Blackheads can make your skin look uneven and congested, and they appear no matter how good your skincare routine is.
There are methods that are more effective than others at removing blackhead, without irritating the skin or risking scars with removal.
What Blackheads Actually Are
Blackheads are small, dark-colored plus which form when a pore gets clogged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. This trapped material becomes exposed to the air, and oxidizes.
You are not seeing ‘dirt’ when you see a blackhead – you’re seeing oxidized material inside an open pore, which is why blackheads tend to look flat and dark, rather than being swollen and white, like a conventional pimple.
With blackhead prevention, you’re managing what’s inside your pores and not just the surface. You need a good consistent skin care routine, to help you keep your pores clear, balanced and less likely to clog.
Gentle pore cleansing techniques will help you to remove excess debris, without stripping your skin. If you use regular and mild exfoliation, it will lift away any dead skin cells before they pack into your pores.
Common Causes Of Blackheads On The Nose And Face
Even if you cleanse your skin regularly and take care of your skin, there are still factors that will cause blackheads on your nose and face.
Sebum is the biggest cause, and if you have oily skin, your pores will fill faster, so the dead skin cells and oil mix together, and sit at the skin’s surface, causing pore clogging. Plus, hormones, stress and some medications can increase your oil production even higher.
If you use heavy creams, don’t remove your makeup and comedogenic sunscreens easily settle into your pores. However, harsh cleansers and over-washing your skin will just strip your skin, triggering even more oil production.
If you don’t exfoliate at all, your dead skin cells pile up. If you scrub too hard, you end up creating irritation and rebound oiliness.
Environmental factors like pollution, humidity, sweat and even touching your own face add grime and particles, which mix with your sebum, and end up deepening existing blackheads.
How To Remove Blackheads In 5 Minutes At Home
Deep and stubborn clogs take time to improve, but you can make an instant difference in the appearance of your blackheads in under 5 minutes.
You need to start by cleansing your face with a gentle and non-drying face wash, so oil, sweat and makeup don’t cause you any issues.
Pore strips can quickly lift off surface plugs from your nose or chin, by pressing them firmly onto your damp skin, then peeling away once the strip is dry.
There are DIY treatments you can try, like applying ready-to-use exfoliating face masks containing clay or mild acids, as they can draw oil oil, and smooth the pore’s opening.
You can also try a simple steaming technique, where you lean over a bowl of warm water for a short burst, and gently blot, and apply a targeted product.
Best Way To Loosen Blackheads Before Removal
Before you to try to extract anything, focus on softening the plus and relaxing the surrounding skin, so your blackheads release with less force and less damage.
Try a gentle exfoliating facial scrub, or a mild chemical exfoliant to clear any dead skin cells sitting on top of your blackheads, but don’t over-scrub, as you’re just polishing the skin’s surface, and not the pores.
Apply clay face masks to draw our any excess oil, and loosen any clogged material. After rinsing your face, you can use pore strips occasionally on sturdier parts of the face, like your nose, but don’t use them on irritated or sensitive skin.
Finish your blackhead removal routine by finishing light, non-comedogenic facial oils to keep your skin supple, reduce friction and help your blackheads slide out more easily, when you try to extract them.
