Your Health Magazine

Blackheads are little "plugs" that develop in the pores of the epidermis. They are caused when the over active sebaceous (oil producing) glands in the skin become clogged with oil. This sebum then begins to solidify in the pore. Since skin pores are exposed to the air, the top most part of the hardened sebum or oil oxidizes, turning black. This black top of the oil plug is then forced closer to the surface of skin by the oil hardening under it. This then causes the blackhead to be visable.

It is not clearly understood why

the sebaceous glands begin to become overactive. It is sometimes noted that this situation begins at puberty, and can stop at the end of puberty leading to the conclusion that it is hormonally controlled. For various people this is not the case however, and they could continue to experience blackheads and whiteheads well past puberty and into adulthood. Whiteheads are formed the same way as blackheads with the exception that the pore is closed and the oxidation does not occur.

Acne results from infection of the oil gland due to the blockage because of the blackhead. Preventing and removing blackheads helps to control acne.

Blackhead removal.

The following are various tips for removing blackheads from astringents to microdermabrasion: 

-Keep the skin as purified and oil free as possible. Use natural or chemically prepared cleansers, astringent solutions or masks to attain this. Keep off harsh soaps that may irritate the skin or any creams that leave an oily finish.

- Use a gentle exfoliant to keep the dead cells off your skin and away from the pore openings. Microdermabrasion may help, but you must seek a doctor's care for microdermabrasion treatment.

- Avoid harsh squeezing or scraping at the blackhead. Excessive squeezing can damage the skin surround the pore and can actually increase the size of the pore leading to more blackheads in the future.

- A heated compress of water applied to the area of the blackhead followed by a very, very gentle pressure will help in clearing the clog from the pore.

- Commercial "blackhead strips" which are basically a tape like substance that is placed over the nose and then pulled off may remove some blackheads that are at the surface.

Caution should be used with these products and it is significant to read the directions totally before deciding to use the strips or not.