How to Get a Really Deep Blackhead Out

"Overly dry skin can start to produce excess blackhead-causing oil," says New York City celebrity aesthetician Christine Chin. "Make sure you maintain a normal flow of oil from your pores by keeping your skin's moisture level balanced." Try a moisturizer with squalane oil, which serves as an emollient but is noncomedogenic—it's the best of both worlds.

Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream

Youth to the People Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream with Ashwagandha + Reishi

8. Apply a topical retinoid.

Geraghty recommends using a topical retinoid, such as prescription tretinoin cream or over-the-counter Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment. Retinoids are unmatched in their ability to spur cell turnover, removing dead skin cells and lowering the chances of a clog forming. "A very thin layer applied at bedtime can help to exfoliate your skin, unclog pores, reduce oiliness, and remove and prevent small blackheads and whiteheads," she says.

Differin Acne Treatment Gel

Retinoids are the best topical options for texture and pigment changes with acne, and perform double-duty as antiacne and antiaging. This is a great over-the-counter retinoid for reducing inflammation and clogging in active acne. —M.F.

9. Try some gadgets.

If your fingers aren't enough to safely extract a blackhead, there are a few tools that should make it easier. Mona Gohara, M.D., a dermatologist in Connecticut, recommends a metal comedone extractor, as that's what she uses in office. We're also big fans of skin spatulas that vibrate to help excavate buildup in your pores.

Utopia Care Blackhead and Blemish Remover

Dermaflash Dermapore Ultrasonic Pore Extractor

There are also pore vacuums, which literally suck the debris out of your skin. But it's worth doing some research before using one, since sometimes they can be too strong and do more harm than good. Gohara likes like Lonove vacuum since it has gentle suction and a blue light to calm inflammation.

However, if you have deep skin, it's worth erring on the side of caution. "Those of us with brown skin have more of a tendency towards hyperpigmentation with procedures," says Gohara. "I recommend staying away from suction and sticking with gentle methods such as steam extractions to avoid skin trauma."

Lonove Blue Light Blackhead Vacuum Pore Cleaner

10. Use vitamin C.

Sure, ingredients like beta hydroxy acids and benzoyl peroxide work great on acne and clogged pores. But your favorite brightening ingredient, vitamin C, can actually be incredibly powerful for clearing blackheads. "A blackhead is simply oil that has come to the surface and oxidized because of contact with the open air," says Rouleau. "This oxidation is what causes blackheads to turn black. To fight this process and keep the oil from oxidizing so quickly, use an antioxidant like vitamin C."

She notes that it's crucial to use a stable form of vitamin C, since unstable forms can oxidize quickly and cause even more blackheads. (Check out more of the best vitamin C serums to shop.)

Renée Rouleau Vitamin C&E Treatment

11. Learn when to let go of a stubborn blackhead.

You should really only be targeting the darkest, more obvious blackheads from the start. But if one of those dark blackheads doesn't pop, take a deep breath and let it be. "My general rule is three strikes and you're out," says Rouleau. "Meaning, if it doesn't come out after three tries, don't do it any longer or you'll risk damaging your skin or potentially breaking a capillary." If it's not coming out, that means it's not the time to remove it. You can just come back to it another day. It's better than causing damage.

There's also, of course, the chance that what you think is a blackhead might not actually be a blackhead at all. Geraghty points out that deep cysts or milia can masquerade as blackheads, and both necessitate a visit to the dermatologist since both require more than a simple extraction.

12. Try a HydraFacial.

If you struggle with constant blackheads, Gohara recommends trying a HydraFacial, which pairs gentle suction to remove trapped debris and then infuses skin with moisture—think of it as an amped-up facial. "This is a great way to keep pores clean without overly stripping your skin of moisture," says Robinson.

13. See a pro.

Sometimes it's best to let a pro handle it. "If it's a struggle to get blackheads out and you're not getting results, then definitely see a pro," says Rouleau.

"It's safest to see a well-trained aesthetician or dermatologist who can perform in-office extractions or microdermabrasion," says Geraghty. "Microdermabrasion is a gentle exfoliating treatment that often involves a little pen or wand that acts like a mini sandblaster and vacuum cleaner in one."

Additional reporting by Emily Rekstis and Bella Cacciatore

How to Get a Really Deep Blackhead Out

Source: https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-get-rid-of-blackheads-correctly