Help! I Have Blackheads

First, a little perspective on blackheads: Almost everybody has them at some point, and they’re nothing serious. “Blackheads are super common,” says Dr. Soheil Simzar, MD, a dermatologist in Southern California. “Some of us are more prone to them than others, depending on our genetic makeup and hormone levels. It doesn’t signify anything other than very, very early stages of mild acne.”

Still, you wouldn’t be reading a story called “Help! I Have Blackheads” if you were happy with your pore situation, right?

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To understand how to treat blackheads, it’s important to know what they are—and they aren’t a sign that your skin is dirty. Blackheads occur when a pore becomes clogged with sebum and dead skin cells. When the clog reaches the air, it oxidizes and appears black. Simple as that.

There are a few ways to treat blackheads. Simzar recommends seeing an esthetician for a facial once every two to four weeks. “That helps clean out the pores, and [the esthetician] may do a light peel, which may make the pores look smaller,” he says.

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In addition, a tailored skin-care regimen can minimize blackheads. Simzar advises starting with an over-the-counter cleanser that has salicylic acid, which will dissolve the clogs. Glycolic acid pads and a cleansing brush such as Clarisonic can also help keep pores clear, but in both cases, Simzar recommends an as-gentle-as-possible approach. (As for pore strips, he says they “can’t hurt,” but they’re not as effective as these other methods.)

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If blackheads don’t respond to these over-the-counter methods, it may be time to see a dermatologist. “There are stronger treatments than what you can get over the counter,” Simzar says. Either way, blackheads are nearly as treatable as they are common—meaning a clearer complexion is indeed possible.