Blackheads, a common manifestation of acne vulgaris, appear in people of all ages, often occurring on the facial area. Blackheads are open comedones, or non-inflamed pores plugged by sebum and keratin with wide openings. Air is able to reach the keratin plug due to the open nature of blackhead openings and oxidizes the material, making it turn its blackish color. Whiteheads, on the other hand, occur in follicles that have a smaller opening. Air does not reach the follicle and the plugged material inside remains white.

Blackheads differ from other types of pimples in that they are usually very tiny and do not become inflamed. As they are clogs in the follicles, blackheads will occur wherever there are pores. They are most commonly found on the face and arms. Blackheads on occasion can progress into a harsh form of acne and acne scars.

How Do Blackheads and Other Phases of Acne Form?

Blackheads and other lesions develop in a similar way. The sebaceous gland secretes sebum, an oil, that travels through the sebaceous canal to the skin's surface. However, sometimes this oil hardens or mixes with debris and/or skin cells and clogs the pore.

This plug becomes a blackhead when air oxidizes the keratin plug, making it black in color. Should the duct become damaged or become inflamed, it is considered a pimple or, if more severe, an acne cyst.

The leading cause of acne breakouts is injury to the sebaceous ducts. Teen acne arises due to puberty and adult acne typically due to stress; during these times, hormone levels cause sebum release to multiply. The power at which sebum travels through the sebum ducts literally causes injury to the cells lining them.

The state of sebum can further damage the follicle. When the body lacks essential fatty acids, the sebaceous glands produce a harder, more abrasive oil that also injures cell lining.

Furthermore, when the sebum becomes trapped below a keratin plug, it begins to accumulate, forcing the follicle to distend and become more irritated.

The body responds as it does to all other bodily injuries and sends lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils to the site of the damage for healing. In the process of eating and destroying foreign bodies, these cells cause the inflammation manifested as acne. Cystic acne can form with or without infection. It is when cystic acne becomes infected that abscesses form, which also result in acne scarring.

Treating from the Inside: Acne and Blackhead Removal

Prevention of blackheads requires addressing the cause versus only the symptoms: first, one must get sebum and its production under control and then reduce keratin and bacteria found in the skin.

Although exfoliation to clear away excess pore-clogging skin is suitable for blackhead treatment, it may irritate the skin and other lesions, causing inflammation and more acne problems. To protect against such irritation, one must find a solution appropriate for treatment of all acne lesions: blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules.

Most blackhead-specific as well as some acne treatments only focus on the un-clogging of pores. By using harsh chemicals, such as benzoyl peroxide, these systems dry out the skin and further harm it by producing damaging free radicals.

Resolve acne worries by treating from the inside with a facial acne treatment that gets overactive sebaceous glands under control, naturally. Most prescribed products that inhibit sebum production are very harsh in their effects, including extreme drying of the skin, chapped lips, nose bleeds, irritation of the eyes and eyelids and severe birth defects.

Licorice root extract is a natural inhibitor of androgen, the hormones linked to sebum activity. By getting sebum under control, you stop the primary cause of acne lesions - injury to the cells lining the sebum canals.

Increasing one's intake of essential fatty acids is a simple way to regulate the physical characteristics of sebum, keeping it from becoming its hard and more damaging state.

Employing the tricks of acne home remedies will get to the root of your acne problem. Stop treating only your symptoms.