Most of us go to extremes to get rid of blackheads: scrubs, masks, pore strips, and even extractors. There are few things that are more satisfying that squeezing out a big blackhead. Recently, there's been a ton of online videos of black peel-off masks that pull out blackheads. Although these videos are addicting to watch, are these masks good for your skin? What is the right way to get rid of blackheads? We asked a few dermatologists for their insight. Click to find out what they had to say.
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Blackheads are result of oil and dead skin cells clogging up your pores. Dr. Neal Schultz, NYC Dermatologist, comments "For an at-home treatment of blackheads, glycolic exfoliation is the key to smoother skin because glycolic removes the dulling and clogging dead cells (which can cause acne blemishes) and ensures faster healing of existing acne lesions, especially blackheads and whiteheads."
Dr. Schultz suggests using exfoliants. He explains, "If you use exfoliants, which take dead cells away or dissolve dead cells in clogs, those exfoliants can get into the channel here and dissolve the clog and allow the oil to flow. That’s why the exfoliants help treat non-inflammatory acne like whiteheads and blackheads."
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Alternatively, if you have blackheads and whiteheads, Dr. Schultz suggests seeing a dermatologist. A dermatologist can use a comedone expressor to treat the blackhead. Dr. Schultz explains "This tool has a smooth, metal, curved surface with a tiny hole in it, and when that tiny hole is placed over the opening of the whitehead or blackhead, and the dermatologists pushes down, the smooth metal painlessly pushes around the opening. This pushes the oil clog out of the blackhead or whitehead, and it pops out."
However, Ryan Phillips of BioClarity, a vegan and PETA certified cruelty-free skincare system designed specifically for teens and young adults, warns not to do this at home. "Never attempt to remove blackheads at home with your fingers. Improper removal could result in ruptured skin cell walls, which can lead to inflammation and infection and result in more severe pimples and acne symptoms. Squeezing these lesions can lead to larger pores that are more easily clogged and more visible, and push the infection deeper into the surface of the skin."
As for the black peel-off masks, be warned that they are bad for you skin. Cosmopolitan spoke to Andy Millward, a qualified aesthetician, who warns against 'Black Charcoal Peel Off Pore Masks.' He explained to Cosmo, "As for all those "blackheads" it pulls out. The majority of the oils pulled from the skin will be sebaceous filaments and actually needed by the skin so will be replaced within 30 days anyway to ensure healthy skin balance. Blocked pores (blackheads/comedones) are entirely different to sebum lined pores."
The same goes for pore strips. Although satisfying, these pore strips actually don’t do much in the form of treating blackheads. Ryan from BioClarity comments, "While they can remove the tip of the plug found in the comedone, all of the oil, skin, and bacteria built up in the rest of the pore is left intact, meaning a new plug will easily form. While they can temporarily make pores appear smaller, they do nothing to stop the recurrence of blackheads.
Marie Clare reports that pore strips only remove the top layer of gunk, leaving the rest of the "plug" unaddressed. Plus, pore strips can damage your pores and irritate your skin. They can even lead to scarring and spider veins. Not worth it!
