A blackhead (medically known as an open comedo , plural comedones) is a yellowish or blackish bump or plug on the skin. A blackhead is a type of acne vulgaris. It is caused by excess oils that have accumulated in the sebaceous gland’s duct. The substance found in these bumps mostly consists of keratin and modified sebum (an oily secretion of the sebaceous gland), which darkens (resembling dirt) as it oxidizes.

This is the worst zit since it is very hard to remove and it stays on your face until it rots with your body. There are several reasons that contribute to this problem. Sleeping with makeup on is a contributor, not cleaning your face appropriately, or using skin care products that make matters worse. The use of skin-care or makeup products contained ingredients similar to the composition of sebum compounding the condition. Sebum (the oil produced in the pore) is a mixture of triglycerides, fatty acids, wax esters, squalene, cholesterol, and cholesterol esters. All these substances are typically found in thousands of cosmetic products and they can absorb into the pore, adding to the buildup of sebum. Interestingly and contrary to popular belief, the ingredients mineral oil and petrolatum cannot absorb into the pore because their molecular size is too large. Both ingredients feel greasy, especially on oily skin, but neither has the consistency or research showing it contributes to blackheads or clogged pores.

To get rid of blackheads, the following steps must be followed:

• Avoid bar soaps and use a gentle, water-soluble cleanser instead. The ingredients that keep soap in its bar form can clog pores, and irritation can cause skin cells to flake off before they’re ready and accumulate in the pore. The good news is that there are lots of gentle cleansers to consider. It’s actually getting more and more difficult to find a cleanser that isn’t gentle. Someone with dry skin would want to use a slightly more moisturizing cleanser? But be careful: cleansers that are too emollient can contain ingredients that add to the sebum in your skin causing further problems.

• Gentle exfoliants can both remove the excess skin cells on the surface of the face (so they don’t build up in the pore) and exfoliate inside the pore (to improve the shape of the pore, allowing a more even flow of oil through it). Keep in mind that the pore itself is lined with skin cells that can build up, creating a narrowed shape that doesn’t allow for natural oil flow out of the pore. But don’t get carried away with this step. Overdoing it (removing too many skin cells) can cause problems and hurt skin. Exfoliation is essential for both dry and oily skin to eliminate blackheads. Someone with dry skin will want an exfoliant that has a more moisturizing base; those with normal skin can base this decision on personal preference (gel, lotion, or creamy texture). If you cannot use salicylic acid, you might want to try an alpha hydroxy acid, but AHAs are not able to penetrate the pore lining as well, and affect mostly the surface of skin. That can be helpful, but not as efficacious as salicylic acid. By the way, topical disinfectants such as benzoyl peroxide or topical antibiotics available by prescription do not help in the treatment of blackheads because there is no bacterial involvement related to their formation. You may also want to consider routinely getting a BHA (salicylic acid) peel. This is best performed by a dermatologist and can be a successful adjunct to an at-home routine for battling blackheads, especially if they prove stubborn. It is generally best to wait 4-6 weeks between peels.

• Absorb excess oil. This step is for those with oily skin and is not necessary for those with dry skin, because with dry skin the problem isn’t about excess surface oil, it’s only the oil trapped inside the pore. For those with oily skin, clay masks (that don’t contain irritating ingredients of mint, peppermint, camphor or the like) are an option and oil-absorbing papers can also help.

• Squeeze to remove it. Gently removing a blackhead or blemish with light-handed squeezing can actually help the skin. Removing the stuff inside a blackhead or especially a pimple relieves the pressure and reduces further damage. Yes, squeezing can be detrimental to the skin, but how you squeeze determines whether you inflict harm. If you over squeeze, pinch, scrape the skin with your nails, or press too hard, you are absolutely doing more damage than good. Gentle is the key word and, when done right, squeezing with minimal pressure is the best, if not only, way to clean out a blackhead or blemish. How not to over-squeeze? Steaming the face is not recommended (heat can cause spider veins to surface and create irritation), a tepid to slightly warm compress over the face can help soften the blackhead or blemish, making removal easier. First, wash your face with a water-soluble cleanser. Pat the skin dry, then place a slightly warm, wet cloth over your face for about 10 to 15 minutes. Once that’s done, pat the skin dry again, then using a tissue over each finger to keep you from slipping and tearing the skin, apply even, soft pressure to the sides of the blemish area, gently pressing down and then up around the lesion. Do this once or twice only. If nothing happens, that means the blemish cannot be removed, and continuing will bruise the skin, risk making the infection or blackhead worse, and cause scarring. Again, only use gentle pressure, protect your skin by using tissue around your fingers, and do not over-squeeze. You could try removing them gently by using a blackhead extractor. This is a neat little instrument with a hole at one end, available from chemists. Pressure around the blackhead helps it to pop out through the hole. Also, Pore cleanser strips (blackhead extractor) for removal of blackheads are highly recommended for the treatment/removal of blackheads. Using them once per week will leave yourpores cleaner and smaller.