Those small blemishes that appear on your T-zone and defy even the most robust skincare routine can be frustrating. No matter how hard you squeeze, steam, strip or scrub your face, the unwanted pinpricks remain. But what exactly are blackheads and more importantly, how do you get rid of them? We speak to Dr Anjali Mahto , Consultant Dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation , about ridding your skin of those pesky spots for good:.
Blackheads appear as tiny black marks on the nose, forehead and other areas of the face and — although they look different to your average pimple — they are actually classed as a form of acne. The black colour results from oxidation of the debris within the follicle. It can be tempting and even satisfying to squeeze blackheads but — despite the amount of 'gunk' this can release from the follicles — Dr Mahto recommends you resist the urge. Squeezing a spot can push the inflammation deeper and this can cause scarring of the skin,' she says.
Squeezing a spot can push the inflammation deeper and this can cause scarring of the skin. Blackheads are notoriously hard to get rid of entirely, but there are some things you can do to keep them at bay. Products that contain salicylic acid and zinc may be beneficial. Here's everything you need to know about the over-the-counter medication. Severe acne can often be frustrating to manage and takes time to treat. Find tips for managing acne, what to avoid, and how to prevent it from getting….
Nizoral may be effective at treating acne caused by fungal overgrowth. Learn more about what the research has to say about using Nizoral to treat…. Many people claim that coconut oil helps treat acne. This may work well for some people, but can actually make acne worse for those with oily skin. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Identifying blackheads How to extract a blackhead When to leave it alone Extractor tools What to do next Blackhead prevention Takeaway Share on Pinterest We include products we think are useful for our readers.
Identifying a blackhead. How to extract a blackhead. When to leave it alone. What to know about extractors. What to do after removal? How to prevent blackheads. The bottom line.
Read this next. The Benefits and Risks of Dry Brushing. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Is Nizoral an Effective Acne Treatment? Squeezing, especially if you're doing it to a papule a pimple without a white head, can make your skin much redder and swollen than just leaving it be. Do enough squeezing and you may even turn that regular pimple into a more serious type of blemish, like a nodule a hard, red, painful blemish deep within the skin or an acne cyst.
The most serious form of a blemish, acne cysts are large and painfully inflamed lesions. Cysts must be treated by a physician. Popping pimples can have many longer-term effects than a swollen spot and a scab: it's a surefire way to increase your chances of developing acne scars.
Every time your skin is damaged, there's a possibility that, as the skin heals, tissue will be lost. That's how you get depressed or pitted acne scars. The greater the damage done to the skin, the greater the chance of tissue loss. Even if depressed scars don't develop, dark marks can.
These dark spots on the skin, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation , are caused by inflammation. Popping a pimple causes inflammation, so you're more likely to see post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation once a pimple heals. Picking at your blemishes can spread infection and, ultimately, worsen your acne.
Clearly, a hands-off policy is the best choice when it comes to your skin. But, honestly, zits are annoying enough that we just want to get rid of them fast. There are safer ways to get rid of individual pimples. First, try over-the-counter acne spot treatments. These products are dabbed on existing pimples to help dry them out and heal them quickly. These work best for relatively minor pimples, though. If you have a really big pimple that won't go away , you may need to see a dermatologist for help.
Spot treatments are unlikely to be much help with these more severe blemishes. Your best bet, always, is to leave the zit alone to heal. But, if you just have to squeeze it, at least extract the blemish safely. Don't use your fingernails or another hard object, don't force the zit to drain, and never squeeze a deep pimple or one that hasn't come to a white or yellow "head.
We all have, at one point or another, popped a pimple even knowing we shouldn't. Occasionally squeezing a blemish, while not great for your skin, is normal. But when squeezing pimples, popping zits, or picking at the skin becomes a compulsion, it's time to look a little deeper.
You may have a form of acne called acne excoriee also known as excoriated acne. People with excoriated acne pick at their pimples, real or imagined, to the point of seriously damaging their skin. Talk with your dermatologist or physician. Of course, we all want to keep pimples from forming in the first place. The absolute best way to do that is to use an acne treatment medication every day.
Over-the-counter acne products can help stop minor breakouts. But if those don't work after two or three months, or if your acne is more severe, put in a call to a dermatologist. There are many prescription acne treatment options that will help clear your skin and make pimples a thing of the past. The word zit is another name used to describe a pimple. They usually form on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Popping a pimple or zit can cause scarring, which is one reason why popping should be avoided.
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