How to get rid of blackheads?

A blackhead is a clogged pore. Oil and dead skin cells build up inside the hair follicle, and when the top is open to air, the material oxidizes and turns dark — it’s not dirt trapped in your skin. The goal is to clear the pore, not scrub the surface clean.

Ingredient-wise, salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid) is the most proven treatment. It’s oil-soluble, meaning it can penetrate deep into pores and dissolve the sebum and keratin that form the blockage. A 2% salicylic acid cleanser used a few times a week is a solid starting point. Retinoids (adapalene or prescription tretinoin) also work by speeding up cell turnover so pores don’t get clogged as easily.

What not to do: pore strips rip off the top of the blockage and leave the deeper material behind, so blackheads refill in days. Squeezing with your fingers pushes bacteria deeper and can scar. Physical scrubs and baking soda masks damage the skin barrier and often make blackheads worse by increasing oil production as the skin tries to repair itself.

If over-the-counter treatments don’t show improvement in 8-12 weeks, a dermatologist can perform professional extraction or prescribe a stronger retinoid.