What Are Blackheads

What are Blackheads? Blackheads, according to the medical profession, are the beginning stages of acne, pimples, and zits, that actually form when bacteria get into the pores of the skin, after which an infection and inflammation develop into acne, blackheads, pimples, or zits.

Blackheads are skin follicles that have wide openings plugged with a black material known as sebum. These cells have undergone melanin oxidation and thus have a dark color. Whiteheads are not close enough to the opening in the skin to go through the oxidation process and therefore, do not turn black, but remain white. Comedone(s) is another word for blackheads and whiteheads.

What Causes Blackheads

What causes blackheads? The overabundance of hormones in the skin causes the oil glands to become stimulated, which results in excess oil being produced in the pores. The excess oil accumulates in the pores and, when it is exposed to air, turns black, and a blackhead is then formed. Makeup and the use of oils can cause them to form, or cause the condition to become worse. These blackheads can and do form on most skin types, but are more likely to develop on excessively oily skin.

Many people, especially when they are going through puberty and suffering from a lot of new, different, and sometimes frightening experiences will have trouble with acne, zits, pimples, and blackheads. Blackheads, in particular, are prone to occur more frequently on people who have excessively oily skin or a combination of oily and dry skin.

Teenagers and adults are told two things when they begin having trouble with acne and blackheads. They are told to stay away from sweets and to make sure they are not letting stress get to them. These are both things that teenagers have a lot of difficulty doing. These are also, though contributory, not the only reasons that a teenager might have trouble with acne during their growing years. During puberty, as the body is going through many chemical and physical changes, acne is often something that occurs along with hormonal changes. Some teenagers have a harder time dealing with acne, while others can go through their entire lives without having any trouble with pimples or breakouts.

Breakouts usually happen when someone is under a lot of stress or has neglected good personal hygiene for an extended period of time. Bacteria mixes with the oil on the skin and creates a disruption. There are three distinct types of acne. These would include red bumps on the surface of the skin, blackheads, and whiteheads. Blackheads are often much more numerous on the face, scattering across the bridge of the nose, the cheeks, the chin and, very commonly, the forehead as well.

Prevent Blackheads From Forming On Your Face And Body

Prevention is one of the best ways to not only get rid of the problem, but keep it from continuously coming back. Taking care of your skin and keeping it as clean as possible is one of the best ways to improve a bad skin condition. If the problem is chronic, there are medications and creams that doctors will prescribe. There are also many formulas sold on the Internet and on television that promise to help with the problem.

The skin should be cleaned properly and regularly, to prevent dead skin cells from accumulating and blocking the pores, which eventually end up as blackheads on the face. Excessive use of makeup, moisturizers, foundations, and sun creams, can also cause spots on the skin as well. This is why it is important, especially for young people, to keep their skin as clean as possible at all times. Any makeup that has been applied in the morning should be thoroughly cleaned off at night before going to sleep.

However, it must be stressed that the skin should not be scrubbed and cleaned to such an extent that all oil is removed, as the skin does need some oil in order to remain healthy. Over scrubbing and cleansing of the skin can also lead to irritations, and can also aggravate the oil glands into producing too much oil, after which the whole cycle of the formation of blackheads will begin again.

The trick then is to make sure that your skin is cleaned properly, but gently, on a regular basis, whether you can see blackheads on your skin or not. Keeping your pores clean and permanently unclogged, means that blackheads will never have a chance to develop, and your skin will remain smooth and attractive.

Each individual has their own type of skin so even when someone says or thinks they have dry skin, they may actually have combination skin and still end up with pimples or blackheads because of large pores or spots of oily patches. It’s important, therefore, to try to find out as much as you can about your individual skin type before you start plying your face with various products.

There is one thing that every person, boy or girl, adult or teenager, should remember. If they are being plagued by too many pimples or blackheads, they will want to start cleaning their face on a regular basis. They should be consistent in their efforts in fighting against these breakouts and blackheads. As time passes, if they have been diligently cleaning their skin on a daily basis, eating the right kinds of healthy foods, getting a good amount of exercise and rest, and avoiding extreme stress they will see some improvement. Since there is not just one thing that causes acne, living a good lifestyle is a wonderful natural method. Even when someone decides to begin treatment for a chronic condition and is consistent with the efforts, they should not expect to see any real results for several weeks to a couple months.

The Most Effective Acne And Blackhead Treatments

There are a few ways to treat blackheads, but first it is a good idea to figure out what is causing them. Using special creams, masks, and facial scrubs are highly recommended for dealing with blackheads and breakouts. Chemists and dermatologists have been studying this issue for many years and have worked to develop and design different medicated treatments for young people and adults. They do not recommend restricting yourself to certain foods, drinks, or activities, but a good healthy lifestyle with as little stress as possible is always suggested for anyone who wants to reduce the occurrence of breakouts.

Another tip when it comes to treating and removing blackheads is not to scrub roughly or violently on the face, neck, chest, or anywhere a breakout might occur. This can cause painful skin irritation and is not effective. Treating the skin this way can actually do more harm than good.

It is best for women to consider using oil-free makeup. Any oil-based makeups will contribute to the buildup of oils in the follicles. There is mineral powder makeup that recently made a nice show on the scene for women who are concerned about the oils, chemicals, creams, and other elements they apply to their skin.

There are treatments that have an antibacterial effect, decreasing the chances that bacteria will collect and create acne issues. Benzoyl peroxide is one of the common treatments used. It reduces the plugging effect, so that there is less chance of a black color on the surface of the skin. Tretinoin is another product that is sometimes used. This is a compound taken from Vitamin A which increases the chance that the dead cells will detach from the skin and allow new skin cells to form in a healthy manner. These medicines are not typically very expensive and can be found almost anywhere, even in corner convenience stores.

Doctors will prescribe topical and oral antibiotics for people who are having a lot of trouble controlling their acne. People should always watch for side effects, however. Doctors who treat severe cases will warn people about what they should look for. People who are using over-the-counter methods should always read the labels of the treatments they decide to use. They will want to watch for any signs that their skin might be reacting badly to the product.

Techniques For Removing Blackheads

Blackheads can also be removed by health care providers using a comedone extractor. This extractor is a circular instrument that pushes down around the blackhead, causing the plugged area to pop up and out.

Should you have these unsightly blemishes and want to remove them yourself, then be sure to use only sterile materials, to prevent blackheads from becoming infected and inflamed. Proper equipment for removing the blemishes can be purchased from pharmacies and beauty salons.

Those in the profession of skin care recommend that you steam your skin for a few minutes before removing the blackheads, by filling a basin with very hot water, holding your face over the steam, and placing a towel over your head to keep the steam from escaping.

This exercise will open the pores slightly, which will make it less painful when you actually remove the blackheads with the extractor that is manufactured specifically for this purpose. Spots that are irritated, red, and infected, should not be removed this way, because the acne will become worse, and scars can develop.

You Are Not Alone In Your Struggle With Blackheads

There is plenty of help for people who suffer with blackheads and breakouts. Dermatologists are working steadily on more treatments, making them easier to obtain and more effective in less time.

If, for some reason, you are unable to get rid of the blackheads on your own, you can visit a professional to do the job for you, with treatments that will remove all blackheads, and leave you with clean, beautifully unblemished skin.