Blackheads are like buses. Just as one disappears off into the distance, three more come in at once. In fact, alongside spots, visible pores and pigmentation, they’re one of the biggest bugbears in beauty.
If you’ve been struggling with the little critters for years, it may be that you’ve not got to the root cause. You might even be using products that exacerbate the problem. And with myths advocating scrubbing harder and more often offered up on the internet as advice, it’s hard to know what’s what.
So, we’ve enlisted the help of top dermatologist, Dr Anjali Mahto, who has shared with GLAMOUR her insider knowledge on why we get them, and more importantly how to get rid of blackheads. Here’s how to see those suckers off…
What are blackheads?
Blackheads are the small blocked follicles in skin that look like tiny black dots. They get their name due to their colour, however one myth is that blackheads are black because they’re filled with dirt. “The reason blackheads look black is because all the oils in them become oxidised. It’s not the dirt that is black, it is just oxidised oil,” explains Dr Anjali Mahto.
The nose tends to be most susceptible to blackheads since it has many hair follicles and produces more oil than other parts of the face. The nose also has crevices, while other parts of the face are flatter.
What causes them?
Sebum, oil and dead skin cells (the cells our skin naturally sheds during the skin cycle) can become trapped and lodged in follicles causing plugs that lead to blackheads. Likewise, the products we use on a regular basis: foundations, concealers, ultra rich face creams etc can build-up in pores and mix with the oil leading to congestion.
Blackheads are a common issue we see all year round. During the winter, skin can lose its natural lipids and become dry and irritated. To compensate, the skin goes into overdrive, producing excess oil, which can also cause breakouts. During warmer months, skin tends to become oilier and as a result, the build-up can lead to clogged hair follicles, resulting in blackheads.
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How to prevent blackheads
The best way to prevent blackheads, is to prevent the follicles from becoming blocked in the first place. For this, exfoliating is key as it removes dirt, grime, excess sebum and dead skin cells before they have a chance to settle in follicles. “Exfoliation removes that upper layer of dead skin cells. So effectively, you’re preventing everything including old skin cells, dirt and makeup, from getting blocked inside that top layer of pores,” says Dr Anjali.