Of all the types of acne teenagers and adults have to deal with, blackheads seem to be the most pesky and unsightly. Blackheads form when the hair follicle (or pore if you wish) becomes partially clogged. A pimple never forms so the dead skin remains lodged in the pore. Many people become irritated at the fact that these lesions don’t respond to conventional acne treatments. So, they turn to drastic measures to remove them. While you will have to resort to more intrusive methods to eliminate blackheads, some precautions need to be taken to prevent skin irritation and to ensure that you don’t introduce new bacteria to the surface of the skin. Below we will describe some tips to help you clear your skin of blackheads without causing unneeded damage.
The fact that our skin responds in various ways to hot and cold water is important in treating blackheads. When we apply cold water to our face, for instance, our pores contract becoming less visible. The exact opposite is achieved with hot water, which enlarges our pores. Since blackheads can become embedded pretty deeply within our skin, we need to utilize the help of hot water for an effective extraction. This is by no means a request for you to drench your face in boiling water. This will irritate your skin and may lead to burns. A better approach is to sit surrounded by shower steam for at least ten minutes. You can conduct your regular shower routine as you are doing this.
When you have completed the steam session, wash you hands and position yourself in front of a mirror. If you notice the finger nails on your index fingers are somewhat long, you may need to trim them. Remember, we want to remove the blackhead with as little damage as possible. Exerting pressure on a lesion with untrimmed nails can result in acne scarring, an expensive and unsightly problem.
As you are now facing the mirror, take you two index fingers and place them on either side of the blackhead. Gently, applying even amounts of pressure, begin to squeeze at the blackhead. Again, avoid using your nails in this process. You should begin to see the contaminants rise to the surface. If not, apply slightly greater amounts of pressure. Once everything finally escapes the pore, clean the contaminants off your skin. If blood begins to surge from the pore, use a clean cotton ball or q-tip and apply some pressure.
If you performed the extraction correctly, the site of the extraction should heal within a day or two. You can remove more blackheads with this method as needed. Just be sure not to exaggerate and do too many on the same day. Listen to your skin. Do not use pore strips as they will irritate your skin and eventually cause more breakouts. If you do not feel comfortable performing these extractions yourself, an esthetician may prove to be a wise investment.
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