Find Out How To Get Rid Of Blackheads

Blackheads are ugly little blemishes that can cause even the most confident among us to feel self-conscious. Knowing how to get rid of blackheads effectively and safely can help boost your self-esteem as well as give you one less thing to worry about.

So how to get rid of blackheads? Here are some commonly used options that work well:

1. Beta Hydroxy Acid, or BHA, is an exfoliant that helps remove dead skin cells to reveal the newer, healthier cells underneath. Often seen on the label as salicylic acid, it also helps reduce oiliness that can cause clogged pores.

2. Apply a mask once or twice a week to decrease oiliness. You can buy an over-the-counter mask or make one at home.

3. When home and over-the-counter remedies fail, one option is to seek out a good dermatologist.

When considering how to get rid of blackheads, use caution with these approaches:

1. Squeezing. When trying to squeeze out a blackhead, there's a right and wrong way to approach it. First, don't try to rush it. If the blackhead doesn't come out after the first few tries, you're probably going to do more damage to your skin by trying to force it out. The correct way to squeeze out a blackhead is to follow these steps:

- Wash your hands and face
- Apply a warm, wet cloth or steam your face for 10 minutes or so
- Dry your face with a soft, clean towel
- Press down and up around the sides of the blackhead ever so gently

Never dig, scrape, use your nails, or apply too much pressure. You could cause scarring or cause the blackhead to move deeper into your pore.

2. Pore Strips. Fewer and fewer people are advocating the use of pore strips because of the potential damage it can cause to your skin. An occasional emergency use might be okay, but frequent use is probably not a good idea.

An Ounce of Prevention

Instead of spending your time trying to figure out how to get rid of blackheads, an even better strategy is figuring out how to prevent them in the first place.

Blackheads can be caused by a number of things like overactive oil glands, pollution, genetics, and stress. Try to determine what is behind yours and figure out a strategy for dealing with the root cause. Some things you can work towards managing, like reducing your stress and avoiding pollutants. Other things are not so easy to control, like your genes. But there are still things you can do.

The best way to prevent blackheads is to keep your skin clear of the excess oil that can block oil glands. Use a one-two punch that combines a gentle cleanser with a gentle exfoliant to keep your skin clean and free of dead skin particles. If needed, use a moisturizer to keep your skin from drying out, but be sure to choose one specifically designed to not clog pores.

And of course, you can fight blackheads from the inside out by eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep, and drinking plenty of water.

To summarize, understanding how to get rid of blackheads is useful and important information for any health and beauty regimen. Just know how to deal with them in the right way to avoid causing more problems than you started with.