# Blackhead removal **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061 "2004-01-06T18:59:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/1 "2004-01-06T18:59:26Z")
This may or may not be factual, but I am searching for the Best way to remove blackheads. I am 19, male, and my acne has been gone for about 4 years. These blasted blackheads remain h/e, and make my nose look like a miniature minefield. I try squeezing them out, or washing my nose vigorously, but to no avail. They are also on my cheeks but with less visibility. I am willing to try anything under 100$, aka no Norwegian spa trips. Any help would be appreciated, as, after removing glasses, braces, and average-to-bad acne, I feel as if on a quest to remove the last traces of my less-than-pretty past. No, I am not horribly shallow -.-. Also, could a moderator please change my name to xabc\_Keitaro. I am no longer a rabid fan of Dragon Ball Z. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/2 "2004-01-06T19:47:58Z")
Can’t help you out on the blackheads (my nose looks like a strawberry), but as for the name change, e-mail an admin ( **TubaDiva** or **Lynn Bodoni** ) and they’ll get that taken care of for you. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/3 "2004-01-06T19:49:54Z")
You can try the Biore nose strips. They pull an impressive amount of gunk from your pores. For long term improvement, get a good beta hydoxyacid lotion. This will cause higher skin cell turn over and make a significant improvement in your skin; it defnitiely helped mine. I use this brand which I get over the internet [here](http://www.cosmeticscop.com/). From what I can tell, the much advertised Pro-Activ acne solution uses a version of beta hydroxy as well… ---
**Author:** ![ghostman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ghostman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghostman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/4 "2004-01-06T19:55:07Z")
Exfoliate face in shower rinse Wash face with facial cleanser rinse with cool to cold water then… after shower, use moisturizer. worked for me ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/5 "2004-01-06T19:58:01Z")
Well, a black head is an oily pore trapping dirt. The black part is externtal junk sticking to your internally produced oil/pore. Products that keep your skin from being oily, or promtoe proper balance can reduce the oil, and astringent cleaners can help close up pores. SeeBreeze is one that does both, or something along those lines. But note: you might have large pores that are just prone to this, and I don’t think there is anyway to reduce the size of your pores. So you might have an ongoing battle - one you can fight and not lose, but it might always be a fight. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/6 "2004-01-06T20:10:46Z")
Well, if you must poke around at them, steam your face first so they’re soft. This can be accomplished by taking a hot shower, or pouring very hot (steaming) water in a bowl, putting a towel over your head and putting your head over the bowl - the towel will trap the steam so it focuses on your face. The most effective thing I’ve ever found (it’s what I recommend to my clients) is Biopur deap clensing mask by Biotherm. Before bed, wash your face. Apply the mask **ONLY** to the affected areas (eg - nose, area of cheek with BHs). Go to bed. In morning, rinse. Do this for 1 week - at the end the blackheads will be gone. When they reoccur (and they will) you can repeat - if you do this every once in a blue moon (like once every two weeks) it will keep the problem in check. The mask costs $26 CDN (I’m not sure about US) and will last about a year (you don’t need a huge amount) - it can be purchased at drugstores and department stores. NB - if you’re prone to blackheads, avoid super-vigorously scrubbing your face - it will irritate the skin causing it to produce more oil and clog your pores worse. Finally - yes, I actually do get paid to dispense information like this. I guess that would be IAAC. (Go figure). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/7 "2004-01-06T22:01:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ssjKeitaro \* > \*\*Also, could a moderator please change my name to xabc\_Keitaro. I am no longer a rabid fan of Dragon Ball Z. Thanks. \*\* Are you sure you wouldn’t like to change it to **Toast Museum**? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/8 "2004-01-06T22:03:09Z")
Which, of course, make no sense without my sig. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/9 "2004-01-07T01:01:44Z")
The hard part about badger racing is they usually claw themselves free from the restraints… Ummm…Thanks guys for all your help. I am happy to see I got some effective yet inexpensive remedies. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/10 "2004-01-07T01:34:40Z")
Try a wet/dry vac…it worked like a charm for me 😉. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/11 "2004-01-07T03:00:18Z")
I go to a cosmetics board, and always a major topic of conversation is the dreaded blackhead. Girls and women on that board SWEAR by Queen Helene’s Mint Julep mask. It’s apparently the greatest thing since sliced bread. Sure I guess it’s a girly thing, but if you use it in the privacy of your own home, who cares? Mine aren’t that bad; I use Biore Pore Refining Toner or somesuch stuff, and it keeps mine under control. Queen Helene also has a grape peel-off mask that I use sometimes (guess it’s kinda like the pore strips–sucks out the gunk as you peel it off). Neutrogena has a blackhead scrub that some are saying works well by preliminary reports. All this stuff you can buy at your local WalMart, drugstore, what have ya… Good luck ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/12 "2004-01-07T03:04:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\* The black part is externtal junk sticking to your internally produced oil/pore. > \*\* I always thought so too. Recently however, I learned that the black part is in fact your body’s own “gunk” reacting with the atmosphere. In fact the black part is the same as the white part, only oxidised. Mmmmmmm… rusty pus. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/13 "2004-01-07T03:13:58Z")
> [@](#): > > . . . . rusty pus Blackhead removal has just gone up on my priority list…to number one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/14 "2004-01-07T04:18:18Z")
You could go the panzy mask route or your could [rip those little bastards out](http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?storeId=11251&catalogId=11005&modelNo=EH2501S). Die blackheads die!!! ---
**Author:** ![BrianS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@BrianS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianS)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/15 "2004-01-07T05:19:10Z")
I scrub my nose every other day or so with a medium-bristle toothbrush and a little Cetaphil cleanser. It works for me. I also exfoliate with a little baking soda and water just before getting out of the shower. Its dirt cheap, works really well, and doesn’t irritate the skin. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/16 "2004-01-07T05:44:26Z")
I love Biore strips. Looking at the little forest that has been removed is FUN. I do it for enertainment purposes, so I don’t know how effective they really are, heh. But they do pull a lot of junk out. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/17 "2004-01-07T07:16:29Z")
I tried Biore strips a few years ago and I couldn’t get it to lie flat on my nose–I always had a bubble or two, and consequently nothing was pulled out. Was this because I have an oddly-shaped nose or did I just do a crappy job of application? I slightly wet the strip and then pressed it on my nose like it said, although I suppose there’s always room for error. I would be interested in trying them again if I could find out why they didn’t work before. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/18 "2004-01-07T07:16:30Z")
Name changed. Also, I use a pair of splinter tweezers to remove individual blackheads. I have excellent fine motor control, and I am very nearsighted, so I am able to do this. Just grab the external portion of the blackhead and ease it out with the tweezers. Gentler than squeezing. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackhead-removal/223061/19 "2004-01-07T07:24:26Z")
Holy crap, Lynn! GAH! Grossed out AND the heebie-jeebies. Bravo!