If you've ever had an outbreak of blackheads, don't worry; you belong with the majority of the world like the rest of us. Yes, blackheads are a common ailment among teenagers and adults worldwide, affecting millions. Blackheads are clogged pores that have a darker appearance with an open end at the surface of the skin. They are commonly found on the nose, but can also be found on the cheeks and forehead as well. Blackheads are made of sebum, a fluid found in the human body. The human body has thousands of sebaceous glands that produce an oil-like substance known as sebum. When the skin is exposed to an excess of sebum, the hair follicles and pores become agitated and infected.

Blackheads have their dark appearance because of their contact with air. The scientific name for them is an open comedo. It is dark in appearance but, contrary to popular belief, is not a build-up of dirt. It is actually a build-up of melanin, a chemical that makes up the pigment of the skin surface. Once the melanin has pushed to the surface of the skin, the lighter colored melanin is exposed to the air and gets a darker hue.

Because of their black appearance, they are easy to spot. You may be tempted to squeeze them, but this has a number of drawbacks. First of all, squeezing may get the top layer of the blackhead out of the pore, but it also can push the bottom layer further down into the pore, causing a greater infection and resulting in an actual pimple. Another drawback to squeezing is that once the melanin build-up is pushed out and wiped away, it leaves the pores open and exposed. An open pore can be more prone to infection because of its susceptibility to elements in the air that could be more harmful than the melanin.

Blackheads can be frustrating to deal with because of their persistence. So how can we get rid of them? The best way is to attack the root of the problem by having a regular washing regiment. Avoid excessive washing of the face and remember that while you are washing not to scrub too hard. Excessive and forceful washing can dry out the skin even worse than it already is, resulting in the body's production of more sebum and melanin, which causes more blackheads. When choosing a cleanser, go with one that has gently exfoliating properties. Avoid abrasive cleaners that can irritate and dry out pores and hair follicles.

Before washing, it is a good idea to use steam to open up the pores on your face. Hot steam will make the pores open wider at the surface, making a gentle scrubbing more effective and the excess melanin wash out more easily. After steaming, remember not to splash or rinse your face with cold water, as it will make your pores close back up and make scrubbing less effective.

When you are washing, it is important to use extra care during scrubbing. Scrubbing too hard will not clean your face better; it only irritates it and dries the skin. Always remember to be gentle while applying cleansers and use light circular motions to keep specific areas from being rubbed too much while other areas don't get enough exfoliation.

If you can't stand it anymore and have to try and get rid of those blackheads, be sure to use a blackhead remover. This is a small device that will minimize the risk of pushing blackheads deeper into the pores. The worst way to try and do it is by squeezing them by hand. Be cautious; with a little care you can improve your complexion and reduce the number of blackheads that you can see.