Key TakeawaysBlackheads are one of the most common forms of blemishes associated with acne that can occur on the face, nose, neck, back, and chest.Many things can cause blackheads to form, including increased oil production, hormones, and the presence of bacteria on the skin.To get rid of blackheads on the nose, experts recommend washing your face twice daily, using non-comedogenic skin care products, and avoiding squeezing blackheads.

Key Takeaways

Blackheads are one of the most common forms of blemishes associated with acne that can occur on the face, nose, neck, back, and chest.Many things can cause blackheads to form, including increased oil production, hormones, and the presence of bacteria on the skin.To get rid of blackheads on the nose, experts recommend washing your face twice daily, using non-comedogenic skin care products, and avoiding squeezing blackheads.

Many of us have dealt with some form of acne at one point or another. After all, it is one of the most common skin conditions in the United States, affecting nearly 50 million Americans each year.

In particular,blackheadsalso known as open comedones can be one of the most frustrating types of blemishes associated with acne because no matter how much scrubbing, cleansing, and exfoliating you may do, they don’t seem to go away.

According toKellie Reed, MD, a board-certified dermatologist atWestlake Dermatologyin Austin, Texas, blackheads can occur when pores on the face become clogged with oil, debris, or dead skin cells.

Genetics, hormonal factors, bacteria on the skin, and diet are other things that can cause blackheads to form as well, Reed told Verywell.

Blackheads can affect the face, neck, back, and chest, however, they most commonly occur on the nose due to the number of pores, hair follicles, and oil production in that area as well as the natural size of the pores, Anna Chien, MD, associate professor of dermatology and vice chair for Quality, Safety & Service at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, told Verywell in an email.

In some cases, blackheads can be deeply rooted into the pores, making it difficult to remove and often requiring the assistance of prescription grade products and/or a professional to extract them, Reed said.

Even though these pesky blemishes can be a pain to get rid of, there are some remedies you can try to treat them. Here’s how, according to dermatologists.

How to Get Rid of Blackheads on the Nose

Instead of picking or trying to squeeze your blackheads out, experts say there are home remedies, over-the-counter medications, and professional treatments that may help remove blackheads safely and naturally.

Home Remedies

Blackhead vs. Pimple: What’s the Difference?

Over-The-Counter Treatments and Medications

Professional Treatments

While certain methods and treatments like topical retinoids and other over-the-counter products can reduce oil production and help remove blackheads, using too much of any product can lead to dryness of the skin, redness, irritation, inflammation, or flakiness,Lindsey Bordone, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in the Department of Dermatology of Columbia University Medical Center, told Verywell in an email.

Methods and Treatments to Avoid

If you are trying to get rid of blackheads, especially on the nose, one of the biggest things you should avoid doing is squeezing them out of the skin or popping them, Chien said. While it can be tempting to squeeze them out yourself, you should leave it to the professionals to extract them, if needed.

“Excessive manipulation (squeezing, popping, etc,) should be avoided as it can lead to more inflammation and increase the risk for discoloration and scarring,” Chien added. “Excessive scrubbing and exfoliating should also be avoided.”

In addition, people should consider avoiding the use of pore strips because these products may cause more irritation than good, Reed said. “They often target surface debris and do little to resolve the deeper blackheads.”

Do Pore Strips Actually Work for Blackhead Removal?

How To Prevent Blackheads

Despite hormonal changes, genetics, and diet, Reed and Chien said there are some things you can do to prevent blackheads from forming. Here are some things that may help:

When to See a Dermatologist

If you are following specific measures like washing your face daily and using certain over-the-counter medications, but they are not helping and you are not noticing any changes in your condition, it could be time to see a dermatologist for evaluation, Bordone said.

You should also schedule an appointment with a dermatologist if your condition is progressing and worsening, or if you are experiencing other symptoms such as increased inflammation, discoloration, or scarring of the skin, Chien said.

A professional can help manage your blackheads, provide other treatment options, such as prescription strength topicals, and in some cases, help remove them.

What This Means For YouSeveral methods and treatments can help get rid of blackheads. Experts recommend using over-the-counter treatments and medications like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide and maintaining a good and gentle skin care routine. If you don’t see an improvement or your blackheads worsen, it may be time to see a dermatologist.

What This Means For You

Several methods and treatments can help get rid of blackheads. Experts recommend using over-the-counter treatments and medications like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide and maintaining a good and gentle skin care routine. If you don’t see an improvement or your blackheads worsen, it may be time to see a dermatologist.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Saric S, Notay M, Sivamani RK.Green tea and other tea polyphenols: effects on sebum production and acne vulgaris.Antioxidants (Basel). 2016;6(1):2. doi:10.3390/antiox6010002

Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL, Schlosser BJ, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5):945-73.e33. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037

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