Blackheads and How To Care for Them

A very common skin issue that people of all colours and races experience is blackheads. It’s so common that there are numerous myths around them globally and many of those are untrue. For example, blackheads have nothing to do with dirt or poor hygiene. Yes, they are a form of acne. But no, blackheads are not incredibly difficult to treat. We understand the difficulty of the situation if you’re tired of letting those blackheads live on your skin. So, read on as we’ll cover everything you need to know about blackheads; what they are, what causes them, and how to treat them

What Are Blackheads And Their Causes?

A blackhead develops when a pore gets clogged with dead cells and excessive sebum, forming what’s medically known as a comedone. If the dead cells and excessive sebum seal over with a layer of skin, the comedone creates a whitish bump known as a whitehead. However, if the comedone remains open, the oil in the pore oxidizes on contact with air and darkens (like how a sliced apple that’s been left out for too long turns brownish). This creates the dark colour associated with a blackhead. Preventing blackheads may not be easy, but good cleansing habits, lifestyle tips, and a range of natural remedies may help remove them.

What Blackheads Look Like

Blackheads are a mild type of acne that you would usually find on the face, especially the nose and cheeks areas, but they can also appear on other body parts such as the back, chest, neck, arms, and shoulders. Some factors that can increase your chances of developing blackheads include:

• Producing too much body oil,
• The buildup of acne-causing bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) on the skin,
• Irritation of the hair follicles when dead skin cells don’t shed regularly,
• Hormonal changes that cause an increase in oil production during the teen years, during menstruation, or while taking birth control pills, and
• Taking certain drugs, such as corticosteroids, lithium, or androgens.

How To Prevent Blackheads

When you notice a comedone forming, time is of great importance to prevent it from becoming a blackhead. This is because clogged pores can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria, inviting the blackhead to develop into an inflamed pimple that may prove more difficult to treat.

The material clogging the pore can also stretch out its surrounding walls. Enlarged pores give skin a bumpy texture and may be more likely to clog up again. Preventing blackheads may not be easy, especially if you’re experiencing normal hormonal changes. But some things can help, like:

• Washing your face daily with warm water and a mild facial cleanser like the Kanda Shea soap,
• Routinely using moisturising products like facial oils, body oils and balms.
• Using “noncomedogenic” products and removing makeup at the end of each day.
• Keeping your hands away from your face and not popping any acne.
• Using gentle exfoliating products like Charcoal Soap and clay masks.

How To Treat Blackheads

Although it may be difficult to prevent getting blackheads, several blackhead treatments are easy and effective to keep your skin clear of them. To begin with, add a good physical exfoliator like the Kanda Charcoal Soap to your regular skincare routine. With a physical exfoliator, remember that the goal isn’t to “scrub away the dirt” but to reduce the buildup of dead skin.

If your blackheads are severe, your dermatologist may recommend chemical exfoliators such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to slough away dead skin buildup and unblock pores without manual scrubbing. Salicylic acid is a good first line of defence, as it can penetrate deep into pores to dislodge debris.

Also, keep in mind which lifestyle habits can make a breakout worse. For example:

• Squeezing the blackhead can lead to infection and scarring.
• The instant gratification of pore strips may feel great, but all that ripping can irritate the skin and cause skin barrier issues. Plus, most of those strips only remove the tip of the blackhead. And since they can’t actually reach into the pores and unclog them properly, the pores may just clog up again and create another blackhead.