\n<header>\n<h1>How to Get Rid of Blackheads\n\n<div class='\"reading-wrapper\"'>\n<div class='\"readtime\"'>3 min read\n<div id='\"audio-placeholder-091e9c5e81daee0d\"'>Blackhead Treatment\n\n<div class='\"article__body\"' data-metrics-module='\"embd-lnk\"'>\n<div class='\"article-page' active-page data-page='\"1\"'>\n<section>If you get blackheads \u2014 a type of\u00a0acne\u00a0that happens when dead\u00a0skin\u00a0cells and oil clog your pores \u2014 you have plenty of methods to treat them. There are also ways to prevent new ones from forming.But remember: Picking, squeezing, and popping blackheads aren\u2019t among your options. That approach could make your situation a lot worse. Try some of these treatments instead.<strong>Salicylic acidSalicylic acid is a popular over-the-counter ingredient in many skin cleansers. It breaks down dead skin cells and extra oil before they can clog your pores.When you go to the pharmacy, check the ingredient labels carefully. You\u2019ll find products with salicylic acid that range in strength from 0.5% to 5%. The acid can be harsh on some people\u2019s skin. You might want to put it on every other day, rather than daily, to see how your skin reacts.As for other\u00a0acne-fighting ingredients, blackheads don\u2019t contain bacteria, so benzoyl peroxide \u2014 a powerful antibacterial against most other forms of acne \u2014 may or may not help.\n\n<section><strong>Retinoid creams and lotionsRetinoid creams\u00a0and lotions, which are made from\u00a0vitamin A, can unclog your pores. They also help your body make new skin cells.You can buy some retinoids over the counter in drugstores, but you\u2019ll need a prescription for most. Because retinoids make your skin more sensitive to UV rays, you should use these creams and lotions before bed and out of the sun.<strong>Extraction\u201cExtraction\u201d might sound scary, but many health professionals know how to remove unsightly blackheads with specialized tools.\n<p>You can find home extraction kits in stores. But most medical experts repeat that classic advice: \u201cDon\u2019t try this at home.\u201d A DIY procedure can cause scarring, even if you think you know what you\u2019re doing.\n<figure id='\"attachment_2374\"' class='\"wp-caption' alignnone aria-describedby='\"caption-attachment-2374\"'><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"size-full' wp-image-2374 src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/thefactsusa.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/11%5C/maxresdefault.jpg%5C%22" sizes='\"auto,' srcset='\"https:\/\/thefactsusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/maxresdefault.jpg' https: alt='\"Get' rid of blackheads: proven ways width='\"1280\"' height='\"720\"'><figcaption id='\"caption-attachment-2374\"' class='\"wp-caption-text\"'>Get Rid of Blackheads: 4 Proven Ways\n<p><strong>Chemical peels\n<p>A chemical peel is usually for people who want to improve the appearance of sun damage and minor scars, but it may help with certain types of acne. The procedure can unclog pores and start up new skin growth.\n</p><p>You get a chemical peel in your doctor\u2019s office. It removes cells from the top layer of your skin.\n\n\n</p><div class='\"article-page' active-page data-page='\"2\"'>\n<div id='\"instream-related-mod-2\"' class='\"instream-related-mod\"' data-v-app='\"\"'>\n<div class='\"instream-related-module\"' data-metrics-module='\"rlt-inwell\"'>\n<ul>\n<li><span class='\"instream-realted-label\"'>Related:Which Acne Treatment Is Right for You?\n\n\n\n<div id='\"ad-top-pos-141-2\"' class='\"module' ad emb-top-ad>Common ingredients in chemical peel products are salicylic, glycolic, and retinoic acids. Because the process uses acid, it can cause redness, crusting, scarring, infection, and skin discoloration.\n<section><strong>Skin brushA skin brush can help get rid of the built-up debris that contributes to acne. It can also slow the signs of aging. You should always rehydrate your skin after using a skin brush.There are many different skin brushes available to buy. Your dermatologist can tell you if using one may be right for you. They can also tell you what kind to use and how to use them correctly. If you don\u2019t use them the way you should, it can make acne worse.<strong>Noncomedogenic productsMost noncomedogenic products don\u2019t contain any oil and don\u2019t block your pores. That lowers your risk of getting blackheads.\n<p>You should be able to find cleansers, moisturizers, and makeup that are non-comedogenic.\n\n<section>\n<h2 id='\"1-2\"' class='\"jumplink-headers\"'>Blackhead Prevention\n</h2><p>To prevent blackheads, try tips such as:\n</p><ul>\n<li>Wash your face when you get up, before bed, and after you sweat.\n</li><li>Put non-abrasive cleaners on your skin gently, using your fingertips. Scrubbing with washcloths or sponges can irritate the skin.\n</li><li>Use\u00a0alcohol-free skin products.\n</li><li>Avoid the sun since some acne medicines can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays.\n</li><li>Shampoo oily\u00a0hair\u00a0regularly.\n</li><li>Limit how many times you touch your face.\n</li><li>Change pillowcases often.\n\n<p>Also, some studies suggest certain foods can worsen acne. A few of the suspects are skim milk,\u00a0chocolate, and\u00a0carbohydrate-rich foods like\u00a0bread\u00a0and chips.\n\n<section>\n<h2 id='\"1-3\"' class='\"jumplink-headers\"'>Blackhead Treatments to Avoid\n</h2><p>Certain treatments won\u2019t work for blackheads. You should avoid\u00a0<strong>oil-based and alcohol-based cleaners.\n<p>If you have oily skin, products that have these ingredients can irritate your skin.\n</p><p>If you have normal skin, moisturizers that contain some light oil should be fine. If you have dry skin, oil-based moisturizers may help.\n\n</p><h3 class='\"LC20lb' mbeuo dkv0md>Blackheads: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments\n<article class='\"article-body' css-d2znx6 undefined>\n<div class='\"css-1avyp1d\"'>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p class='\"css-w2pt6r\"'>Blackheads are small bumps that appear on your skin due to clogged hair follicles. These bumps are called blackheads because the surface looks dark or black. Blackheads can usually be treated with over-the-counter acne products.\n\n\n</p><div>\n<p>Blackheads are a mild type of\u00a0acne\u00a0that usually form on the face, but they can also appear on the following body parts:\n\n</p><div>\n<ul>\n<li>back\n</li><li>chest\n</li><li>neck\n</li><li>arms\n</li><li>shoulders\n\n\n<div>\n<p>Acne affects nearly 50 million Americans and is the most common skin disorder in the United States, according to the\u00a0American Academy of Dermatology.\n\n\n</p><div class='\"css-1avyp1d\"'>\n<div>\n<div><a class='\"chartbeat-section\"' name="%5C%22picture%5C%22">What do blackheads look like?\n\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure class='\"css-yhe8zq\"'><span class='\"css-rwmw5v\"'><span class='\"css-mjp0j9\"'><picture class='\"css-16pk1is\"'><source srcset='\"\/\/i0.wp.com\/images-prod.healthline.com\/hlcmsresource\/images\/topic_centers\/BeautyandSkinCare\/793-Blackheads-1296x728-body.jpg?w=1575' media='\"(min-width:'></source><source srcset='\"\/\/i0.wp.com\/images-prod.healthline.com\/hlcmsresource\/images\/topic_centers\/BeautyandSkinCare\/793-Blackheads-1296x728-body.jpg?w=1575' media='\"(min-width:'></source><source srcset='\"\/\/i0.wp.com\/images-prod.healthline.com\/hlcmsresource\/images\/topic_centers\/BeautyandSkinCare\/793-Blackheads-1296x728-body.jpg?w=1845' media='\"(min-width:'></source><img decoding='\"async\"' class='\"css-1jytyml\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/i0.wp.com%5C/images-prod.healthline.com%5C/hlcmsresource%5C/images%5C/topic_centers%5C/BeautyandSkinCare%5C/793-Blackheads-1296x728-body.jpg?w=1155&h=1528%5C%22" alt='\"\"'><a class='\"icon-hl-pinterest' css-q12qfg title='\"Share' on pinterest target='\"_blank\"' rel='\"noopener' noreferrer nofollow data-event='\"Any' page click clicked data-element-event='\"OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any' body widget data-pin-custom='\"true\"' data-share-url='\"https:\/\/images-prod.healthline.com\/hlcmsresource\/images\/topic_centers\/BeautyandSkinCare\/793-Blackheads-1296x728-body.jpg\"' data-pin-log='\"button_pinit\"' data-pin-href='\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button?guid=YGNzvHeUEU8d-1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthline.com%2Fhealth%2Fblackheads&media=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-prod.healthline.com%2Fhlcmsresource%2Fimages%2Ftopic_centers%2FBeautyandSkinCare%2F793-Blackheads-1296x728-body.jpg&description=Blackheads%3A%20Causes%2C%20Symptoms%2C%20and%20Treatments\"'><span class='\"css-8yl26h\"'>Share on Pinterest\n\n\n\n<div class='\"css-1avyp1d\"'>\n<div>\n<div>What causes blackheads?\n\n<div>\n<p>Blackheads\u00a0form when a clog or plug develops in the opening of hair follicles in your skin. Each follicle contains one hair and a\u00a0sebaceous gland\u00a0that produces oil. This oil, called\u00a0sebum, helps keep your skin soft.\n\n</p><div>\n<p>Dead skin cells and oils collect in the opening to the skin follicle, producing a bump called a comedo. If the skin over the bump stays closed, the bump is called a\u00a0whitehead. When the skin over the bump opens, exposure to the air causes it to look black and a blackhead forms.\n\n</p><div>\n<p>Some factors can increase your chances of developing acne and blackheads, including:\n\n</p><div>\n<ul>\n<li>producing too much body oil\n</li><li>the buildup of the\u00a0<em>Propionibacterium acnes\u00a0bacteria on the skin\n<li>irritation of the hair follicles when dead skins cells don\u2019t shed on a regular basis\n</li><li>undergoing\u00a0hormonal changes\u00a0that cause an increase in oil production during the teen years, during\u00a0menstruation, or while taking\u00a0birth control pills\n</li><li>taking certain drugs, such as\u00a0corticosteroids, lithium, or androgens\n\n\n<div>\n<p>Some people believe that what you eat or drink can affect\u00a0acne.\u00a0Dairy products\u00a0and foods that increase\u00a0blood sugar levels, such as\u00a0carbohydrates, may play a part in triggering acne, but researchers aren\u2019t convinced that there\u2019s a strong connection.\n\n\n</p><div class='\"css-1avyp1d\"'>\n<div>\n<div>\u00a0What are symptoms of blackheads?\n\n<div>\n<p>Because of their dark color, blackheads are easy to spot on the skin. They\u2019re slightly raised, although they aren\u2019t painful because they aren\u2019t inflamed like\u00a0pimples. Pimples form when bacteria invade the blockage in the hair follicle, causing\u00a0redness\u00a0and inflammation.\n\n\n</p><div class='\"css-1avyp1d\"'>\n<div>\n<div>\u00a0How are blackheads treated?\n\n<div>\n<h3>Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments\n\n<div>\n<p>Many\u00a0acne medications\u00a0are available at drug and grocery stores and\u00a0online\u00a0without a prescription. These medications are available in cream, gel, and pad form and are put directly on your skin. The drugs contain ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and resorcinol. They work by killing bacteria, drying excess oil, and forcing the skin to shed dead skin cells.\n\n</p><div>\n<h3>Prescription medications\n\n<div>\n<p>If OTC treatment doesn\u2019t improve your acne, your doctor may suggest that you use stronger prescription medications. Medications that contain vitamin A keep plugs from forming in the hair follicles and promote more rapid turnover of skin cells. These medications are applied directly to your skin and can include tretinoin, tazarotene, or adapalene.\n\n</p><div>\n<p>Your doctor may also prescribe another type of topical medication that contains benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics. If you have pimples or\u00a0acne cysts\u00a0in addition to your blackheads, this type of medication may be particularly helpful.\n\n</p><div>\n<h3>Manual removal\n\n<div>\n<p>Dermatologists or specially trained skin care professionals use a special instrument called a round loop extractor to remove the plug causing the blackhead. After a small opening is made in the plug, the doctor applies pressure with the extractor to remove the clog.\n\n</p><div>\n<p>The\u00a0Healthline FindCare tool\u00a0can provide options in your area if you don\u2019t already have a dermatologist.\n\n</p><div>\n<h3>Microdermabrasion\n\n<div>\n<p>During\u00a0microdermabrasion, a doctor or skin care professional uses a special instrument that contains a rough surface to sand the top layers of your skin. Sanding the skin removes clogs that cause blackheads.\n\n</p><div>\n<h3>Chemical peels\n\n<div>\n<p>Chemical peels also remove clogs and get rid of the dead skins cells that contribute to blackheads. During a peel, a strong chemical solution is applied to the skin. Over time, the top layers of the skin peel off, revealing smoother skin underneath.\u00a0Mild peels\u00a0are available over the counter, while stronger peels are performed by dermatologists or other skincare professionals.\n\n</p><div>\n<h3>Laser and light therapy\n\n<div>\n<p>Laser and\u00a0light therapies\u00a0use tiny beams of intense light to decrease oil production or kill bacteria. Both lasers and light beams reach below the surface of the skin to treat blackheads and acne without damaging the top layers of the skin.\n\n</p><div>\n<p>Read on to learn more about acne treatments.\n\n\n</p><div class='\"css-1avyp1d\"'>\n<div>\n<div>\u00a0How can blackheads be prevented?\n\n<div>\n<p>You can prevent blackheads without spending a lot of money by trying a few of the following ideas:\n\n</p><div>\n<h3>Wash regularly\n\n<div>\n<p>Wash your face when you wake up and before you go to bed to remove oil buildup. Washing more than twice each day can irritate your skin and make your acne worse. Use a gentle cleanser that doesn\u2019t make your skin\u00a0red\u00a0or irritated. Some acne cleansing products have antibacterial ingredients that kill\u00a0<em>P. acnes\u00a0bacteria.\n\n<div>\n<p>Consider\u00a0washing your hair\u00a0every day, too, particularly if it\u2019s oily. Hair oils can contribute to clogged pores. It\u2019s also important to wash your face after you eat oily foods such as pizza, because oil from these foods can clog pores.\n\n</p><div>\n<h3>Use oil-free products\n\n<div>\n<p>Any product that contains oil can contribute to new blackheads. Choose oil-free or\u00a0noncomedogenic makeup,\u00a0lotions, and\u00a0sunscreens\u00a0to avoid making your problem worse.\n\n</p><div>\n<h3>Try an exfoliating product\n\n<div>\n<p>Exfoliating scrubs\u00a0and\u00a0masks\u00a0remove dead skin cells from your face and can help reduce blackheads. Look for products that don\u2019t irritate your skin.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"</p><p>How to Get Rid of Blackheads 3 min read Blackhead Treatment If you get blackheads \u2014 a type of\u00a0acne\u00a0that happens when dead\u00a0skin\u00a0cells and oil clog your pores \u2014 you have plenty of methods to treat them. There are also ways to prevent new ones from forming.But remember: Picking, squeezing, and popping blackheads aren\u2019t among your […]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":522,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=521"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":524,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/521\/revisions\/524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}</p></div></h3></div></div></h3></div></div></em></p></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></h3></div></div></h3></div></div></h3></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></h3></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></li></em></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></a></picture></span></span></figure></div></div></a></div></div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></article></h3></strong></p></section></p></li></ul></section></p></strong></strong></section></div></span></li></ul></div></div></div></strong></p></figcaption></figure></p></strong></strong></section></strong></section></div></div></div></div></div></h1></header>