Skincare for Blackheads

Blackheads are like an annoying ex. No matter what you do and no matter how hard you try, they just keep coming back! Everytime you squeeze one of them away, you find dozens more to get through (how’s that for a fun visual)!

As satisfying as it is to squeeze a blackhead or whitehead in that moment, it’s not a long-term solution, as they can clog your pores and lead to broken blood vessels.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of over-the-counter approaches to removing blackheads and whiteheads. It all comes down to finding the best treatment option for you, your skin type, and the reason behind your blackheads and whiteheads.

What are blackheads & whiteheads?

Before you try and rid your skin of these pesky little blemishes, it helps to understand what they are first. Blackheads and whiteheads - also referred to as comedones - are subtypes of acne that are common with acne prone and combination skin.

Blackheads look like little black dots that have formed under your skin, and are called ‘open comedones’. In the case of blackheads, a comedone occurs when hair follicles beneath your skin have enlarged pores. These larger than life pores become clogged with sebum, skin cells and bacteria and turn black when oxidised.

On the other hand, a whitehead is acne formed when sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria become trapped within one of your pores, as air cannot enter the follicle. Usually, whiteheads are slightly raised and feature a white tip.

Both types of comedones can pop up anywhere on your body, including the T-zone, chest, back, shoulders and arms. Acne can occur in men and women, at almost any age. Blackheads and whiteheads are also common in those with oily skin, combination skin, dry skin, and normal skin - all skin types can get blackheads and whiteheads. Skincare products can help to manage excess oil, dissolve dead skin cells, unclog pores, and treat blackheads and whiteheads. Other products can work to prevent blackheads from forming on the skin and boost collagen production. Read on to discover more about which treatments are ideal as blackhead treatments - from pore strips, chemical peels, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, and even acne prone skin treatments with natural ingredients like aloe vera.

Skin Care Treatments for Blackhead & Whiteheads

Clogged pores are the main cause of both blackheads and whiteheads. Blocked pores can occur due to a number of reasons - hormonal changes, overly sensitive or oily skin and complexion are the most common triggers of acne.

When it comes to blackhead and whitehead skincare, maintaining a consistent treatment regimen can work wonders to prevent these pesky closed and open comedones from coming back. Here are a few tips aside from ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide that can be easily implemented into your current routine to treat stubborn blackheads and prevent them from occurring:

• Wash your face once in the evening with a mild, non-fragrant soap
• Use lukewarm water for cleansing
• Exfoliate 1-2 times per week
• Avoid harsh scrubs - they can cause irritation, redness and flare-ups
• Keep hair products away from the face

Shopping Tips for Blackhead & Whitehead Skincare

Whether you have combination, oily, mature or sensitive skin, the severity of blackheads and whiteheads will vary from person to person. So, you need to be extra selective when shopping for your beauty products, whether it’s moisturisers, non-clog makeup or gentle facial cleansers. Luckily, Boniik may have the skincare products you need to fight off stubborn clogged pores and excess oil.

Exfoliation for Blackheads & Whiteheads

First thing’s first. Let’s talk about the importance of exfoliation.

Exfoliation is crucial to prevent future blackheads and whiteheads from forming, ridding the pores of impurities and reducing the skin’s overactive production of sebum. Exfoliation is also crucial to eliminate dead skin cells, leftover makeup residue, dirt and dead skin that could contribute to blackheads.

While exfoliating is important, the key to clearer skin is to not go overboard, as tempting as it may be! Over-exfoliating and some chemical exfoliants can cause damage to the layers of your skin, causing dryness and irritations. Our beauty experts recommend exfoliating one to two times a week to maintain your skin’s natural oil production.

Whitehead & Blackhead Treatments

Look for skincare products that don't clog your pores, will help to dissolve impurities and control excess oil. Look for lightweight foaming and cleansing micellar waters that feature salycylic acid, AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), or BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid). These blackhead and whitehead skincare treatments can break down the impurities and bacteria within the pores, and draw them away from the follicle.

It is also important to avoid using heavy and rich moisturisers that can easily clog your pores. Try using light day and night creams infused with salicylic acid, green tea, or tea tree oil to balance your natural oil production, maintain your skin’s hydration levels, and calm inflammation. A night time mask infused with soothing natural enzymes could also help remove dead skin cells naturally without causing unnecessary damage to the skin’s surface.

Read more to find out how you can gain healthy glowing skin for any skin type and tone here >>