Most of us have at some point placed a blackhead removing strip across our nose, or smothered it in a thick black goo under the impression that in 30 minutes we'll peel them back to reveal our blackheads have departed forever. But alas, just a few days later they're back to looking just the way they always have.
To understand why that is and how to get rid of them FOREVER we need to first understand how it is that they come about:
What causes blackheads to form?
Blackheads are not caused by dirt. Acne causes, whether that be blackheads, or regular spots and pimples, form in the same way, from within. The skin (specifically the sebaceous glands) produces sebum (oil) and usually this gets steadily deposited on to the skin to keep it hydrated and nourished. BUT sometimes the production of sebum is forced in to overdrive which leads to an overwhelming amount of sebum. This excess sebum combines with dead skin cells and gets stuck in the pore.
So why is it black? "When this trapped sebum in your pores is open to the air, it oxidizes and the surface turns black" says Dr Sakar, a Board-Certified Dermatologist. In fact, the next time you squeeze out a blackhead you'll notice that only the top of it is black.
This is why no matter how often you squeeze them out and pristinely clean you keep your face, they just keep coming back again and again and will continue to do so until you treat the root cause.
So how do I get rid of blackheads for good?
It's important to focus on two simple actions:
1: Target the root cause:
Targeting blackheads on the surface of the skin is entirely logical, but once you know the science around how they form it quickly becomes evident that to stop them once and for all you need to target the root cause. Our acne supplement tackles acne causes at the root and is highly effective at stopping blackheads - but don't expect an overnight miracle, you've probably had blackheads for many years and so it will often take between 2-3 months of using the skin supplement before you notice a significant difference. The best thing, is that once you do see them clearing you'll know that they're gone for good.
2: Increase cell turnover
"Use ingredients that cause cell turnover (or exfoliate) so you're less likely to get dead skin cells clogging your pores, such as salicylic acid and other vitamin A derivatives".