Why Do I Have Blackheads?

Clogging of pores on the skin or the hair follicles is responsible for most of the skin problems including Blackheads and other forms of acne. Blackheads are one of the mild forms of acne where you can small bumps appearing on your skin. They are given this name back heads because of the back appearance of the top of these bumps. In most of the cases, the bumps appear on the face but the possibility of Blackheads on chest, arms, neck and other parts of the body cannot be ruled out.

The problem of Blackheads arises as a result of clogging of hair follicles or pores on the skin. Hair follicles are the tiny openings on the skin from where the hairs come out. Each follicle is accompanied by a sebaceous gland underneath to produce sebaceous or skin oil to keep the skin moisturized. Dead skin and dirt particles can sometimes lead to clogging of pores. As oil and dirt accumulates in these spots, it takes the form of bumps. They are still white and thus termed as whiteheads. However, as the head of these bumps burst and are exposed to air; the white heads turn into Blackheads.

There are certain factors that can make you more prone to Blackheads. If you have an oily skin type or your skin produces too much oil, there is always the risk of clogging of pores due to excess oil. Bacteria can also settle down into the follicles, leading to inflammation that eventually becomes Blackheads. A large number of cells of our body including skin become dead each day and are replaced by the new cells. However, it is important to shed off the dead cells from skin or they would form a layer on the skin leading to blockage of pores. These blockages can easily turn into Blackheads. It is also noticed that Blackheads are more common among the youngsters who are undergoing hormonal changes in their body. Also, the women who are taking birth control pills are more susceptible to Blackheads. The Blackheads usually attack women during the menstrual cycle. All these instances clearly suggest that imbalance of hormones can also lead to Blackheads. There are certain medications such as androgens, lithium and corticosteroids that can cause Blackheads in some individuals.

Some experts strongly believe that the occurrence of Blackheads has a lot to do with your lifestyle which includes your routine, diet and level of stress. Some food products especially the dairy products have high level of carbohydrates. In some people, they can lead to increase in the level of sugar in blood which again can cause Blackheads.

The common causes of Blackheads include:

• Hormonal Disturbance: Hormones play a vital role in controlling the activities and growth of our body. When our body is going through changes in the hormonal levels such as during teenage or when a women is going through menstrual cycle; the risk of Blackheads increases significantly. The hormonal disturbance usually makes the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. This excess oil can easily block the pores and cause acne or Blackheads.
• Poor Hygiene: Maintaining a good hygiene is very important to keep the Blackheads away. When you wash your face regularly, the dead cells do not get the opportunity to accumulate or clog the pores. Also, the excess oil is cleared to minimize the risk of acne.

Some experts also believe that stress, intake of caffeine, alcohol, smoking and lack of physical exercise can also cause acne or Blackheads. You need to eat healthy food and keep yourself free from stress to avoid Blackheads.

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Also Read:

• Remove Blackheads Naturally With These Home Remedies
• Blackheads on Chin: Medical Treatments & Home Remedies to Get Rid of Blackheads on Chin