Blackheads: Causes, Treatment & Help

Blackheads or comedones are blockages caused by keratinization of sebaceous follicles. Blackheads are mostly located on the nose or nostrils and are often clearly visible by their dark, pigment-like shape and color.

What are blackheads?

Blackheads are particularly common during puberty in adolescents, but can also occur in a weakened form throughout life again and again. The blackhead or comedo is a skin impurity, which is often subsequently manifested by the characteristic pimple. There are different forms. White comedones are particularly well known, and although they are harmless, they are considered annoying from an aesthetic point of view. There are also black comedones, which develop from the original form. Blackheads are considered the primary efflorescence of acne, i.e. the first and mainly visible symptom. However, they can also appear on their own due to various other causes. Blackheads occur particularly frequently in adolescents during puberty, but can also recur in a weakened form throughout life. Blackheads, along with pimples, are a typical symptom of acne.

Causes

Blackheads are caused by the sebaceous follicles of the skin becoming excessively keratinized and therefore clogged. A plug eventually forms, which becomes visible as a blackhead on the skin. These are so-called closed comedones, as the skin is not yet ruptured by them. They deposit a plug of sebum, which is readily squeezed out manually, and tend to become inflamed. Open comedones are blackheads that have already been ruptured or pushed open. They are yellowish at first, but then turn black because the contents of the blackhead have mixed with the pigment melanin and are oxidized by oxygen, not dirt, as one might assume. Blackheads are the main symptom of acne. They then appear mainly on the face, shoulders and chest. However, there are other causes, such as hormonal fluctuations. In teenage years, these are normal and can cause adolescents to develop many blackheads. Women also occasionally get more blackheads before their period.

Diseases with this symptom

  • Acne
  • PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
  • Ovarian cyst
  • Osteoporosis
  • Drug allergy
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Rosacea
  • Short stature
  • Hormonal disorders
  • PCO syndrome
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Renal impairment

If blackheads are not treated so no complications occur. So the appearance. However, this is not true. On the contrary. Without treatment, blackheads do not disappear. If it is already a form of acne, its condition may worsen. Without treatment, acne can spread unhindered and take on far worse forms with the formation of pustules.

Complications

Under no circumstances should the blackheads themselves be squeezed out. Thus, bacteria can penetrate deep into the skin. It will also irritate the skin. The blackheads are also not properly removed by this and come back after a few days. In addition, squeezing can cause the pores to become nastily inflamed. This can result in unsightly scars at the end. Improper use of cosmetics and home remedies of all kinds can also worsen the skin’s appearance. The products to be used must always be individually adapted to the skin type. If the products are too greasy, they can aggravate the skin condition. Likewise, incorrect applications can dry out the skin or cause skin irritation.

When should you go to the doctor?

Blackheads are annoying, but normally not a reason to see a doctor. Each person is best able to assess their own skin condition and decide if it appears normal by their standards or if blackheads appear outside of their usual patterns. The first time in life this can happen in teenage years. Some blackheads are unproblematic; if, on the other hand, they break out not only on the face but also in other places, are accompanied by pus formation and heal only with scarring, they are a sign of acne. Only a doctor can confirm this and initiate the right treatment. A timely visit to the doctor can prevent affected teenagers from later developing severely scarred skin that no longer heals.You should also be alert if blackheads appear outside the familiar patterns. Many women get them, for example, when they are about to have their period. If they appear without a menstrual period, an appointment should be made with a gynecologist. Sudden, severe outbreaks of blackheads without any apparent reason should also be clarified by a doctor. It is possible that the blackheads have an organic cause. It is also conceivable that they are not blackheads at all, but allergic or hypersensitive reactions of the skin to harmful substances. However, only a doctor can recognize and treat this.

Treatment and therapy

People often try to remove blackheads themselves by squeezing them out. However, this should not be done under any circumstances – in this way, the pores are only further damaged and opened to bacteria, which can inflame the follicle and also transfer the bacteria to other blackheads. Instead, the affected areas of the skin should be rubbed with a product containing salicylic acid or hydrogen peroxide. Salicylic acid opens the pores by loosening the top layer of skin – this allows sebum to escape more easily, old blackheads disappear and new ones are prevented from forming before they can appear. Hydrogen peroxide unfolds its effect afterwards. It ensures that the blackhead-related sores heal and do not cause more blackheads to form. Products containing zinc oxide in larger quantities are also helpful, as they also promote healing of the skin. However, if acne is suspected, one should consult the dermatologist. It occurs mainly in the teenage years or puberty and must be treated with special products, otherwise it will not disappear.

Outlook and prognosis

Blackheads do not necessarily need to be treated by a doctor and in very many cases disappear again by themselves. As a rule, especially teenagers and children are plagued by blackheads, which has a particularly strong effect due to the change in hormones at this age. Normally, blackheads disappear again within a few months and it is a typical symptom that occurs in adolescent age. However, if the patient feels uncomfortable with the blackheads, this symptom can also be treated by a doctor. The doctor responsible for this is the dermatologist. Alternatively, a cosmetician can be consulted. However, the success of the treatment cannot be universally predicted. If the blackheads appear due to poor hygiene, they can be removed relatively easily. In this case, washing the parts of the face helps. The blackheads can also be hormonal, in which case treatment is relatively complicated. However, the beautician can remove the blackheads temporarily, so that the skin looks and feels better afterwards. Many products are also available in drugstores and pharmacies and can be applied by the patient himself.

Prevention

The best prevention against blackheads is to avoid harmful substances such as alcohol, cigarette smoke and unhealthy, greasy food as much as possible. On the other hand, fresh air, exercise and plenty of healthy food are important. In addition, care must be taken to properly cleanse the skin. It is wrong to constantly wash the skin with soap – this causes it to lose its protective layer of oil. Instead, a dermatologically tested product should be used to cleanse the skin, and if possible, it should be lipid-replenishing. This will immediately restore the skin’s protective layer of oil and allow it to defend itself against blackheads. Furthermore, regular endurance sports and sauna can also have a beneficial effect on the skin and prevent the formation of blackheads and pimples. Fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs should be the basis of daily diet to prevent pimples and blackheads in the long term.

What you can do yourself

Blackheads can be treated with a number of everyday home remedies and tricks. In addition to increased personal hygiene, it is recommended to regularly cleanse the skin with the help of a steam bath to rid it of blackheads. Larger blackheads can be treated with various tinctures. The antibacterial effect of apple cider vinegar is particularly evident in people with slightly oily skin, while brewer’s yeast also works on very oily skin and effectively dries out the pimples.A mask made of honey or healing clay, which is applied to the affected areas in a similar way to tinctures, cleanses the skin of all residues and thus also significantly reduces the formation of blackheads. A real insider tip is also quark, which can be applied in the form of a face mask or a cleansing lotion. Special plaster strips from the pharmacy help acutely against blackheads on the nose, but should only be used in emergencies due to their irritating effect. More effective are home remedies such as zinc ointment, toothpaste or lemon juice, which are also simply applied to the face, where they dry out the blackheads. The use of these home remedies should always be discussed first with a general practitioner or dermatologist.