Blackheads, a common manifestation of acne vulgaris, appear in people of all ages, often occurring on the facial area. Blackheads, or medically known as open comedones, are non-inflamed pores characterized by wide apertures blocked by sebum and dead skin. Because these large openings allow air to access the follicle, the sebum-keratin mixture oxidizes, turning it black. Whiteheads, on the other hand, occur in follicles that have a smaller opening. As the aperture is tiny, the clogged material within the follicle is not affected by air and is not turned black.

Blackheads differ from other types of pimples in that they are usually very tiny and do not become inflamed. Blackheads can arise in any area of the skin with follicles. 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 form through a similar process as other pimples. A normal functioning sebaceous gland produces the oil sebum, which makes its way to the surface of the skin through the sebaceous duct. However, sometimes this oil hardens or mixes with debris and/or skin cells and clogs the pore.

A blackhead officially becomes a blackhead when the plugged substance oxidizes, giving it its trademark black color. If the follicle lining is injured, creating inflammation, it progresses to an acne lesion or even an acne cyst.

The leading cause of acne breakouts is injury to the sebaceous ducts. During puberty (hence teen acne) and periods of high stress (a leading cause of adult acne), testosterone levels increase, amplifying sebum output. The power at which sebum travels through the sebum ducts literally causes injury to the cells lining them.

The type of sebum that the body produces also affects the healthy state of the follicle. If the body is deficient in linoleic acid, the glands make a harder oil that is more harsh on the cells lining the canal.

In addition, the sebum that cannot make its way to the surface begins to collect within the hair follicles, causing distension of the pilosebaseous glands as well as further irritation.

The body counters and protects itself from further damage by sending lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils to the site. These immune system cells, in the process of recognizing and engulfing antigens, cause the inflammation we call acne. Severe cystic acne can therefore appear without infection. Should bacteria become involved, abscesses and scars follow.

Treating from the Inside: Acne and Blackhead Removal

Getting rid of blackheads requires treatment and management of the causes: sebum production, excess dead skin and bacteria found in the skin.

Even though exfoliation does target a contributing factor to blackheads, excess dead skin, and might be suitable for blackhead specific treatment, it irritates the skin and other acne pimples, causing inflammation and further flare up of acne. In order to prevent such inflammation, an all-around approach is needed to treat blackheads, whiteheads and other acne lesions.

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.

Solve your acne troubles by focusing on the inside by using a facial acne treatment that manages sebaceous gland activity naturally. Prescriptions that target sebum output have almost equally traumatizing side effects: worsened acne for an extended period of time, unbearably dry skin, chapped lips, nose bleeds, eye and eyelid irritation 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.

Acne home remedies are grounded in science and target the inner functioning of the body. Move beyond treating your symptoms and stop acne once and for all.

Solve your acne worries with an all-around treatment that focuses on the true causes of acne. BIOSKINFORTE is effective on both teen acne associated with puberty and stress-induced adult acne. BIOSKINFORTE prevents blackheads using natural acne home remedies that control sebum production and preserve its more liquid state. Additionally, BIOSKINFORTE utilizes glycoconjugates from the Helix Aspersa Muller that rejuvenates injured sebum canal cells and manages the body's inflammatory response, the foremost cause of acne.