how do i get rid of black heads on my nose?

Answer 1

1. Blackheads

Let’s face it! Blackhead removal seems to be the most difficult part of maintaining healthy skin. There’s no easy way to get rid of these annoying blemishes. However, there are some helpful tips to prevent and get rid of blackheads when necessary.
What is a Blackhead?

Blackheads are technically referred to as open comedones. These bumps are often indented and may look like tiny plugs. The confusion over blackheads and whiteheads has to do with the fact that blackheads accompany oily skin where whiteheads could be present on oily or dry skin.



What Causes Blackheads?

A blackhead is caused by excess oil that has clogged a pore. This clog occurs when the built-up oil is unable to flow to the surface of the skin due to a misshapen or impaired pore and dead skin cells blocking the way. When the pore is open, the oil is exposed to oxygen, which reacts and turns it a dark color, resulting in a black head.
Hormones are the leading cause of increased oil production. An increase in the male hormones, androgens, will increase the natural production of oil in your skin causing more oil to build up in the pores, often times resulting in the appearance of black heads.
The next big culprit in blackhead formation is the use of skin-care products or make-up. These products will mix with your body’s natural oil and add to the build-up that can block pores.
Whitehead and blackhead pimple formation seems to be a predisposed condition that is aggravated or increased when combined with the above toxins.
2. Blackhead Prevention

There are many things that you can do to prevent blackheads from appearing on your face. Most involve cleansing and some require the use of medications.
Avoid using creamy, greasy, and thick (emollient) products. This alone will greatly lessen your chances of sprouting blackheads.
Use a gentle and water-soluble cleanser.
DO NOT use bar soap!!! The ingredients that hold soap in a bar form can clog the pores in your skin. They can also cause skin cells to flake off prematurely and clog the pores. If you have dry skin you will need to use a cleanser that has a bit of moisturizer in it, but be careful! The excess moisturizers can cause an increase in oil on your skin.
Exfoliate to eliminate dead skin cells. If there are no skin cells to clog the pores, the natural oil is able to flow through freely. Exfoliation also removes the built up dead cells from inside the pores that cause them to become misshapen and more-easily clogged. Using an exfoliant that contains 1% or 2% beta hydroxy acids (BHA or Salicylic Acid) will penetrate the lining of the pore. If you are unable to use BHAs, you could use products containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), however these acids are only good for surface exfoliation because they do not penetrate the pore lining.
Absorb excess oil. If you have oily skin, try using a clay mask that does not contain mint, peppermint or other irritating ingredients. This will absorb the oil that may clog the poor. If you have dry skin, this is not necessary because pimples on dry skin are caused by oil inside the pore, not on the surface of the skin. Also, oil-absorbing papers may help to reduce the oil in your pores.
Visit your dermatologist. Retinoids, which are a form of Vitamin A, can help regulate the pore shape which will keep oil flowing normally. The most common retinoids are tretinoin and adapalene, found in prescriptions such as Avita, Renova, Retin-A, Tazorac, and Differin.
Other medications. Hormone blockers and low-dose birth control pills can lower levels of androgens (the male hormone) and Accutane should be discussed with your physician in severe cases of oily skin and breakouts.
3. Blackhead Removal

Though the best way to remove blackheads is an area of contention, the most common method for getting rid of blackheads is to gently squeeze them. Removing the “stuff” inside of the blackhead helps the skin because you are relieving the pressure which causes the damage. We know it can be nearly impossible to leave a blemish alone so here are some tips for gentle blackhead removal:
Use a mild scrub or exfoliant to remove any dead cells and expose the blackhead.
Pat your face dry.
Place a slightly warm compress on your face for approximately 10-15 minutes in order to soften the blackhead, making it easier to remove.
Pat your face dry again.
Place a piece of tissue on the tip of each finger to avoid slipping, which could tear the skin and cause further damage.
Gently apply even pressure to both sides of the blackhead by pushing down, then up around the blemish. You’re trying to apply the pressure from *underneath* the blackhead.
Only attempt this once or twice. If it does not “pop”, you may bruise the skin, make the blackhead worse, and could cause scarring.
PORE STRIPS: Using pore strips to remove blackheads is not recommended for many reasons:
The warnings on the box tell you not to use them on swollen, irritated, sunburned skin; not to use them on excessively dry skin; and not to use them on any area other than the nose. Also, the warnings state that if the strip is too difficult to remove, you should add water and remove carefully.
Removing the superficial blackheads, along with some healthy skin, will only help temporarily.
Repeated use of pore strips can cause irritation and future breakouts.
The adhesive on the strips can tear or injure the skin, especially if you are using an acne medication such as those listed above, or if you naturally have thin skin due to psoriasis, rosacea, or seborrhea.
Vacuum blackhead removers and blackhead extractors are not recommended for the same reasons as the pore strips. Because blacheads are caused by excessive oil production clogging the pores, the most effective way to get rid of blackheads is to control oil on the face by using mild cleansers and by balancing your hormones.



What are blackheads?

Blackheads are small “plugs” that develop in the pores of the skin. They are caused when the over active sebaceous (oil producing) glands in the skin become clogged with oil. This sebum then begins to harden in the pore. Since skin pores are open to the air, the top part of the hardened sebum or oil oxidizes, turning black. This black top of the oil plug is then forced closer to the surface of skin by the oil hardening beneath it. This then causes the blackhead to be visible.

It is not clearly understood why the sebaceous glands begin to become overactive. It is often noted that this situation begins at puberty, and may stop at the end of puberty leading to the conclusion that it is hormonally controlled. For some people this is not the case however, and they may continue to experience blackheads and whiteheads well past puberty and into adulthood. Whiteheads are formed the same way as blackheads with the exception that the pore is closed and the oxidation does not occur.

Acne results from infection of the oil gland due to the blockage by the blackhead. Preventing and removing blackheads helps to control acne.

Blackhead Removal

The following are some tips for removing blackheads:

- Keep the skin as clean and oil free as possible. Use natural or chemically prepared cleansers, astringent solutions or masks to accomplish this. Avoid harsh soaps that may irritate the skin or any creams that leave an oily finish.

- Use a gentle exfoliant to keep the dead cells off your skin and away from the pore openings.

- Avoid harsh squeezing or scraping at the blackhead. Excessive squeezing can damage the skin surround the pore and can actually increase the size of the pore leading to more blackheads in the future.

- A warm compress of water applied to the area of the blackhead followed by a very, very gentle pressure can help in clearing the clog from the pore.

- Commercial “blackhead strips” which are basically a tape like substance that is placed over the nose and then pulled off will remove some blackheads that are at the surface. Caution should be used with these products and it is important to read the directions completely before deciding to use the strips or not.

Check out http://www.stopping-acne-now.com for articles about getting rid of pimples and acne scars removal.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I know a lot of topical products claim to get rid of blackheads, but it's totally illogical. Blackheads develop a hard top to them that not even the harshest of ointments and what have you can break through. I'd suggest that you have a long, hot shower to soften the skin on your face (or you can steam your face by carefully leaning your face 20cm over a bowl of just-boiled water for 5 - 10 minutes with a towel over your head to trap the steam), then pat your skin dry and sanitise your hands. Take a clean bobby pin and use the eye of it to gently squeeze around the blackhead, supporting the area underneath with your thumb. When it has been emptied, sanitise the bobby pin and continue the process until you've gotten rid of as many as you can. This process shouldn't hurt. If it does, you're damaging your skin and thus need to stop. When you're finished, take a clean cotton pad with some toner on it and sweep it over your nose. This will soothe the area and remove any dirt or whatnot from the surface of your skin. You don't need to use the bobby pin method every day by any means; 1 - 2 times a fortnight sounds about right. Always make sure your hands are sanitised, or else you're risking the spreading of bacteria. One more thing I'd like to add in is that those blackhead strips you see do not work. Your nose has lots of tiny little hairs growing from the surface (known as "peach fuzz"; present all over the face), and these blackhead strips are ultimately waxing these off your nose which can cause future problems with the hair growth by retarding the follicle, causing some of the hairs to become ingrown.

Answer 4

Use those Biore pore strips. You put a strip on your nose, and wet it with water. Then you wait about 15 minutes for it to dry. After it hardens, you just peel it off. You'll see all the blackheads on that strip. They also have them for your forehead and chin too. They work great.

Answer 5

What I do is soften my nose with water and squeeze around my it where the blackhead is after breaking the crust that forms around it. Partially hard wax/oil will come out. Don't overdo it, or your nose will get raw.

Answer 6

squeeze them. Its the only way to get rid of them that gets them all. you would be surprised how much material comes out of each one. Your nose will be red for a little while, but it will go back to normal

Answer 7

You need to buy pimple cream and put it on every day. That is what I do but it takes a while for them to go away. I use Clearasil Ultra it works good.

Answer 8

Use a special tool that gets hte blackheads out. Go to the spa, and they will do it for you. Also, use Biore Strips at home, but for best rests, go tothe dermatologist.

Answer 9

put a warm rag on ur nose or steam it to open up the pores then sqeeze them out with a bobby pin.

Answer 10

i had reallly nasty blackheads on my nose that stayed for i think 1 year....i tried that proactiv refining mask and they went away!

Answer 11

Get this stuff called Differin it works wonders