I cannot honestly say every skin type gets blackheads, but yes, there really are women who do not have to deal with them at all. Their skin is basically Snow White-level flawless. But let’s be real, there are not many of these people.
Most of us know blackheads very well. Some women struggle with them a lot, some only a little, and some barely notice them.
How annoying your blackheads are usually comes down to your skin type. A lot also depends on your skincare routine, the right one, or the wrong one, including exfoliation. And for some women, it also matters whether they use non-comedogenic (will not clog pores) products.
Blackheads can be stubborn. Sometimes they sit in your pores like they pay rent, no matter what you do. And that is often true even when a product promises it will “take care of blackheads” the moment you start using it.
What are blackheads?
For your body and skin to work properly, you need sebaceous glands. They are a normal part of your skin. These glands produce sebum, which helps keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Sebum and other substances travel out through pores to the surface of your skin.
If you want to go deeper into pores, why we have pores and which ingredients to avoid if yours clog easily, you can read more here.
Now let us look at it from the other direction, starting with the pore.
Under almost every pore, there is at least one sebaceous gland. In some areas, there are more, in others fewer. The gland produces sebum, and that sebum is meant to come up through the pore and reach the skin’s surface. Sometimes it does not. It gets stuck inside the pore.
Over time, that trapped sebum mixes with dead skin cells. A greasy little plug forms, and when it oxidises (reacts with air), it turns dark, and there you have it. A blackhead.
Blackheads are NOT caused by poor cleansing
Cleansers remove dirt and leftover oil from the surface of your skin. But even the most thorough cleansing cannot catch and remove that oxidised plug sitting deeper inside the pore.
So no, blackheads are not proof that you did not cleanse well enough.
It is not just oily and combination skin
Blackheads, especially on the nose, can show up on dry skin too, just usually in smaller amounts, because dry skin naturally produces less sebum.
You will find the most blackheads on the nose
Blackheads happen when sebum in the pore cannot make its way to the surface for some reason. And yes, pretty much every skin type can get them (even dry skin), especially on the nose, because the skin on your nose tends to have more sebaceous glands under one pore than most other parts of your face.
You will not get rid of blackheads by using
- Regular soap to cleanse your face.
- Products with alcohol, menthol, or eucalyptus. These can actually trigger your skin to produce more sebum.
- A mechanical scrub with gritty particles. The particles do not get deep enough into the pore to solve the real issue.
- Typical blackhead nose strips. If they work at all, they work only on the surface. Plus, they contain adhesive, and often alcohol and menthol, which can be a problem for sensitive or already-stressed skin.
You can squeeze them out, but only if you follow a few rules
- Cleanse your skin first.
- Press a warm, damp towel onto the area for 2–3 minutes.
- Wrap your fingers in something clean. A tissue works well.
- Gently press from the bottom upward. If it does not come out, do not repeat it. Try again in a few days.
- You can add a good BHA exfoliant (salicylic acid) to your routine.
- Think about supporting healthy, normal sebum production. Products with niacinamide can help. And yes, it can also help make pores look less noticeable.
- Never squeeze forcefully, scrape, or poke at blackheads DIY style.
If you want the safest, most effective, and most gentle removal, the best option is to put your skin in the hands of a professional beautician.
If blackheads are your thing, it can really help to include products with niacinamide (vitamin B3) in your routine. Niacinamide supports and strengthens the skin and helps pores return closer to their natural shape, so built-up oil has a better chance of moving out to the surface.
And do not forget gentle exfoliation.
