Blackheads – How to get rid of them!

Definition

Blackheads are also called comedones. These are skin impurities in the form of a blackish or white plug that blocks the opening of a sebaceous gland on the skin. Blackheads are particularly common on areas of skin rich in sebum, such as the forehead, nose or chin. Blackheads are harmless and are primarily a cosmetic problem. Not only young people are affected by comedones, the annoying skin impurities occur at any age.

Causes of blackheads

Blackheads are formed when the sebum produced in a sebaceous gland can no longer drain off and blocks the opening. This happens either due to increased sebum production (seborrhea) or a cornification disorder of the skin (hyperkeratosis), in which skin scales clog the sebaceous glands. Adolescents in particular suffer from blackheads and other skin impurities during puberty, as the hormonal changes lead to increased sebum production.

As a result, the sebum can no longer drain off and accumulates in the excretory duct of the sebaceous gland. From a certain size, the accumulated sebum can be seen with the naked eye as a white-yellowish plug. The blackhead is then called “white head” or closed blackhead.

Over time, the blackhead opens up and turns black because the sebum oxidizes in the air and mixes with melanin (the dark pigment of the skin) (“black head” or open blackhead). In some cases, bacteria can also penetrate the sebaceous gland and cause inflammation, resulting in purulent pimples and pustules. Every pimple starts out in a blackhead.

Many people mistakenly believe that inadequate personal hygiene is the cause of blackheads. This is wrong and often even too much soap causes the skin to lose its balance and blackheads develop. An unhealthy diet (too much sugar and too greasy) can contribute to the increased formation of skin impurities, but it is not the only cause. However, a balanced and varied diet and an adequate water supply can detoxify the body and improve the appearance of the skin. Learn more about this under: Impure skin – causes and treatment