Surely each of us has been “visited” by blackheads at least once. Especially in the hot and humid climate and dusty environment of Vietnam, blackheads seem to have become an extremely common skin problem. The “black spots” scattered on the face look unsightly and cause the person with acne an “uncomfortable” feeling. One fine day, you suddenly look in the mirror and discover a blackhead and habitually “treat” it directly with your hands. Is this really good? If not, what should you do to destroy these “ugly black spots”? Let’s learn about blackheads and how to treat them in the article below with Sac Dep Spa.

What are blackheads?

Blackheads are a type of acne that form when pores become clogged with excess oil and dirt. When this sebum is pushed to the surface of the hair follicle, it turns black due to its reaction with oxygen in the air. Blackheads usually appear on the face, but can also appear on the back, neck, and shoulders. Areas with more hair follicles are more prone to blackheads.

Causes of blackheads

From the definition of blackheads, we can see that the main culprits that cause them are excess oil and dirt. However, according to research by many famous dermatologists, age and hormones are among the main causes of blackheads. In addition, smoking, sweating, using birth control pills or diet also have a significant impact.

• Age and hormones : Like acne, blackheads are most common during puberty due to changes in hormone levels. When Androgen (male sex hormone) and Estrogen (female sex hormone) change, it will create conditions for increased sebum leading to the formation of blackheads. Usually, both men and women cannot avoid this phenomenon during adolescence.
• Birth control pills : Most people mistakenly believe that birth control pills reduce acne, but according to research by experts, birth control pills containing Progestin can actually lead to promoting acne and a higher rate of blackheads.
• Sweating a lot : It may sound a bit “absurd” but in fact, sweating directly creates conditions for clogged pores leading to the formation of blackheads.
• Smoking : According to FacingAcne.com, there is a significant link between smoking and blackheads. A study conducted on a group of 100 smokers found that 87 people had symptoms of blackheads. When you smoke, your pores are at risk of becoming clogged due to the overproduction of oil in your skin, leading to the formation of blackheads.
• Diet : There is no evidence that diet directly affects acne, but many people find that blackheads appear more often when they eat foods high in fat.

Blackheads Vs. Sebaceous Fibres: What’s The Difference?

It is important to differentiate between blackheads and sebaceous filaments because many people with sebaceous filaments mistakenly think they are dealing with blackheads. Sebaceous filaments basically look quite similar to blackheads, but this is normal and actually very common. Sebaceous filaments are the exposed part of the pore. In each hair follicle, sebum is produced and pushed to the surface of the skin to maintain moisture. Sebum actually controls the size of the pore, because when more sebum is produced, the pore needs to expand to expel it.

Some Differences Between Blackheads And Sebaceous Filaments:

• Sebaceous filaments are smaller and lighter in color than blackheads.
• Sebaceous filaments often cluster in oily areas, especially the nose, while blackheads often form individually and appear more in areas with acne.
• Sebaceous filaments are not pimples and blackheads are a form of acne.

Blackhead Treatment and Three “Don’ts” to Avoid

Treating blackheads seems easy but is actually very difficult, because if you only use temporary treatments, you cannot “completely” eliminate these “ugly black spots”. However, if you know how to handle them scientifically and combine them with specialized support, blackheads will certainly no longer be a concern. You can refer to some of the solutions below:

• Using a facial cleansing device : Investing in a facial cleansing device is essential for those with blackheads. When washing your face with a device, excess oil and dirt on your face will be removed to the maximum. Note that you should only wash your face with the device for 1-2 minutes to avoid damaging your skin and regularly clean the device to prevent bacteria from entering.
• Exfoliate 1-2 times/week : Special exfoliants help the skin gently remove dead cells on the surface of the skin. You should look for unscented and gentle types, especially for girls with sensitive skin. Especially avoid products that dry the skin, because when the skin is dry, it will secrete more oil, making the blackheads worse.
• Using cosmetics : Although cosmetics cannot directly remove blackheads, they will deeply support to limit oil, thereby minimizing blackheads. You can refer to 100% essential oilsOrganic Purifying Extract (high-end Canadian cosmetic and pharmaceutical company). This product is safe for all skin types and helps regulate sebum secretion, gradually eliminate blackheads and tighten pores.
• Go to a dermatologist : If you want to deal with it right away, you can go to a dermatologist. By using a safe and hygienic handheld acne extractor, blackheads will be easily removed to avoid facial inflammation. However, this is only a temporary solution. In the long term, you still need specialized support products to control oil, such as the essential oils mentioned above.

Instead of going to the doctor, some people choose to treat blackheads at home, but due to lack of knowledge about blackheads, there are still some mistakes that unintentionally make the acne worse. Here are three  “No”  things to avoid in treatment:

• Squeezing pimples with your hands : Many people often feel uncomfortable when they see blackheads, leading to “itchy hands” and squeezing them directly. This is extremely undesirable because our hands are not always clean, the acne area will swell and easily become inflamed.
• Washing your face too much : The benefits of washing your face are undeniable, especially for those who are “oily”, washing your face is indispensable after a tiring day at work. However, this is only good when you wash your face 1-2 times a day and each time no more than two minutes, because washing too much will dry out your face and stimulate the glands on your skin to produce more oil, making blackheads worse.
• Overuse of peeling : Using peel-off strips to remove blackheads is a solution that many people apply, this also gives immediate results when you know how to use the strips properly. If you overuse peel-off strips, it will enlarge the pores, weaken the skin due to the loss of protective hairs and blackheads will return stronger than before.

Spa Beauty share some knowledge about blackheads as well as effective blackhead treatment solutions above. Readers should refer to see what their skin really needs before deciding to use any measures on their face. Hopefully the article has provided you with useful information and wish you soon have a “blackhead-free” skin.