How do you pop blackheads?

What are you trying to squeeze out?

A blackhead is an open comedone, meaning a plugged opening of a hair follicle. The plug contains oil and dead skin cells, and its contents can be physically extracted. The dark tip is not dirt, so a blackhead is not a bad cleaning review. Blackheads usually are not painful or tender. A deep, painful lump needs a different treatment approach, not a more determined squeeze.1456

How does professional extraction work?

During extraction, a professional uses sterilized equipment to remove the material blocking the pore. A comedone extractor has small, rigid metal loops that apply even pressure around the blackhead. Skin sometimes needs exfoliation before the procedure. Deep, embedded blackheads should be removed by a dermatologist or qualified medical aesthetician, rather than worked on at home.12

Buying the tool does not make home extraction safe. Proper technique matters, and squeezing with your nails can damage skin without removing the whole plug. Extraction is usually reserved for blackheads that do not clear with acne treatment, rather than being the first step. Extraction removes an existing clog rather than preventing the next one, which is an inconvenient omission from the satisfying part. Continue a treatment plan afterward because blackheads can return.127

What should you do at home instead?

1. 1Wash gently morning and night with a mild cleanser. Do not scrub: abrasive washing can irritate skin and make acne worse.
2. 2Apply a treatment that helps unclog pores. Salicylic acid and retinoids are options for blackheads. Follow the product's directions; comedone treatments generally go in a thin layer across the affected area, not only on individual dark dots.
3. 3Moisturize regularly. Choose noncomedogenic skincare and makeup, meaning products designed not to clog pores.
4. 4Remove makeup at the end of the day. Keep your hands away from your face between washes rather than checking each blackhead by touching it.

Which treatments help blackheads?

Salicylic acid is available in cleansers and lotions and dissolves dead skin cells that contribute to clogged follicles. Retinoids, medicines related to vitamin A, break up blackheads and help prevent new clogs. Retinoids can cause peeling or changes in skin color; using them every other day or alongside moisturizer can reduce those effects. Ask a pharmacist for help choosing an acne treatment, and tell your healthcare provider if medication causes side effects.137

How long does clearing take?

With consistent skincare and treatment, you may start noticing improvement in eight to twelve weeks, while fuller clearing can take months. Treatment often needs to continue over the long term. If you see no results after four to six weeks, a dermatologist can help adjust the plan; that is a point to seek help, not a reason to start squeezing. Some shallow blackheads disappear on their own, but deeply embedded ones are less likely to.1257

When should you get medical help?

Stop picking or squeezing, especially if the area becomes painful. See a doctor for hot, swollen or red skin, which can signal infection; redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin. Also seek help for scarring, many spots, deep painful lumps or acne affecting your mental health. Severe acne with deep cysts or nodules needs dermatologist treatment, not repeated attempts to extract it.36