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.
