by Lynn Chua

Created on: July 06, 2009

Blackheads are caused by overactive sebaceous glands, when the sebum (the skin's natural oil) gets mixed in with the dead skin cells and get trapped in pores known as open comedones, they are follicles that have a wider than normal opening and the pore is not covered over by skin, the clog is exposed to air, causing cells and sebum to oxidize. They are also filled with plugs of sebum and sloughed-off cells and have undergone a chemical reaction known as the oxidation of melanin. They are expelled through your skin from the blood and lymph fluid combines with sebum creating pasty glue and the exposed tip becomes oxidized and black, hence they are named blackheads (this coloring is from oxidation, it's not because skin is dirty).

Oily and combination skins are most susceptible to these. The skin's most dense oil glands are located in T-zone. That is where you get the most blackheads. Sleeping with makeup on also contributes blackheads, not cleaning your face properly and not using the right skin care products could cause blackheads or clogged pores too.

If you want to get rid of blackheads you're going to stop using oil-based makeup, skin treatments and stop scrubbing your face with harsh abrasives. These oil-based skin products will ensure that your pores get clogged on a regular basis because oil-based skin products make it impossible for your body to break down naturally. Irritating your skin with scrubbing cloths actually causes more acne problems. Avoid products that are too emollient (meaning thick or greasy creams) like bar soaps the ingredients that keep soap in its bar form can clog pores, and irritation can cause skin cells to flake off before they're ready and accumulate in the pore use a gentle water-soluble cleanser instead. Try not to use moisturizers unless you truly need them. Also avoid washing the face with soaps more than twice a day. Keep your hair away from your face. Greasy hair and skin go together, and hair can spread infection.

Use only products made with natural ingredients that are not too astringent like products containing natural oils, such as jojoba or coconut oil. These oils are close to our natural oils, so they don't block the pores. Other products are skin care products containing Benzoyl peroxide as it has an antibacterial effect and may also decrease the chemical reaction that changes the lining of the hair follicle. This may help reduce the plugging that causes comedones. Tretinoin (Retin-A, Avita, Renova) is

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