Despite their name, some blackheads can be yellowish in colour. A comedo is a widened hair follicle which is filled with skin debris (keratin squamae), bacteria and oil (sebum). They form before bacteria invade the pores of the patient’s skin. A blackhead can develop into a pimple, which is also known as a papule or pustule.

Blackheads and acne in general usually develop after the onset of puberty, when hormone levels surge and reach the skin. Certain hormones overstimulate the sebaceous glands, resulting in the overproduction of sebum.  Sebum is designed to lubricate the hair and skin and usually drains out of the pore opening on the surface. Sometimes the sebum becomes blocked and bacteria begin to accumulate. If the buildup of bacteria and sebum has no opening to the surface of the skin it is called a whitehead. A blackhead forms if the pore opens to the surface allowing air to enter.  Sebum contains melanin, a pigment. It is the same substance that gives skin its color. Melanin turns dark (oxidizes) when exposed to air. That is why blackheads are dark. The dark color does not mean they are dirty, and scrubbing does not remove them.  Several conditions and circumstances can cause blackheads, or make them worse, such as the use of topical oils and make up.

Blackheads can affect people with any type of skin, but are generally more common in those with oily skin.

At True You Skin Clinics we have a number of treatments for blackheads, as follows:

Microdermabrasion
Chemical Peels
We also have a wide range of cosmo-ceutical skin care products designed to treat blackheads and acne. Please contact our Nurse Practitioner on +44(0)1133458682 for further information.

Microdermabrasion: Full Face: £50 or a course of 6 for £250

Mild Superficial Peels: £65 or a course of 6 for £300

Acne Peel: £65 or a course of 6 for £300

Pigmentation Peel: £100 or a course of 3 for £275

Medical TCA Peels: £100 or a course of 3 for £275

(NEW) The Perfect Peel: price to be confirmed