How to Use an Acne Extractor
Acne extractors, also known as blackhead and whitehead extractors, are handy for getting rid of acne heads, which can be black, white or yellowish in appearance. Used properly, you can easily eliminate the fluid and bacteria inside your pore with an extractor. Approach the removal process with a light touch, as forcing and excessive poking at pimples and zits usually results in permanent scarring, and according to AcneTalks.com, it usually causes more acne to creep up on your face. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Antibacterial soap
- Facial cleanser
- Soft, clean washcloth or hand towel
- Double-ended acne or blemish extractor
- Topical acne treatment, such as benzoyl peroxide cream or salicylic acid
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton ball
Instructions
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Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water. If you poke at your face with dirty fingers, even while simply using an extractor tool, you have a higher likelihood of spreading germs and bacteria back into your pores.
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Squeeze a dime-size amount of facial cleanser onto your fingers and work it into your face with warm water. Make sure you're washing well where you're about to perform the acne extraction. Pat dry with a washcloth or towel.
Alternately, you could also steam your face or take a hot shower before extracting blackheads to open up the pores.
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To remove a blackhead, take the flat end of the acne extractor and encircle the pore with the flat loop. Applying a gentle pressure, slide the tool across the blackhead to remove any trapped sebum or other foreign bacteria. Do not press so hard you create an impression or red mark in your skin, as this has a high likelihood of creating a scar in itself.
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To remove a whitehead, encircle the pimple with the larger looped (or cupped, depending on the tool you own) head of the extractor and again apply gentle pressure to remove the whitehead. These can be easier to remove than blackheads, since it's easier to tell if you've successfully gotten rid of pus. If you start to see blood coming out the pore, remove the tool from your skin.
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Apply a small amount of topical acne treatment to each removed pimple while it's still open. This will help kill off any leftover bacteria you might not have been able to extract with the tool.
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Sterilize the extractor tool by soaking the cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and cleaning each end of the extractor. This is important, as you could potentially spread bacteria from previous removals onto your skin the next time you go to extract a pimple.
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Tips & Warnings
There are several types of extractor tools available; some have looped ends, and some have cupped and covered ends. Thus, you have a few options available when purchasing a tool; ask your dermatologist about which one is best for your skin.
Never use an extractor tool on an inflamed pimple with no head, a cyst or an acne nodule. It is best to ask a doctor or dermatologist if she can remove this type of acne safely with a sterile extractor needle; do not attempt to do this yourself.
