Blackhead 101
What Are Blackheads?
Blackheads are a type of acne lesion also known as “open comedones”. They are tiny little black bumps that appear on your skin, made up of melanin and dirt. You’ll most likely notice blackheads on your nose, cheeks, chin, or forehead, but they can be found anywhere on the body.
What Causes Blackheads?
Just like other types of pimples, blackheads happen when your pores become clogged with dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and other impurities. Blackheads are an open comedone, which means that the “plug” (the thing that’s clogging your pores) has been exposed to air. When an acne lesion is oxidized, it turns black, thus giving you the dreaded blackhead.
How To Deal With A Blackhead Problem
Blackheads are less painful and intrusive compared to whiteheads, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less annoying to deal with. Blackheads are notoriously stubborn, and they can appear in large groups all over your face. If you find yourself with the Blackhead Plague, follow some of these top tips from dermatologists:
- Use an acid exfoliator, like BHA or salicylic gel to dissolve blackheads before they can form.
- Use a physical exfoliator, like a facial cleansing brush.
- Take (dermatologist-prescribed) acne medicine if you have severe acne.
- Get a facial to extract your existing blackheads.
- Remove your blackheads at home.
Types Of Blackhead Removers
Wait, so you can remove your blackheads without going to a dermatologist? Well, yes, you can—but hold your horses, you need the right pimple popper tools first.
Blackhead Extractor
The first kind of tool is a blackhead or comedone extractor. These are long metal tools that have one or more looped ends. This kind of remover is used to push down on blackheads until the stuff inside has come out.
Blackhead Tweezers
Curved blackhead tweezers are easy to use. They use a combination of pushing and squeezing to extract blackheads. The tweezers are precise enough that they can remove very small blackheads that the comedone extractor cannot.
How To Use A Blackhead Tweezer
Blackhead removal isn’t rocket science, but it isn’t easy either. Using your blackhead tweezer correctly is the surest way to avoid infection or scarring.
- Disinfect the blackhead tweezer with rubbing alcohol before using.
- Prepare your skin. Cleanse it thoroughly with warm water to open up your pores. Place a warm towel over your face for 10-15 minutes.
- Use the rounded ends of the blackhead tweezer to gently press the blackhead out. The tips should be on either side of the blackhead (not on it).
- Lightly pinch and press until the blackhead releases. Use slow, even pressure. Once the blackhead starts to come out, pinch it with the tweezers and pull it all the way out. If the blackhead won’t release, do not apply more pressure and just move on to the next one.
- Disinfect the area and your tools after extraction using alcohol or cleanser.
Buy The Best Blackhead Tweezer In Australia
There are tons of blackhead tweezers on the market, but would you really want anything less than the best? And who else can you trust besides the Queen of Blackhead Removal herself?
Dr. Pimple Popper a.k.a. Dr Sandra Lee, blackhead removal expert and social media celebrity released a blackhead tweezer for home extractions in 2017. And yes, it’s the same exact ones she uses in her extremely popular pimple popping videos.
You can buy the Dr Pimple Popper blackhead tweezer (along with her comedone extractor, skincare line, and other merch) on her website—don’t worry, they ship to Australia!
Blackheads Can Be Awful...
Unless you have perfect skin—in which case, lucky you—blackheads can be an awful, inescapable part of life. But with a steady hand, some patience, and a good pair of pimple tweezers, you can say bye-bye to those little black dots that are ruining your complexion.