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Step 1
Wash your face every morning and night. Blackheads happen when debris gets trapped in the pore, so keeping the skin nice and clean can help prevent that buildup. Don't use soap...find a cleanser designed for your skin type.
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Step 2
Exfoliate with Salicylic Acid. This is a beta hydroxy acid that can cut through oil and keep pores clean. Try to avoid harsh scrubs if you are breaking out...they can spread bacteria! Instead, opt for a chemical exfoliant or cleanser with Salicylic Acid.
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Step 3
Get a facial! While you can't rely on facials alone to keep skin clear, a therapist can give you a good start with a professional exfoliation and extractions. This will give you a clean slate to start a good at-home regimen. Your therapist can also give you tips and recommend a product that would help.
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Step 4
Extract properly! It's not ideal to extract blackheads on your own (this can sometimes cause more problems), but it can be hard to resist. If you must, here is the right technique: keeping both index fingers parallel to the skin, pull the skin around the blackhead apart. Make a "mound" under the blackhead, then wiggle the debris up and out of the pore. If it doesn't come out after 3 attempts, let it rest and try again tomorrow.
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Step 5
Take notice of how you touch your face during the day. Our hands come in contact with lots of oils and bacteria. If you tend to touch your face a lot, you could be contributing to clogged pores!
