How should I treat it, if I leave it alone the black circle simple sits there until I pop it and the black "rice grain" comes out, but then it scars! They hurt too, someone please, please, please help.
In this post, someone describes an incredibly common problem popularly referred to as "blackheads" in quite vivid terms. Because they seemed to be unsure what blackheads were, some people were wondering if the post was a joke of some kind. Nonetheless, the poster brought up a problem that does benefit from being addressed — the formation of scars after popping pimples of any kind.
What did the SteadyHealth community have to say on the topic of blackheads and squeezing pimples in general, and what can we learn from science?
What the do the experts say?
"Comedones" ("comedo" in the singular) is the medical term for the skin lesions we generally refer to as zits or pimples. There are many kinds, including ones so small you'd need a microscope to see them and giant ones (cysts). When it comes to pimples, however, these comedones — caused by clogged pores, filled with bacteria, dead skin cells, and oil — come in two types. Closed comedones are whitheads, zits with visible pus in their center, while open comedones are blackheads.
Blackheads are incredibly widespread, and though they typically affect the face (often especially around the curves of the nose), blackheads can also appear on your back, neck, shoulders, chest, and even arms. The black bits the poster called grains of black rice are caused by skin pigmentation and oxidation (because your blackhead has been exposed to air) — the still fairly common misconception that they point to dirt accumulation couldn't be further from the truth, as vigorous washing can actually speed up the oxidation process.
Why you get blackheads
Blackheads are a kind of acne, and they're most common:
- During puberty
- In women during periods of hormonal change, such as menstruation, pregnancy, and while using hormonal contraceptives, as well as in those with polycystic ovary syndrome
- In people who sweat a lot
- In people who make heavy use of makeup, which can clog the pores
- In people who live in humid climates
- If you use certain medications, such as steroids
What now?
You can try to prevent the appearance of new blackheads by washing your face regularly, taking off makeup (if you use any) before bed, using cosmetic products that are oil free (look for the label non-comedogenic), and also exfoliating regularly, using products such as those that contain salicylic acid.
If you already have blackheads, we know all too well that squeezing, or popping, them is incredibly tempting — you want to be rid of those nasty things! It is, however, better to simply continue taking good care of your skin using over the counter products. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are both popular, as they have antibacterial properties and can help rid your skin of excess oil. If over the counter treatments do not work and your acne is excessive, prescription medications are also available through your doctor.
As our original poster noticed, popping blackheads — or pimples in general, really — can result in the formation of scar tissue. Some people even get keloid scars or hypertropic scars, which are raised and can be quite extensive and noticeable. Although a dermatologist may use special tools to manually remove blackheads, we would advise that you don't do this at home if you would prefer to stay as scar-free as possible. We'd also add that popping pimples with unwashed hands or non-sterile equipment (tweezers, specialized tools, etc) can invite infections in; in this case, you can end up with problems much more serious than blackheads.
What if you already have acne scars? You can talk to a dermatologist about how to treat them. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser treatment are all possible treatments for these kinds of scars.
Discussion highlights
Questions
Curious minds wanted answers to these pimple-related questions:
- what was it.
- how do i get rid of those spots.
- How should I treat it, if I leave it alone the black circle simple sits there until I pop it and the black "rice grain" comes out, but then it scars!
- what the hell is it?
- so it's a blackhead, right?
Experiences
Some people shared their experiences with blackheads:
- popped it and this black 1/4 rice ball thing came out with pus.
- I just had one of these on my right side, up from my hip.
- most often i could just be a black head or even an undeveloped hair follice i have had those however with the scarring u may need to be looked at for impetigo normally affect the legs but it is contagious so if u popped on somewhere on body and then face it would move there be safe have it checked out because of it causing scarring u def dont want to keep picking it
- It is dry matter of clogged dirt (The Blackhead) which infects the follicle down to the root of the pimple which is why the pimple hurts.
- about 2 years ago I had one on my lower back but I thought it was nothing because I have a tattoo there.
Vivid descriptions
If you weren't sure what a blackhead is like yet, you will be now:
- Omg i got a nasty bump on my stomach, it was red/purple n really swollen.
- It literally formed over night.
- I popped it and white liquidy puss came out, so i left it alone.
- I have the same but i cannot leave them alone because they sting so much.
- I get a tiny little black thing like a small parasite.
Suggestions
What's a person to do when they have a blackhead (or a couple hundred)? SteadyHealth members have answers:
- most often i could just be a black head or even an undeveloped hair follice i have had those however with the scarring u may need to be looked at for impetigo normally affect the legs but it is contagious so if u popped on somewhere on body and then face it would move there be safe have it checked out because of it causing scarring u def dont want to keep picking it
- The best way to manage this is by seeing an Estetitian (A specialist who uses natural herbs and products as they do facials to remove blackheads, whites, with and without Sebum) or consult your Dermatologist.
- It's okay to pull them out yourself or get someone else to help.
- It's better with tweezers and keep it clean with water as you've just opened your skin up, otherwise it could get infected.
- If you ever find them and want better knowledge then get it extracted by a beauty therapist that specifically specialises in skin and she will analyse your skin very closely, give you a thorough explanation and the best homecare advise for the future which will most likely be a really good cleansing and most importantly, the best exfoliation routine.
In conclusion
Nobody likes blackheads, but they're nothing unusual or dangerous. If they bother you and especially if you have many, you can, however, seek help from a dermatologist. Dermatologists will be able to help you manage your blackheads in a medically-sound way that maximizes your chances of saying good bye to your blackheads while minimizing your risk of scarring or infection.