Acne comes in many shapes, sizes and colors and sometimes the skin condition does not seem to be an obvious blemish at all.
Take the blackheads, those annoying spots full of dark pollution. If you’ve ever tried to squeeze one, you’ve probably come across an angry punch and immediately regretted it.
So, what is the best way to cleanse your skin from this kind of acne?
First, let’s look at the causes and who is most susceptible to the development of blackheads.
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woman with pimples that cleanse the skin
Blackheads occur when bacteria get stuck in the hair follicles.
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What causes blackheads?
“Blackheads are caused by an accumulation of sebum, oil, dead skin cells, and possibly C. acnes (the bacteria that cause acne) trapped in the hair follicle,” says Nazanin Saedi, MD, associate clinical professor at Thomas Jefferson University and co-chair of the department of the Center for Laser and Aesthetic Surgery at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting. “When these substances are oxidized in the air, the opening turns black, ” says Dr. Saedi.
People prone to acne are more prone to blackheads, but there is also a genetic predisposition, explains Saedi.
“Hormonal influences also play a role, stimulating the production of sebum (skin oil),” says Kathleen Cook Suozzi, MD, director of the aesthetic dermatology program at Yale Medicine and assistant professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.
“Enlarged pores can also occur in people with severe sun damage, ” says Dr. Suozzi. “A decrease in the collagen support of the dermis surrounding the hair follicle can make the ostia (small openings) appear larger and dilated. An extreme example of this is the Favre-Racouchot condition, in which patients have large blackheads on sun-damaged areas of the skin, especially around the eyes, “she says.
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How to prevent blackheads on the skin
To keep blackheads at bay, Suozzi recommends topical or oral retinoids, including prescription medications such as tretinoin or retin-A.
“Recently, a prescription retinoid called Adapalen or Differin became available over the counter for the treatment of comedone acne,” she says. “For more severe comedonal acne, patients may need to be treated with oral retinoids such as isotretinoin or accutane.”
Saedi adds that chemical peels can also be effective, but he is not for peels because they can cause irritation.
The best ways to get rid of blackheads
If you already have blackheads, there are some dermatologist-approved methods to get rid of them, and some of them are also preventive.
Use products with salicylic acid
An essential ingredient to get rid of blackheads is salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid that increases cell renewal and clogs pores, Saedi says. Suozzi adds that acne treatment can help dry out active acne lesions because it is a mild chemical irritant.
Many researches suggest that salicylic acid helps in the treatment of acne. These include a study that found that using a 2 percent salicylic acid wash for two weeks resulted in a reduction in acne lesions.
Saedi recommends two inexpensive but effective pharmacy products with salicylic acid: Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil Free Acne Wash and Neutrogena Gel Cleanser Anti-Acne.
