Should you squeeze blackheads? Dermatologists explain how to safely remove them
Blackheads—almost everyone has them. Whether your T-zone is covered in them or you get the occasional one around your nose, this annoying skin problem is common. What else is common about blackheads? The desire to express it and patch it up. Trust us, we get it: squeezing blackheads is both incredibly tempting and incredibly satisfying. But the hard truth is, it doesn’t do your skin any good, and long story short, experts strongly advise against it. Read on to learn more about why dermatologists suggest you shouldn’t squeeze blackheads, and which approved methods you should try—both to prevent them and to remove them when they do appear.
What are blackheads?
“A blackhead is an open comedone, a pore or hair follicle that becomes clogged with sebum, dead skin, and bacteria,” explains dermatologist Melanie Palm. “With blackheads, the comedone is exposed to air, which oxidizes the remaining oil and dead skin cells, making the clogged pore appear dark brown or black, which is completely different from other types of acne, such as whiteheads (closed comedones) and inflammatory acne (such as papules and cystic acne).
Should you squeeze your blackheads?
As tempting as it may be to squeeze your blackheads, all the experts we spoke to told us not to give in. “I don’t recommend pulling or squeezing blackheads, even though it may be tempting,” advises dermatologist Dustin Portela. “This can actually make the blackhead worse, not to mention the pain, scarring, and further irritation. However, if you have an experienced professional (such as a trained aesthetician) who is trained to remove blackheads properly, it is completely fine—but when it comes to problems.” Palm points out that this practice is not correct. If you absolutely can’t resist the urge, she recommends using a (clean) finger wrapped in a tissue to perform the removal at home, rather than using an extractor or other device that may pierce the skin and leave scars.
How to Prevent Blackheads
“Blackheads are caused by clogged pores, so prevention is all about keeping them unclogged,” says Pam. The simplest, easiest, and most important thing you can do is keep your skin clean. “Wash your face twice a day, and also after you sweat a lot,” explains Portela. “This will prevent oil and dead cells from building up in the follicles.” You can use a regular cleanser or one with an exfoliating ingredient like salicylic acid—we like CeraVe SA Salicylic Acid Cleanser.
Also be sure to exfoliate regularly. Both dermatologists we spoke to recommend chemical peels like retinoids, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid. They’re gentler than physical exfoliants like scrubs and allow you to prevent and treat blackheads without causing unnecessary damage to your skin.
How to Remove and Treat Blackheads
Portela recommends exfoliating two to three times a week to remove existing blackheads. Just like for prevention, salicylic acid is a great option. “This beta hydroxy acid is great for treating blackheads because it’s folliculotropic, meaning it penetrates the hair follicles and sebaceous glands to get to where the blackheads form,” says Palm. From there, it breaks down and dissolves excess oil that causes constipation. You can find it in Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple Action Anti-Acne Serum.
Retinoids are another great option for treating blackheads, Palm adds, because they balance drainage from the pilosebaceous glands. She recommends using an adapalene gel, like Differin Acne Treatment Gel. However, keep in mind that these ingredients can make your skin more sensitive to light. That’s why it’s more important than ever to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day.
If you need some extra help with removal, Portella says you can use pore strips (like Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips)—as long as you only do it once or twice a month. They can be irritating (not only do they stick to and remove blackheads, they also remove some skin cells), so overuse can cause irritation. Keep in mind that while they’re a great quick fix, these blackheads will eventually reappear if you follow the prevention plan above. Don’t clean after exfoliating your pores.
Final Verdict
While blackheads are frustrating, and we understand the temptation to pop them, you should have a professional manually remove them, as trying to pop them yourself could cause further damage to your skin. Instead, it’s best to incorporate an exfoliant with a retinoid or salicylic acid into your at-home skincare routine—and yes, you can use a pore cleanser once in a while if you want.
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
