How To Remove Blackheads

Blackheads can happen to anyone, no matter what your skin type. Blackheads are caused by oil in your skin that gets caught and expands in the pores.Oxidizing from exposure to the air, the oil actually turns black. Ft. Lauderdale cosmetic dermatologist David Herschthal offers these tips on how to get rid of them:

1. First, stop the problem before it starts. Use noncomedogenic, oil-free,water-based skin-care products. (Noncomedogenic means the products were laboratory tested and approved by the FDA not to clog pores and cause blackheads.)

2. If you change your skin-care routine and still get blackheads, speak to a dermatologist about getting a prescription for Retin-A, which is a strong exfoliant that opens pores, sloughs off dead skin and cleans out blackheads.

3. If all else fails, a dermatologic facial performed at a dermatologist's office involves a prescription-strength acid that gets rid of dead layers of skin and the use of surgical instruments to extract the blackheads.

Blackheads are a problem that should be treated by a dermatologist. But, if you want to try an over-the-counter product, a lot of people rave about Biore Pore Perfect Strips, which are supposed to lift out blackheads on your nose, forehead and chin.