What should you look for?
Look for a small, visible dark plug at the surface of a pore. The opening is widened rather than covered with skin. The medical name is an open comedo, which means an open, plugged pore. Blackheads can also look grey or orange, so the name is doing less precise work than it suggests.356
A blackhead does not have to form an obvious bump: some sit flat, while others rise slightly above the skin. When there are many clogged pores together, the area can feel rough or bumpy. Blackheads can appear alongside whiteheads and inflamed pimples, so not every spot in the same patch will look alike.25
Where do blackheads appear?
The nose and chin are common places to find blackheads, but they also appear on the cheeks, forehead, neck, chest and back. They are common during the teenage years, but adults can have them too, including people who first develop them as adults. Location helps you recognise the pattern, but it is not enough on its own to identify a spot.47
How are blackheads different from other acne spots?
| Spot | What it looks like | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|---|
| Blackhead | A tiny dark spot, flat or slightly raised. | A visible plug in an open pore. |
| Whitehead | A small white or skin coloured bump. | The plugged pore is closed over with skin. |
| Papule | A raised bump that can look pink, red, brown or purple. | An inflamed pimple without pus. |
| Pustule | A raised bump containing pus. | Pus rather than a dark, exposed plug. |
| Nodule or cyst | A larger lump beneath the skin. | Deeper acne that can feel tender or painful. |
| Dark mark after acne | A completely flat patch of colour where a spot has healed. | A leftover mark rather than a current pore blockage. |
Why is the tip dark?
Oil and dead skin cells build up inside a pore and widen its opening. At the exposed surface, the contents react with oxygen in the air and darken. The dark tip is not dirt, despite looking like something a cleanser should be able to negotiate with. Scrubbing is not the answer: it can irritate skin and make acne worse.237
What should you do if they look like blackheads?
- Wash gently with a mild cleanser twice a day, and remove makeup at the end of the day.
- Choose skincare and makeup labelled noncomedogenic, meaning designed not to clog pores.
- Ask a pharmacist about a suitable acne treatment. Salicylic acid helps prevent clogging by dissolving dead skin cells; retinoids help break up blackheads and prevent blocked pores.
- Do not squeeze or pick. Squeezing can cause infection or permanent scars, and deep blackheads are best removed by a professional.
Some blackheads near the surface clear on their own; deeper plugs are less likely to. With consistent care and treatment, comedonal acne can start improving in eight to 12 weeks, but clearing can take many months. Treatments for clogged pores are generally applied across the affected area rather than only to individual dots. Follow the specific product's directions.457
When should you get a spot checked?
A deep, painful lump is not the usual blackhead pattern. See a doctor if spots are painful, causing scars, numerous, or not improving with treatment. Hot, swollen skin or redness can indicate infection; redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin. Get help too if acne is affecting your mental health, or tell your healthcare provider if acne medication causes side effects.25
Where this answer comes from
- 1Blackheads: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopediamedlineplus.gov
- 2Acnenhs.uk
- 3Acne: Signs and symptomsaad.org
- 4Blackheads: What They Look Like, Treatment & Preventionmy.clevelandclinic.org
- 5Comedonal Acne: Causes & Treatmentmy.clevelandclinic.org
- 6Comedodermnetnz.org
- 7Comedonal acnedermnetnz.org
