Most people do not know how to get rid of blackheads, because they are confused over what actually causes this problem.
A surprising amount of people still believe that blackheads are caused by dirt becoming stuck in the pore.
This leads to a series of actions that often exasperate the problem instead of working towards a final solution.
Not only does this uninformed treatment cause further damage to the skin, but it can also cause some serious self esteem issues.
If a teen believes that they have blackheads because their face is dirty, it is very possible to become compulsive about cleaning and scrubbing their face.
It spirals further down when this method does not work.
This is why it is so important that both teens and parents learn the true cause of this problem, because too many parents are still ignorant of all these important facts.
The skin blemish we call blackheads are simply a mixture of dead skin cells and sebum (the oil that your body produces to protect your hair and skin) clogging up a pore.
The reason that this mixture turns black is because of the oxidative effect that occurs when it is exposed to the open air through the top of the pore.
The first step for getting rid of blackheads is realizing that they are not caused by anything you are doing wrong.
Do not take out any poor self esteem on your face.
When you damage skin with excess scrubbing you are causing serious damage to the pores, leading to them becoming enlarged or to a more severe form of acne.
In order to treat blackheads we need to use products that penetrate the sebum and dead skin mixture, and products that work to break it up.
This is why using a good exfoliant on a weekly basis is such a good idea.
Unlike many other ingredients salicylic acid has the ability to actually infiltrate the pore, and work its magic from the inside.
That gunk that builds up in your pore can be really tough to break up, and this is one of the few ways that actually works.
You need to be very careful when using any of the blackhead removal tools that are on the market.
If you prepare your face correctly, the blackhead strips can be an effective way to clear out some of these blemishes every once in a while.
However, they are not a permanent solution and should only be used sparingly.
Personally, I would avoid using the metal tools that are meant to push out blackheads individually, as it is just too easy to damage your skin with these.