Acne treatment Acne treatment

Types of Blackheads

Types of Blackheads Types of Blackheads Types of Blackheads

Newborn babies, self-conscious teens and seasoned adults have one thing in common. They can all be victims of acne. Scientists don't know exactly what causes this common skin disease, but hormones and heredity are believed to play a part. There are several different types of acne, and blackheads are one of those types.


Blackheads are a type of acne known as comedones. reports that comedones form when hair follicles in the skin become plugged with oil and skin cells. When a follicle is plugged near the skin's surface, air can turn the plug dark and a blackhead is formed. Blackheads are not caused by dirt. In fact, scrubbing your skin too hard or too often may make the condition worse. When comedones are closed, they're called whiteheads.


Some people think eating too many greasy foods or too much chocolate can make you break out. That's not the case. reports that blackheads and other types of acne form when your glands secrete too much of an oily substance known as sebum and when too many dead skin cells accumulate in hair follicles instead of being shed from skin. Hormones, heredity, bacteria and certain medications can contribute to the buildup of sebum that causes acne.


You can buy over-the-counter acne creams, lotions and gels to fight blackheads and other types of acne. reports that benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the most common and most effective treatments for mild cases. Dermatologists may recommend prescription medicines for more stubborn cases. A doctor might prescribe retinoid creams and gels that are applied to the skin once a day to fight acne. However, these treatments increase your sensitivity to the sun and risk of getting sunburned. Doctors also have the option of prescribing topical or oral antibiotics to fight bacteria that contribute to acne.


There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing blackheads. Recommends washing areas that are prone to acne just twice a day. You need to remove excess oil and dead skin cells, but if you wash too aggressively, you can irritate skin and dry it out so much that even more oil is produced to counteract the dryness. Use gentle cleansers and oil-free skincare products. Go easy on the makeup during the day and be sure to remove it before going to bed. Use over-the-counter acne treatments to help dry excess oil.

Related Articles

Blackhead Symptoms
Overview Blackheads are oil clogs in your hair follicles. The sebaceous gland at the bottom of the f...
Embedded Blackheads & Pits
Overview When pores become blocked with dead skin cells, oil and bacteria, they can form blackheads....
Homemade Blackhead Mask
Overview Blackheads are a result of trapped sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria that are in your por...
Oil Cleansing Method for Blackheads
Overview Though one wouldn't expect to solve a problem caused by oil by using more oil, this is the ...
Blackheads in the Ears
Homemade Blackhead Scrub
Overview Blackheads are a type of acne called comedones, which occur when hair follicles become clog...

Comment «Types of Blackheads»