Symptom
Blackheads – not dirt, just skin pushing back
Seeing tiny dark dots that keep coming back no matter how well you wash? You’re not alone. Blackheads are usually oxidized sebum and a small keratin plug trapped in the pore – not a sign that your skin is dirty.
Why do blackheads show up in the first place?
A blackhead often starts when oil and dead skin cells form a keratin plug inside the pore opening. Once that material meets air, the sebum oxidizes and darkens. So the black tip is chemistry, not grime.
What tends to make it worse is aggressive cleansing, scrubs, and stacking too many actives at once. Skin reacts with irritation, more oil production, and a barrier that feels increasingly out of balance. Research on acne-prone skin keeps pointing to the same trio: inflammation, sebum, and cell turnover.
So no, you do not need to “scrub out” blackheads. You need to reduce the plug-forming conditions, calm the surface, and stop provoking the skin. If you also notice pain, marked redness, or rapid worsening, get it checked by a clinician.
Here’s what to do today
Cleanse gently
Choose a mild cleanser that removes SPF, sweat, and excess oil without leaving skin tight. Au Naturel Makeup Remover is a simple option when you want clean skin without stirring it up.
Skip the scrub
Scrubs do not dissolve a keratin plug; they just rough up the surface. If your skin is already shiny and irritated, backing off exfoliation is usually smarter than pushing harder.
Reduce friction
Stop picking, squeezing, and pressing on pores. Every quick fix raises the risk of inflammation and marks. Less force, more patience.
Support the barrier
Skin that is left alone often settles down over time. The ONE can help skin feel more balanced, especially if cleansing tends to leave you both oily and tight.
Think beyond the surface
Skin and gut are more connected than most routines admit. Fungtastic Mushroom Extract is an oral supplement for people who want broader support, not just a pore chase from the outside.
How to actually fix the pattern
The best way to deal with blackheads is rarely to attack them harder. Think less force, more consistency: calm the skin, keep cleansing mild, and give pores room to release the plug on their own timeline. That’s where change usually starts.
That makes Au Naturel Makeup Remover a logical first step when you want to clean without pushing the skin over the edge. Then The ONE can help skin feel calmer and more regulated, especially if you swing between oily and tight. For many people, that balance is exactly what’s missing.
If you want a longer-game approach, the DUO kit combines The ONE and I LOVE for skin that feels reactive and congested at the same time. And if you want to support the bigger picture, Fungtastic Mushroom Extract gives you an inside-out layer of support. Not magic. Just less friction, more respect for skin.
Products we recommend
Save €34DUO kit
Two face oils, one for morning and one for evening. Simple skincare that works with your skin, not against it.
Au Naturel Makeup Remover
A cleansing oil with MCT and CBD that removes makeup and buildup without stripping your skin bare.
Fungtastic Mushroom Extract
Four mushrooms in one formula to support immunity, focus, energy and sleep from within.
Frequently asked questions
Are blackheads the same as dirt?
No. They’re usually oxidized sebum mixed with keratin that has clogged the pore. The dark color comes from air exposure, not from being unclean.
Should I use BHA for blackheads?
BHA can help some people, but it is not the only route. If your skin is already sensitive, a gentler routine with mild cleansing and barrier support can be the smarter move.
Is at-home extraction a good idea?
Forceful extraction at home often leads to irritation, marks, or inflamed pores. If you do anything at all, be gentle. For recurring blackheads, prevention works better than squeezing.
When should I see a doctor?
If the spots become painful, very red, spread quickly, or don’t behave like typical blackheads, get them assessed. The same goes if you suspect something else is going on.
Sources
- Byrd AL, Belkaid Y, Segre JA. The human skin microbiome. Nat Rev Microbiol 2018;16(3):143–155.
- Salem I, Ramser A, Isham N, Ghannoum MA. The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis. Front Microbiol 2018;9:1459.
- Chen Y, Lyga J. Brain-skin connection: stress, inflammation and skin aging. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets 2014;13(3):177–190.
Article reviewed by Christopher Genberg, founder of 1753 SKINCARE.
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