What are those little black hairs poking from your face? Are you turning into a werewolf? Chances are, you won’t get to grow sharp fangs and excessive body hair because those lesions are just blackheads.

What are blackheads?

So what exactly is a blackhead? Blackheads are simply materials that are clogging your pore and eventually turn black. During the day, no matter where you work or who you are, your skin comes into contact with contaminants that are small enough to crawl into your skin; these things include remnants from dirt, dust, dry skin, and oil. Once your pore gets full, the oxygen found in the outside air begins to oxidize the materials, which is why they turn black.

Blackheads versus whiteheads

The proper name for a blackhead is an open comedone; whiteheads are closed comedones. Blackheads and whiteheads are super similar the only difference is that there is a piece of skin that grows over a whitehead. This piece of skin keeps oxygen out of the pore and prevents oxidation, which is why they stay white. While blackheads can be forced out with a little bit of pressure,  a whitehead has to be broken open with a small needle, and then impacted materials can be released.

Why do I have blackheads?

There are several reasons you may have blackheads:

New medications could be the cause of your blackheads. Certain meds can cause the pores to restrict and debris can get stuck more easily. If your medicine causes your skin to become dry, the skin that flakes could enter the pore and begin the formation of a blackhead.

Your work environment could also be the reason for your blackheads. If you work around a lot of contaminants like garbage men, miners, or construction workers, chances are your pores will have tons of material in them.

If you are a smoker, the soot that comes from your smoke can build in the pores. Also, smoking can cause them to restrict, trapping in dirt and debris. Drinking can also contribute to the formation of blackheads because it causes you to produce excess oil. It’s best to leave both of these habits in the dust if you want to get rid of blackheads at home.

Cosmetics can also cause blackheads, not all over the counter products are guaranteed to reverse your concerns, in fact, if you don’t use the right one you could make things worse. Using heavy creams on the face won’t benefit someone with blackheads. The formula is too thick to penetrate the skin sufficiently so sometimes ingredients get trapped in the pores. Comedogenic is the word used to describe products that result in blackheads, remember blackheads are also called comedones, so this makes total sense. If you are susceptible to blackheads, try using products that are oil based(non-comedogenic). If you are unsure about a product’s ingredients, view the rear label, if the first ingredient is oil, you’ve purchased an oil-based product.

Hormones can cause your skin to freak, which is why you see teens going through puberty with a plethora of blackheads. When your hormones are rearing their ugly heads so will oil and flaking skin. These items can be easily swallowed by the pore and form unwanted blackheads. Stress is another known contributor to comedones because it causes the release of certain hormones.

Certain foods can cause your skin to produce excess oil.

Neglecting your hygiene rituals is one sure way to contract a blackhead. If you fail to do your laundry, bacteria built on your bedding can clog your pores. Also failing to disinfect your phone can cause issues. Your phone is one of the dirtiest things you have to try and clean it sometimes; especially since it goes directly on your skin. Try also to keep clean hands just in case you have to touch your face.

You can eliminate blackheads yourself

Blackheads are common, so there is no need to run to a dermatologist to get rid of them. There are tons of ways to get rid of blackheads; this method can be done in the comfort of your home.

1. Cleanse

Use a facial cleanser to draw out impurities from the pores. This step should be repeated twice a day, every day, even if you don’t have any visible blackheads.

2. Steam

Steam

During a professional facial, the esthetician uses steam to help open the skin to unclog it. This same method can be performed at home to get rid of blackheads. If you don’t have an actual facial steamer, just boil a pot of water. The amount of water placed into your pot depends on how long you plan to steam your face. Remember, heat can injure the skin so try not to do it for more than 10 minutes. Turn the fire on and let your water boil. Once you see steam spilling from the pot, go ahead and place your face in the steam. You are welcome to use a pot holder or the top of a skillet to brush the steam your way. Steam works best when it is combined with a mask that removes impurities. Grab a little clay or lemon juice and spread it across the skin before steaming. After you’re done, you should rise the mask.

Other home remedies that are great at getting rid of blackheads are:

• Honey
• Gram flour
• Yogurt
• Egg whites
• Aloe vera
• Toothpaste
• Baking soda
• Salt water
• Olive oil
• Cinnamon
• Milk
• Tomatoes
• Almond oil
• Lime Juice

Check out our home remedies for pimples

3. Extraction

If you still notice blackheads you can try to remove them by adding a little pressure since your pores are open. Never attempt to squeeze a blackhead from dry skin. Wash your hands to ensure you don’t come in contact with new bacteria and place your index fingers on opposite sides of the blackhead. Pull the skin out in separate directions, and then apply pressure in a downward motion, pushing up. You may wiggle your fingers to slightly wedge the materials out, but don’t force them. Any additional blackheads should be left alone until your next blackhead treatment.

Once you are done you may proceed with a moisturizer, remember to use a fluid cream, so oils don’t clog your pores. You should cleanse and hydrate your skin daily but steaming and extracting should only be done once per week. Learn how to safely pop pimples for even clearer skin