Blackheads are a fairly common phenomenon in young age, typical of skin areas richer in sebaceous glands, such as the nose, cheeks or back. Once formed, they can remain as they are for long periods, regress, or degenerate into inflammatory phenomena of bacterial origin. For this reason, in adolescence, blackheads are considered the "antechamber of acne".
and sometimes microorganisms, which accumulate inside the hair follicles. For further information: White PointsWhen the white comedones open under the dilating push of their contents, the lipid oxidation, associated with the migration of cells rich in melanin, determines the formation of the characteristic dark cap, hence the term "black points". top of the blackhead is not due to dirt, a poor cleaning of the skin can still favor its appearance.
Please Note
When we talk about "white spots" we refer to the so-called closed comedones which should not be confused with "millet grains".
As mentioned, blackheads are a typical imperfection of the pubertal period, largely linked to the increased synthesis of sex hormones. These messengers, especially testosterone and its metabolites (dihydrotestosterone in primis), stimulate the activity of the glands. sebaceous; consequently, the skin appears more oily and the follicles prone to obstruction due to the accumulation of sebum.
Not surprisingly, blackheads and boils are typical manifestations of seborrhea, a dysfunction of the sebaceous glands that leads to an overproduction of their secretion. By stagnating within the follicles, the excess sebum gives rise to blackheads.
In addition to seborrhea, there are various conditions that can cause or promote the appearance of blackheads. Among these we find the lack of regular skin cleansing and the application of some cosmetics, such as greasy or oily creams and makeup. For this reason, it is very important to remove these products, always and in any case, before going to sleep.
However, it should be noted that it is not always possible to determine a "single cause responsible for" the onset of this imperfection since in many cases blackheads are formed following the competition of various factors.
Crush the Blackheads
As everyone knows, squeezing the blackheads between the fingers facilitates the expulsion of their content which appears in the form of fat cylinders with dark apex. However, this questionable and unfortunately very widespread approach is certainly not the best technique to treat them, since which, if followed without due care, could have scarring or infectious results.The advice, therefore, is always to avoid similar do-it-yourself approaches.
Cosmetics product
A first attempt that can be made to try to remove blackheads is to resort to the use of cosmetic products. Very common is, for example, the use of cosmetics with an exfoliating action or that are able to control and remove the "excess sebum (masks, lotions, etc.). Equally widespread is the use of patches specially designed to remove this imperfection.
To learn more: Patches for BlackheadsDermo-aesthetic treatments
The use of dermo-aesthetic treatments is also widely used in what can be defined as the hard fight against blackheads. An example of treatments of this type is represented by the chemical peeling which favors the removal of the most superficial skin layers, stimulating at the same time the regeneration and cell turnover.
Manual Removal
Through manual removal - using suitable and specially sterilized tools such as the blackhead aspirator - it is possible to favor the expulsion of the oily mass enclosed within the blackheads. This operation, of course, must be performed, as already mentioned, with sterile materials and in a very clean environment, which is why it is always advisable to contact specialists in the sector.
To facilitate the opening of the pores, it is important to expose the skin to the steam for about ten minutes before starting the treatment.
Medicines
If blackheads are particularly stubborn, worsen, or cause discomfort and inflammation, medication may be required.
However, the pharmacological treatment of blackheads cannot be separated from a preventive dermatological examination. Comedolytic therapy is based on the administration of drugs for topical use, among which products based on retinoic acid (a derivative of vitamin A) stand out. This active principle - now surpassed by less irritating derivatives - prevents the formation of the keratin plug and stimulates its expulsion at the level of the blackheads already formed. In other words, retinoic acid dissolves the blackheads and prevents their reappearance.
Of course, in the case of drug therapy of blackheads it is important to strictly follow the instructions on the package leaflet of the drugs prescribed by the specialist doctor, just as it is essential to follow all the advice and indications provided by it. Only by relying on the care of those who know the problem well will it be possible to avoid the scars and dangerous irritations that often hide behind do-it-yourself remedies.
Other Remedies
For the treatment of blackheads, alternative remedies to drug treatments can also be used.
For example, you can try the use of herbal medicine. Among the various phytotherapeutic remedies, we remember the use of the essential oil of tea tree oil, with antibacterial properties useful in the treatment of acne (attention, however, essential oils are allergenic and must never be used pure; even if they are natural remedies, it is still advisable to ask your doctor for advice before using them).
Remaining in the field of natural remedies, even green clay face masks can be a valuable aid in the fight against blackheads. The clay, in fact, has antiseptic and purifying properties for the skin and, at the same time, exfoliating properties.
There are also numerous "do-it-yourself recipes" for the elimination of blackheads that are popular on the web without any control and that often propose the use of somewhat questionable substances and methods for the removal of this type of comedones.
In this regard, it is very important to remember that "do it yourself" is not exactly the best of the methods to be used in the treatment of blackheads, since there is no guarantee of the efficacy or safety of this practice.
In fact, even if in the "do-it-yourself recipes" seemingly innocuous ingredients are used, if not correctly dosed, or if mixed together and handled by inexperienced people, the results obtained could be completely counterproductive; or worse, they could lead to skin irritation and sensitization, resulting in inflammation.
Useful Tips: Prevention and Skin Care
To limit the appearance of new blackheads it is essential to take care of your skin regularly and adequately. In this regard, it is essential to cleanse the skin daily with soap and water. Remembering, however, that a small amount of sebum is still important to protect it from annoying irritation. Therefore, it is good to avoid aggressive detergents and too frequent washing (which would lead it to produce even more sebum in an attempt to respond to the external aggression suffered).
