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...
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How to Extract Blackheads — the Right Way
Washes and acids can loosen pore congestion, but you need extra oomph to totally get rid of blackheads, according to Gohara — which is why she recommends heading to your dermatologist for extractions, as often as every six weeks.
Blackhead removal is "best treated by a professional where the skin is prepped correctly, extracted correctly and most importantly, treated afterwards to both stop inflammation and prevent blackheads [from] re-occurring," says Bratschi. Plus, professional-grade products are stronger, more active and therefore more effective, and steam can be a vital tool in opening up those pores for deep extraction of those hard to remove blackheads.
Speaking of professional products...
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Do a Chemical Peel to Remove Blackheads
In addition to extractions, in-spa or in-office chemical peels will help get rid of stubborn blackheads. A peel is a great way to "increase cell turnover and prevent blocked pores, which help to leave the skin clear and decongested," says Bratschi.
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Best Makeup for Preventing Blackheads
Here's a familiar scenario: You're struggling to get rid of blackheads, so you slather on concealer (and foundation and powder) to cover them up — and then you never stop breaking out. Unfortunately, the makeup you use can clog pores even more, making it hard to remove blackheads. Gohara suggests steering clear of oil-based makeup and anything that's glittery. Instead, try mineral makeup when you're trying to get rid of 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.
