Perhaps you've already tried to get rid of those unsightly blackheads on your face.
What you've discovered is that when you force the issue, you can bruise your face, leave surface cuts from your prying fingernails or drive the blackhead further into your skin.
None of these results are desirable; you need a little help in caring for this skin problem.
You've probably heard the saying that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
" In the case of blackheads, that is certainly true.
If you have numerous blackheads on your face, you might want to consider some of these tips: * Avoid creamy, greasy products to wash your face.
They often only contribute to blocking your pores, which cause blackheads in the first place.
* Don't use bar soap either.
The ingredients that hold a bar of soap together can also clog your pores.
* Try a gentle, water-soluble cleanser.
Do a little research and find out which brands have the best reputation for leaving pores unclogged.
Be careful of the cleansers that have moisturizer in them.
Such ingredients can contribute to clogging pores as well.
* Scrub gently to remove all dead skin cells on your face.
There are many more there than you realize and you need to get rid of them.
* You might want to try a mask in this process to take care of the dead skin cells and open your pores anew.
* If normal, regular washing with a good cleanser does not help your problem and your acne refuses to go away or decrease, visit a dermatologist for more powerful help.
Now, regarding the blackheads that are already on your face, let's move to the cure now that we have discussed prevention a bit.
You need to get rid of these blackheads because they can soon get invaded by bacteria and erupt into pimples.
Pimples are simply aggravated pores and usually are the next step after a blackhead.
In order to get that blackhead, which you will see is more than just a speck of black (it is actually a longer bit of hardened oil that has turned black on its very tip as it is exposed to air), many people elect to gently squeeze them out of the pores.
To do so, you need to be very gentle and touch your face only with very clean hands.
You might want to use a sterilized instrument as well.
You should start with using a mild scrub or exfoliant to get rid of all of the dead skin cells that might be covering your blackheads.
Then, pat your face dry and put a warm compress on it for about 10-15 minutes to soften the blackhead(s) and make them easier to remove.
Once you pat your face dry again, you can try to push down, then up around the blackhead to remove it, applying pressure underneath it.
Some people place tissue on the ends of their fingers to avoid slippage and tearing the skin.
If the blackhead does not cooperate and exit after one or two tries, leave it alone.
Some attach within your skin more vigorously than others.
You need to leave it alone and re-try a day or two later.
If you persist, you risk bruising your face and leaving red marks where your fingers and/or nails have refused to give up.
As hard as it is to declare a surrender, you need to do so and live to fight another day.
As you maintain healthy habits that include regular washing of your skin (especially after heavy perspiration), scrubbing to remove dead skin cells, drinking lots of water and managing stress through exercise and lots of sleep, your blackhead problem should decrease significantly.
As you continue to troll the Net for help with your complexion, be careful to weigh the many differing points of advice out there.
Sometimes, the best advice is that which is simplest and makes the most sense.
It also can be the advice that calls on you to take preventative action, even if you are looking for a miracle cure.