Blackheads are one of the biggest skin problems that most college-age women face. I’ve gotten quite a few emails asking about how to get rid of blackheads, and I have to say, I used to struggle with them myself!
I have an embarrassing story about how I found out I had blackheads in the first place. I guess you could say I was in “blackhead denial.”
It started out innocently enough – I was hanging out with my boyfriend one weekend, goofing around. All of a sudden, he stared at my face with a scrutinizing look. Pressing his finger up against my nose, he said “by the way, how do you get rid of those things?” I think you can guess what he meant.
Yes, he was pointing at blackheads. Skin flaws that even I, Ms. Perfectionist, hadn’t thought about before! I knew I didn’t have flawless skin, but couldn’t believe something so tiny would be noticeable. I was so upset and embarrassed that I not only chewed my boyfriend out for pointing them out, but became completely self conscious about my “blackhead problem.” From then on, I developed a complex (and an intimate relationship with my magnifying mirror) and became obsessed with getting rid of them.
Since that fateful day, I’ve done tons of research, learning what those little black dots on your nose are and how to get rid of them! Although my boyfriend’s comment partially traumatized me, on the plus side, my skin is looking a lot better now and blackheads are no longer an issue.
If you want to get rid of blackheads yourself, or just want to know how to keep them away, read on!
Table of Contents
Tips for Getting Rid of Blackheads
Check your makeup
The truth is, what you put on to cover blackheads up might actually be causing more of them! If you wear lots of heavy foundation or use thick face creams, you could be contributing to the problem with your products! In general, if you have a problem with greasy skin and clogged pores, consider using as few products as you can. The fewer layers of stuff that you put on your face, the better.
Lots of water and healthy eating
Cliche’, maybe, but it’s so true. What you put into your body shows on the outside. Simple as that. If you eat lots of greasy crap, your skin is not going to look as good as it would if you ate more veggies and drank more water.
Use BHA for blackheads
BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid, which is an exfoliant that removes the dead layer of skin from your face. If you’ve ever seen a skincare product that contains salicylic acid, that’s BHA. BHA is important for getting rid of blackheads because it goes into your pores to clean out the excess oil and dead skin cells that make up blackheads.
A great BHA product that I use is Olay Total Effects Anti-Aging Anti Blemish Daily Moisturizer. I put it on at night after washing my face, and when I wake up, my skin always looks better and better. I have less blackheads, and as a bonus, my skin is clearer and softer than it was before!
Do a clay mask once a week
This is only for those of you with oily or combination skin. Dry skin, obviously, needs all the oil it can get. Blackheads are partially caused by excess oil on your face, so if you have greasy skin, a good quality clay mask will help sop up some of the grease and keep your pores clearer. Using it once a week is enough – you don’t want to over-dry your skin, because this could lead to even more problems!
Don’t bother with a pore strip
First of all, they’re basically useless for getting rid of anything that’s stuck deep in your pores. Second of all, they can actually damage your skin! I know these things look like miracle products, but save your money because they aren’t really going to help.
Squeeze, but do it carefully!
This is one situation where picking your face may actually help instead of making things worse. Don’t take this as permission to pick at your face all you want! There is a right and a wrong way to squeeze blackheads and it’s really important that you do it the right way.
First, wash your face with a gentle cleanser. (I like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.) Next, cover your face with a warm, wet cloth for 10 to 15 minutes. Pat your face dry, then wrap tissues around your fingers to prevent slippage. Use GENTLE pressure to press down then up around the sides of the blackhead. If nothing happens after one or two tries, stop. That means the blackhead isn’t ready to come out yet. Whatever you do, don’t pinch, use your nails or press too hard. This can damage your skin and might even lead to scars!
See a dermatologist
If all else fails, a derm can really help you out. They can prescribe things like Retin-A, antibiotics or Accutane, which can all help with blackheads. Procedures like microdermabrasion are also said to be effective, but I recommend trying the above steps first because the problem can usually clear itself up without these extreme treatments.
At the end of the day, blackheads are kind of an ongoing battle. For those of us who are prone to them, light makeup, gentle cleansers and BHA treatments are necessary to get rid of them and keep them away. There isn’t any magical cure that will rid you of them forever, but taking good care of you skin on an ongoing basis will work wonders.
Have you ever had a problem with blackheads? How do you get rid of blackheads? Do you recommend any products to help with the problem? Let me know in the comments!
I suggest drinking barley tea as often as you would drink water. The reason for this is because it’s WAY cheaper and it’s 10x more effective. I had really bad acne since middle school and since I started drinking barley tea as much as I do it improved my skin texture, took away most of my acne and eliminated my black head problem. not to mention it also helped with my oiliness as a whole. Really good and pretty cheap in the long run considering visits to the dermatologist and how much that could cost. Just saying.
Even though I’m 33 and I generally lost my acne years ago I’ve still got a really blackhead covered nose and area around it which doesn’t seem to go no matter what I use.
*Blackheads out. OH, and I got this from elsewhere on the internet and tried it; and if it is hurting you to press the bobby pin around the blackhead, you are most likely damaging the tissue, so stop! also, sanatize the bobby pin if possible:)
try using the eye of a bobby pin and pressing down around it after taking a hot shower it works. I even got some out without steaming or showering…:)
nop,,,,, it dint worked at all
popping these pimples is easiear than wasting money on medicines..
okay im 13 and have blackheads,there so freakin gross! and when you try to squeeze them.it always leaves my nose red. i have blackheads on my chin also and those are really hard for me to pop.im currently using proactive&it makes your skin feel great,but unfortunately it does not get rid of blackheads.before that i was using some acne treatment from nuetrogena(it was a like a step thing but i forgot what it was called)and it didnt work either.i am going to try the tomato thingy&pray that it works:)
i agree. how do you make this blog area?
hey…. im like 14 i dont wanna pop anyone of them because i have so freaking many… i cant go to the store and get some expensive meddicated wash and dont realy get the whole washclothe thing … SOMEONE [PLEASE] HELP ME… blackheads are so unattractive and nasty!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey im 15 year old with dry skin and i have black heads can some1 who has been trough these things help me out please.
Thanks
Hey im 15 year old boy. Ive had acne sinse i was 14 and now my acne is gone but i have some blackheads which really pisses me off i would like some1 to give me a great advice or a way that works.
(angel) heyy hahaha im studing 2 b a personal trainer and the best way to lose your love handles would be to grab a long stick and place it ontop of your shoulders and work up and down side to side this works the sideabs or rib fat ….but the beest is running run a full 45 min. without stopping once a week and im shure your going to feel lighter by the time you stop
you dnt need to sprint just make shure you dnt stop keep moving no mater what once a week and i garentee alot of fatburn
Man i don’t no but i will give it a try and another thing, do have any like tips on how to get a flat belly and lose my love handles.
There is no cure but I have bad blackheads on my nose and this is what has helped. I have tried everything.. Use Mario Badescu Silver Powder rub in let dry. Shower scrub then use a noise strip. Also try a peel mask.. I Look for Asian products because they seem to know about blackheads and oily skin. I find things on EBay also look for black noise strips and lighting cream. If you can’t get them out die them the same color as your skin.. Good luck.
I have this really great tip that works so well it’s crazy!
so, first, you cut up some tomatoes into cubes and freeze them.
then, once they’re frozen, you just rub them onto your face where ever you have blackheads.
then your blackheads will really be gone! forever!
it’s because of some acids in tomatoes that clean out your pores really well. i don’t really know how it works but i got it from a video on youtube. i started doing it when i was 15 and now i’m 26 and my skin looks great!
(but don’t use tomatoes if you’re allergic (; )
I found that neutrogena’s blackhead eliminating daily scrub worked really well, after a day my blackheads were almost gone! but i use dermalogica medibac and i think the two were a bad mix, my skin came out with loads of spots after. If you’re using another set of products, try not to mix them 🙂
Great article by the way x x
I’ve had a problem with blackheads since puberty and I am 27 now. I don’t know if you have ever heard of Arbonne, but if you haven’t I just want to tell you it is amazing product. I have been using it for 2 years now and my skin looks and feels amazing. I use the Re 9 line and it not only gets rid of blackheads but it also makes your skin younger looking. It is very expensive product though but it’s worth every penny. Its not so much if you become a member. There are 5 steps to this line, the hydrating face wash, rejuvinating mist, renewal serum, a day and night creme, and the eye creme. This whole line totals to $367 from catalog, and $250 at member price and this line will last 9-12months. Well worth it!!!!