What are Blackheads?

Blackheads are small bumps on the skin’s surface that form when a clog or blockage develops in the opening of a hair follicle. On your face, each follicle contains one hair and a sebaceous gland that creates oil. This natural oil, known as sebum, is produced by the body to help keep your skin soft and moisturised.

However, an overproduction of sebum and other debris like dead skin cells can collect in these openings, forming bumps known as comedones. If the skin over this bump stays enclosed, this is referred to as a whitehead. When the skin over the bump is open, exposure to the air causes the contents of the follicle to oxidise and appear black. In turn, this is known as a blackhead.

It is this process and their appearance that gives blackheads their name. They are usually concentrated on the nose and chin but can appear on areas of the body where oil production is heightened, such as the chest, neck and back.

Though they are not harmful to your health, a significant cluster of blackheads can be noticeable and difficult to cover up. Although individual Blackheads themselves are not permanent and can be extracted, the follicles in which they occur cannot be closed so it is common for them to reappear.

What Causes Blackheads/Comedones?

Blackheads are caused by follicles becoming blocked with oils and dead skin cells. When the skin around a clogged follicle opens, air enters and oxidises the build-up of skin debris and oil inside it, turning it black. Whilst hormonal factors control our body’s production of sebum, environmental influences can contribute to their development.

For example, failure to remove makeup daily or cleanse the skin properly is a major culprit causing blackheads to form. However, over-exfoliating can also encourage their formation by irritating the skin and resulting in excess oil production.

As a preventative method, it is important to wash your face regularly. Although this may seem obvious, it’s important to find a routine that works for your skin type and stick to it. Washing your face first thing in the morning will remove any overnight oil build-up. Washing it again before bed will remove any dirt that has accumulated throughout the day. Avoid washing your face more than twice a day as this can irritate and over-dry the skin, prompting it to produce excess oil.

If you have hair that often falls on your face, it is also important to wash it regularly. If your hair is oily, these oils can make contact with the face, block pores and contribute to blackheads on your forehead. Additionally, touching your face with your hands or objects like mobile phones, scarfs/hats, and masks can do the same.

Avoiding excess oil on the skin is essential when trying to control and prevent blackheads. It is important to ensure that any skincare products used are oil-free. There are many oil-free or non-comedogenic products on the market, ideal for blackhead prone skin. This includes makeup, skincare, and sunscreens. If you would like our Eden team to recommend the best products to use, please get in touch.

If you are suffering from blackheads that are not responding to at-home product regimes, please get in touch with us today. Here at Eden Skin Clinic, our skincare specialists can carry out professional blackhead extractions and treatment at both our Wimbledon and Kensington clinics.

What Treatments are Available for Blackheads?

• Microdermabrasion is a highly effective treatment. It works using a highly controlled vacuum suspension of fine, medical-grade crystals, which gently pass over the skin to exfoliate it. This process can remove 2-5 layers of dead skin, reducing build-up, not only helping to remove blackheads but preventing their occurrence. 
• Skin Peels treat the skin by deeply cleansing large pores of excess dirt to improve their appearance. As a result, Skin Peels can be used to help combat and reduce blackheads.