A blackhead also known as open comedo is an opening topped with a black cap of dirt on the skin. A comedo is an expanded hair follicle (pore) filled with skin dirt, sebum (oil) and bacteria. According to US Library of Medicine, blackheads are small dark spots on the skin that appears because of a small lump in the root of the follicle.
Actually, blackheads are considered as the first stage of acne and it may also develop into pimples. It generally, begins when the adolescence starts on. Over and over again, blackheads appear on the face especially on the “T-Zone” of the face including chin, nose and forehead.
Some of the major causes of blackheads are mentioned below.
Hormonal changes
Usually, because of hormonal changes in the body, blackheads appear. It is due to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hormone that over stimulates the sebum glands. Because of over production of oil on the skin, pores of the skin gets blocked, causing blackheads. Women are likely to get blackheads all over again in their late 40s. During these years of women, estrogen level falls and the oil glands over stimulates resulting in blackheads.
Consumption of Different medicines
Several pills are considered to be responsible for blackheads. The U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health claimed that medicines loaded with phenytoin, testosterone, estrogen, steroids are the reason for blackheads as well as more than a few skin problems.
Several Skin Products
A number of skin products including cosmetics can result in blackheads, mostly on the T-zone. Particularly, using face creams results in blockage of hair follicles on the skin. Likewise, makeup with artificial color can obstruct the hair pores on the skin causing blackheads.
Food Habits
There is a connection between blackheads and food you take in. Deep fried foods, sugary foods, and particularly food loaded with carbohydrates give a greater reaction to your skin. For instance, consuming foods like doughnuts, cheese, French fries, chocolates etc are some of the foods that over stimulates the sebum gland resulting in blackheads.
Sweats
Those people who sweat more get more number of blackheads. The reason is that too much of sweat can block up the hair follicles. Plus, you need to be more careful if you have put on make ups while sweating. In this case, washing your face will help you get rid of blackheads.
Sleeping without removing makeup
Definitely, sleeping with makeup increases the chances of getting blackheads. When you sleep without removing make ups the pores of the skin will be jammed causing blackheads. So rinse off your face if you have put on makeup before sleeping.
Blackheads appear due to one general reason – blocked pores of your skin. Excessive production of oil, use of cosmetics, or sweat, all these can clog the pores of your skin and cause blackheads.