Yes, You Need to Moisturize Even if You Have Blackheads
Use an oil-free moisturizer, preferably including hyaluronic acid, to deeply hydrate the skin, says Bratschi. This is an essential step to getting rid of blackheads, because overly dry skin can start to produce excess blackhead-causing oils. Just as too much oil can lead to blackheads, so can too little. Maintain a normal flow of oil from your pores by keeping your skin's moisture level balanced.
And, of course, always use an SPF during the day, especially since you'll be exfoliating your skin as part of this process, and ingredients like salicylic acid can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. We like Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer, $29.
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Gently Scrub Away Your Blackheads
Two times a week, use a gentle physical exfoliating scrub. Manual exfoliation is another key part of preventing blackheads, because it helps keep your pores clear.
We're going to let you in on a secret ingredient of sorts: Niacinamide (vitamin B3) helps acne-affected skin by decreasing oiliness, which is a major component of blackheads. Adding a serum with this ingredient, says Bratschi, is your slam dunk to getting rid of blackheads. Consider a product like Glo Therapeutics GloClear Healing Gel, $33, to help treat skin and remove blackheads.
For the love of everything good: Get your hands off your face. "Often, people use too much pressure or just push more dirt in to pores, further inflaming them, not to mention cross-contaminating other areas of the skin. It can also lead to scarring, hyperpigmentation and broken capillaries -- all of which are difficult to later fix," Bratschi says.
If you squeeze a blackhead and it "turns into a giant scar, it can cost you thousands of bucks to fix it," adds Lancer. Blackhead treatments take time to work (we're talking around three weeks), so you'll need to be patient, says Gohara.
That said, you may want someone else to remove your blackheads...
Blackheads: The word alone is ugly. And the reality of having blackheads on your face is even more unpleasant — so much so that we understand why women are willing to go to great lengths to find out how to get rid of blackheads.
But before you bust out that magnifying mirror and start popping blackheads like it's a game (seriously, don't do that), you'll want to check out our helpful guide to getting rid of blackheads fast. In other words, we picked the brains of experts so you don't have to pick at the blackheads on your nose.
So, what is a blackhead? Blackheads are basically the same as whiteheads, except blackheads have an oxidized fatty deposit, which makes them look dark, giving them their name, explains Dr. Harold Lancer, MD, dermatologist and Medical Director of Epicuren. "Blackheads differ from other pimples because they are open, and not enclosed by a layer of skin like most spots or pimples," he says.
And what is the best way to remove blackheads? We rounded up trusted, expert-approved techniques for blackhead removal — which should prevent you from ever having the urge to pick again. Here, your ultimate guide on how to get rid of blackheads once and for all.
