Blackheads can happen to anyone at any time. If you ever look at your skin and see little black dots, you know how tempting it is to pop them. But you probably shouldn’t do that on your own. Picking or popping blackheads with your hands can lead to scarring on your skin.
You need to safely extract your blackheads, and an expert esthetician knows exactly what to do. Here’s what you need to know about facials and how they can help you manage blackheads.
What Is A Blackhead?
A blackhead, formally known as a comedone, is a clogged pore. Bacteria, natural oils, and dead skin cells get trapped inside a pore or hair follicle on your skin. The dead cells oxidize with exposure to the air, turning the head of the plug a black or dark brown color. Blackheads will sit in your pores like a little plug until they’re removed. They don’t go away on their own.
What Causes Blackheads?
Blackheads are usually caused by dead skin cells shedding. Your body is constantly shedding skin cells. Ideally, those cells will naturally slough off. Sometimes, they stay stuck to the surface of the skin. Your skin is constantly producing an oil called sebum, which it uses to protect itself and create a moisture barrier. When these stuck dead cells combine with sebum, they can fill your pores and become blackheads.
Almost everyone is prone to blackheads. They’re most common in teenagers, but as many as 20% of adults will regularly develop blackheads. They can sometimes be prevented with a targeted skincare routine, but even people who take excellent care of their skin can occasionally develop blackheads.
How Are Blackheads Removed?
Don’t use your fingers to squeeze blackheads. Your fingers don’t have the precision necessary to remove a blackhead without causing trauma to your skin. Squeezing can cause scarring or even cause small blood vessels to burst.
Blackheads can be removed with specialized tools called comedone extractors. A comedone extractor is a tool with a small, flat end with an open loop in the middle. It can be securely placed around the perimeter of a blackhead and pushed down with precision, retracting the skin and allowing the blackhead to rise from the surface. Extraction tools are only useful for large blackheads that are far apart.
Small blackheads that are close together require a more comprehensive approach. Treatments like dermaplaning can be used to slough off the layer of dead skin cells trapping blackheads within the pores. Facial peels can remove dirt and debris from your skin, leaving it clean and soft.
Does It Hurt To Remove Blackheads?
Manually removing individual blackheads usually feels like slight pressure or a gentle pinch. It’s slightly uncomfortable, but not necessarily painful. Treatments like dermaplaning or facial peels are also painless, but they may leave your skin feeling a bit tender for a few days afterward.
It’s important to follow up with your esthetician’s recommendations after you’ve received a facial treatment. It’s very important to use sunscreen every day, but it’s most important when your skin is left vulnerable after a deeply exfoliating treatment. Be sure to nourish, moisturize, and protect your skin to keep it healthy and soothe sensitivity.
How Facials Can Promote Healthy Skin
Regular facials can help to prevent blackheads. If dead cells aren’t constantly accumulating, they’re less likely to clog your pores. Getting a facial every six weeks or so can thoroughly exfoliate your skin, removing the dead cells before they have a chance to negatively impact your skin health.
Facials can be designed to target specific skincare concerns. Our signature facial allows you to choose from four targeted treatments designed to suit your skin’s needs and your personal aesthetic goals. You don’t need to get the same facial every time.
Many people find that as their skin’s health and appearance generally improve, they change their focus on their aesthetic goals. If your skin is very dry when you first start getting facials, you may select a treatment that suits your goals. Over time, you may find that your skin is generally more balanced and decide to maintain your skin’s current health. You may feel less inclined to combat dry skin and more inclined to target early signs of aging.
Our estheticians can work with you to create a custom approach to your skincare, as well as a schedule for regular maintenance of your skin’s health.
Maintaining Healthy Skin
Getting a facial every six weeks can help to keep blackheads at bay, but what you do at home every day will have a significant impact. You need to wear sunblock every day to prevent damage to your skin. You should be washing your face twice a day: once in the morning before you put on your sunblock, and once at night before you use a moisturizer. Keeping your skin clean and moisturized will prevent the buildup responsible for causing blackheads.
After an esthetician has had an opportunity to work with your skin, they’ll be able to give you targeted advice. They can recommend specific products you should use or a routine you can adhere to that will help your skin stay healthy. We use and recommend Eminence Organics skin care products. They’re environmentally friendly and free from common allergens and irritants found in many other skincare products.
One of the most important things that people prone to blackheads need to remember is that picking at your skin will only make the problem worse. It can be tempting to scratch or pop your blackheads with your fingers, but you’re likely to do more harm than good. If you damage your pores, they’re damaged forever. They won’t ever shrink back down to their original size. Scars from picking your skin will take a long time to fade. Fight the urge to pop or pick and book an appointment with a blackhead-extracting expert.
Are You Ready For A Facial?
If you’re ready to schedule a facial to remove blackheads, Greentoes in Tucson is always here. Our experienced estheticians offer a wide variety of facials to suit all skin types, tones, and textures. You can book an appointment with us online or by phone.