What are Blackheads?
Blackheads are small bumps that appear on your skin due to clogged hair follicles. These bumps are called “blackheads” because the surface looks dark or black. Blackheads are a mild type of acne that usually form on the face, but they can also appear on the back, chest, neck, arms, and shoulders. Acne affects 40 to 50 million Americans and is the most common skin disorder in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
What Causes Blackheads?
Blackheads form when a clog or plug develops in the opening of hair follicles in your skin. Each follicle contains one hair and a sebaceous gland that produces oil, called sebum, which helps keep your skin soft. Dead skin cells and oils collect in the opening to the skin follicle, producing a bump called a comedone. If the skin over the bump stays closed, the bump is called a whitehead. When the skin over the bump opens, exposure to the air causes it to look black and a blackhead forms.
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Some factors can increase your chances of developing acne and blackheads, including:
- producing too much body oil
- buildup of the p. acnes bacteria (propionibacterium acnes) on the skin
- irritation of the hair follicles when dead skins cells don’t shed on a regular basis
- undergoing hormonal changes that cause an increase in oil production during the teen years, during menstruation, or while taking birth control pills
- taking certain drugs, such as corticosteroids, lithium, or androgens
Some people believe what you eat or drink can affect acne. Dairy products and foods such as carbohydrates that increase blood sugar levels may play a part in triggering acne, but researchers aren’t convinced that there is a strong connection.,
What Are Symptoms of Blackheads?
Blackheads are easy to spot on the skin because of their dark color. They are slightly raised, although they are not painful because they are not inflamed like pimples. Pimples form when bacteria invade the blockage in the hair follicle, causing redness and inflammation.
How Are Blackheads Treated?
Over-the-Counter Treatments
Many acne medications are available at drug and grocery stores without a prescription. These medications are available in cream, gel, and pad form and are put directly on your skin. The drugs contain ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and resorcinol. They work by killing bacteria, drying excess oil, and forcing the skin to shed dead skin cells.
Prescription Medications
If over-the-counter treatment doesn’t improve your acne, your doctor may suggest that you use stronger prescription medications. Medications that contain vitamin A, such as tretinoin, tazarotene, and adapalene keep plugs from forming in the hair follicles and promote more rapid turnover of skin cells. These medications are applied directly to your skin. Your doctor may also prescribe another type of topical medication that contains benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics. This type of medication may be particularly helpful if you have pimples or acne cysts in addition to blackheads.
