squamae (skin debris), bacteria, and sebum (oil).
   A whitehead is a comedo that has an obstructed opening to the skin. A closed comedo may rupture and cause a low-grade skin inflammatory reaction in the area.
   By contrast, an open comedo has a wide opening to the skin and is capped with a blackened mass of skin debris. It is commonly known as a blackhead.
   Acne occurs when sebaceous glands of the skin begin to secrete oil during puberty. These glands are stimulated by male hormones that are produced in the adrenal glands of both boys and girls. The oil lubricates and protects the skin. Under certain circumstances, cells that are close to the openings of the sebaceous glands block the openings. This causes a buildup of oil underneath the skin. Bacteria, which live in everyone's skin but generally mind their own business, feast on this oil, multiply, and cause the surrounding tissues to become inflamed.
   If the inflammation is right near the surface, a pustule is formed; if it is deeper, a papule (pimple); deeper still and it becomes a cyst. If the oil breaks though to the surface, the result is a whitehead. If the oil becomes oxidized (that is, acted on by oxygen in the air), the oil changes from white to black, and the result is a blackhead. This is how the two types of comedones develop.
   www.medterms.com

3. Instructions:
   
   The following are instructions for a facial for persons with stubborn blackheads and/or whiteheads. If you have blackheads and/or whiteheads you need to remove them with this facial. This should be done once a week. It is easy to do and inexpensive, simply follow the steps below:

4. 
   Picture of Blachead Extractor

   1. Wash your face with mild soap and water. Pat dry with clean towel.
   2. Follow the instructions on your face mask. Usually a facemask goes on wet and you need to wait at least 15-20 minutes for the mask to dry. The mask will draw all of the blackheads to the surface of the skin and loosen the whiteheads.
   3. After the mask is thoroughly dry, wash off the mask in a hot steamy shower. Hot steam will open facial pores which will make blackheads and whiteheads easier to remove.
   4. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
   5. Take a damp, clean washcloth and put it in your microwave on high for about 20 seconds. Place the hot clothe on your face to further open pores until the washcloth slightly cools. You may want to reheat the washcloth and reuse it during extraction.
   6. You will need a mirror in a well-lit room – probably a bathroom.
   7. Locate a blackhead or a whitehead. Take the blackhead extractor and press down on your skin with the tip of the extractor. The blackhead or whitehead should be visible inside the loopy end of the extractor.
   8. Press hard on the extractor until the blackhead or whitehead pushes out of the pore. It will look like a short string of hard puss. Sometimes you may need to keep pressing until you see a spot of clear blood where the blackhead or whitehead was located.
   9. Reheat the hot cloth and keep using it to keep your pores open, extract as many blackheads/whiteheads as you can. You will probably not be able to remove all of them.
   10. Once you have removed as many blackheads/whiteheads as possible (don’t be alarmed at how red your face will be – this will go away), you will need to close the open pores and cleanse where the blackheads/whiteheads were located to avoid scarring and spreading of bacteria. Soak a cotton ball or tissue with hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol and gently clean your face.
   11. The last step is to spread the benzoyl peroxide gel or crème all over your face, especially where the blackheads/ whiteheads had been.

Tips & Warnings

• You have just given yourself your first facial. You will get better with practice and your complexion will greatly improve if you repeat these steps once a week. Be sure and read the instructions on the benzoyl peroxide gel or crème – you can probably use the gel or crème twice daily to prevent break-outs and reduce oiliness. If your skin becomes to dry or irritated use the gel or cream only once a day.
• Please visit http://www.bathbodylotions.com for skincare products and more skincare articles.
• If you do not see any improvements in your complexion you should consult a dermatologist, he or she can prescribe oral and topical medications that can greatly improve your skin. You may find a licensed dermatologist in your area at the American Academy of Dermatologists at: http://www.aad.org/findaderm
• Most health insurance plans cover dermatologist visits, treatments and medicines.

Resources

• Visit Bath Body Lotions

[carlom]

on 9/15/2009 Very Nice! 5*

[rcryder]

on 7/22/2009 very informative... could have used this when I was younger... lol. 5*/rec