Acne presents itself in various forms and sizes. It can appear as tiny bumps in a cluster to cysts, bumps, nodules. The most common forms are blackheads and whiteheads. Whiteheads are closed comedones where the oil and dead cells are harder to remove and they need to be removed by a dermatologist.

As for blackheads, they never stop coming back. They are enlarged pores that are clogged with hair follicles and dead skin cells. Blackheads are a part of the acne cycle. During this cycle, the oil in the pores gets oxidised from air exposure and it turns black in colour.

So if you are someone who has blackheads, follow these steps to remove them.

Cleanse your skin with salicylic acid

It is time for you to move on from benzoyl peroxide and opt for products that contain salicylic acid. According to experts, Salicylic acid is used to treat both blackheads and whiteheads because it breaks down excess oil, dead skin cells.

With the help of salicylic acid, you can also remove daily dirt, oil, makeup. However, it should be used only at night in the beginning. After your skin gets used to it, it can be used both in the morning and night.

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Exfoliate with AHAs and BHAs

AHAs and BHAs are alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Glycolic acid is the most common type of AHA and salicylic acid is a prominent BHA. Both AHAs and BHAs are considered to be excellent superficial peels.

For blackheads, regular exfoliation can prevent them from coming back again and again. However, it should be noted that it can cause redness, irritation and inflammation of the acne.

Exfoliation helps in removing excessive amounts of dead skin cells and could also remove the existing blackheads.

Topical retinoids

Retinoids are chemical compounds that contain vitamin A or are chemically related to it. They have found use in medicine where they regulate epithelial cell growth. They may be useful for acne that is stubborn and in cases where pores are difficult to unclog. However, if you have dry skin, avoid retinoids.

Clay masks

Clay masks help in drawing oils and toxins out of the skin. It helps in unclogging pores and is considered a must-have for oily skin. Since some of the masks contain Sulfur, it helps in breaking down dead skin cells that cause blackheads.

Use non-comedogenic products

Non-comedogenic products mean these products will not cause comedones or pores that are clogged. To make sure that the product is so, you will have to go through the ingredients carefully.

It is to be noted that without non-comedogenic products, the right cleanser, mask and exfoliator will only help so much.