What are blackheads?
A blackhead (open comedo) is a clogged pore full of excess sebum and dead cells. The black color is oxidized melanin at the surface – not dirt.
How do blackheads form?
Excess sebum plus disrupted shedding of the upper skin layer = the pore opening gets blocked. UV radiation oxidizes the melanin inside the blackhead and turns it dark.
How do you get rid of blackheads?
Salicylic acid (BHA) penetrates the pore and dissolves the sebum. Retinol normalizes keratinization and prevents clogged pores. Regular enzyme peels clear the surface.
What should you avoid?
Squeezing – it causes inflammation, scars and enlarged pores. Skipping SPF – UV radiation increases sebum production.