If you have a problem with blackheads, the worst thing you can do is pop them on your own. Scratching them off will just leave scars and damaged skin behind. Instead, you should try using blackhead extractors.

Using those extractors effectively means that you have to understand what sort of blackhead you have. Some blackheads live just below the surface of the skin. Others actually pop up a bit and are raised slightly over the skin’s surface. Which type you have will have a direct influence on the type of extractor that you should use.

Adhesive Strips

One type of extractor for blackhead clearing is an adhesive strip. The idea is that you can place the strips on your skin and then remove them to pull up the sebum, which is the substance that accumulates, clogs your pores and follicles and causes the blackheads.

The biggest problem with adhesive strips is that they are only good for surface black heads. They can’t dig down deep to get to the root of blackheads that are below the surface. So, you need to be aware of what sort of blackhead you have, first.

Another problem is that the adhesive on the strips can do some minor damage to the surrounding skin. Also, some people have allergies to some of the adhesives. So, you should always start slow and just try one strip until you know how your skin will respond.

Other Extraction Tools

If your blackheads are deeper, you may have to try using other extraction tools. Most of those tools are fairly similar to each other. They consist of a loop that presses down around each blackhead. You simply have to press down and drag the tool just a tiny bit in order to “harvest” the sebum and keratin and remove it from your skin.

Just remember that those tools can cause minor skin irritations, just the same as the adhesive strips can. Also, extraction tools need to be washed and sterilized, first. Otherwise you’ll be opening yourself up to the risks of various types of infections.

A Night Time Ritual

Working with blackhead extractors should be a night time ritual. That’s because it can leave your skin looking a little red, but that should fade by morning. That way, you can face the day without any embarrassing blackheads or redness on your skin’s surface.

Also, you can make the process easier by including a steam bath for your face in your night time ritual before you do the extraction. The steam should help your pores to open up, exposing the sebum that is plugging them. Open pores are a lot easier to clean out with blackhead extractors than closed pores.