Acne problems vary in degree from person to person. But no matter how simple or how complicated they are, they always start from blackheads. Blackheads are comedones that are open. They have slightly larger openings than normal follicles. These openings are filled with plugs of bacteria, dead skin cells, and sebum. The oil or sebum plugs have oxidized melanin that happens at the surface, that is why blackheads are slightly darker or “blackish”—thus, the name.

Blackheads are manifest more on oily skin. There are certain causes that may hasten or heighten the probability of getting them like hormone fluctuation, heredity, stress, medications, diet modifications, certain cosmetics, irritation, and humidity.  These causes increase the production of oil or get other substances mixed up with the sebum of your, causing blockage, which increases the number of blackheads on your skin. So many commercial treatments and home preparations are being used to effectively remove this precursor of pimples. But no matter what product you use, here are the basic methods that you should remember if you want to rid your skin of blackheads:

 

1. Exfoliation

Skin peeling or exfoliation is an effective way to remove and prevent blackheads. You could lightly scrub your skin about three times in a week. This process removes the dead skin cells on the surface, preventing the clogging of your pores. Exfoliation on a regular basis reveals younger looking skin. By doing this, you can prevent the progression of your blackheads into pimples. You can exfoliate with a mild exfoliating solution (benzoyl peroxide), a clean sponge or cloth, or a soft-bristled brush.

 

 

2. Scrubbing

Using facial scrubs allow you to thoroughly clean your skin. The very tiny beads get into your pores and remove the deep-seated dirt that help in the formation of blackheads. As a result, your skin will be clearer and more radiant. After scrubbing, you should make sure that you use a cleansing lotion and toning solution that has salicylic  acid. Just do this twice a day—morning and before bedtime. If you overdo this process, your skin might become dry and this will give way to another skin problem.

 

 

3. Moisturizing

Moisturizing after you scrub makes sure that your skin is well-hydrated and balanced. This improves your skin condition. When the skin surface is optimal, then the possibility of having blackheads and other acne problems are prevented or controlled. But you shouldn’t just pick out a moisturizer that you want. Choose the moisturizer that is formulated for your skin type. Use only one kind of moisturizer. If you use more than one moisturizer, your skin will be irritated or damaged.

 

4. Steaming

Steaming is an effective means to help in the removal of blackheads. Just make sure that you do not position yourself too close to the steam because you might get burned. Use a towel to confine the steam to your face. The heated water vapors will loosen or weaken the hold of the blackheads onto your pores. Regularly doing this will definitely help in the removal of blackheads.

 

 

 

5. Mechanical methods

Manually removing blackheads one by one, also helps in the fast removal of the problem. Nose trips, removing tools, and waxing are means by which blackheads are removed right then and there by pulling or squeezing them out. Ready-to-use nose strips are left on your nose for ten to fifteen minutes until it dries up. After that, you peel off the nose strip that has all the pulled blackheads. The removing tool for blackheads should be used after the blackheads are loosened up. This way, there will be less trauma experienced when squeezing them out. Waxing is another way to manually remove blackheads but you have to have it done by a trained professional at a salon or skin clinic.

 

To save time and effort in removing blackheads, you should consult a dermatologist. This highly trained medical professional will give you combination of manual and chemical means of getting rid of blackheads. You should not be afraid of coordinating and keeping your blackhead removal treatments because in the long run, you will have the healthy skin that you have always wanted. One of the best things that you can do to make the positive results last is for you to have a balanced internal environment. This means that you should have a healthy lifestyle, maintain a healthy diet, and rid yourself of stress. Having a clear, healthy complexion does not only depend on what you apply on your skin. It does not only rely on how you get treated by lasers or medications. You should have the vigilance to keep everything balanced.