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.

There are a lot of blackhead clearing methods out there, but some definitely work better than others. If you’re sick of unwanted blackheads (comedones) then you probably don’t want to mess around with a bunch of supposed cures that just leave you with the same number, or even more blackheads, as when you started.

The best way to understand how to clear up your blackheads is to start by understanding what creates them. It all starts with hormones and oils.

What Is Sebum?

You see, especially during puberty, most people find that their hormones are out of whack. Often, that can cause the body to produce more of certain substances that are normally good in small amounts, but that can become problematic in larger amounts. One of those substances is called sebum.

Sebum is a natural oil that is produced my your body for the purpose of moisturizing your skin and keeping it healthy. Too much sebum, however, can block your pores and follicles and lead to acne and blackheads.

Of course, that’s not only true during puberty, but it is more common around that time. It can also occur any time there is a hormonal change in your life. For anyone that can be during any stressful situation and for women it can also be during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause.

Fixing The Problem

You can’t keep your body from creating sebum and you really wouldn’t want to. So, the next best thing is to treat the problem once it happens. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are two of the most common commercial treatments for blackheads. You can buy creams and lotions at any drugstore that contain one or both ingredients. Just be sure to read the product labels carefully.

A Home Remedy

If you’d rather not waste time and money on drugstore products, you aren’t the only one. Many people are leaning more towards home remedies, especially for little things like blackheads. Luckily, there’s a quick way to make your own salicylic acid mix at home.

All you have to do is take an aspirin and dissolve it in some water. Then apply the mixture to your blackheads. The mix works best when you leave it on all night while you sleep. However, you shouldn’t do that the first time or two because it is important to watch, in case you have any sort of adverse reaction to the treatment.

Opening Your Pores And Follicles

Finally, sometimes blackhead clearing can be as easy as just opening your pores and follicles up and extracting the blackheads. The way to do that is to use a good exfoliant on your skin each evening. However, you can also open up your pores and purge those blackheads by giving your face a 5 minute steam bath. Thorough cleansing is also important and one way to easily accomplish this is by using a device like the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System. This type of skin cleansing can make all the difference when it comes to unclogging your pores and revealing clear, healthy skin.