Skip to main content

What causes a massive blackhead to form?


A blackhead refers to something scientifically known as a 'comedone'.

Comedones are formed as a result of the blockade of the duct of something known as the ‘pilosebaceous unit'. This entity consists of a hair follicle and attached to it a structure which is known as the 'sebaceous gland.’ This gland is the oil producing factory of our skin and this oil production is in part controlled by androgens or the male hormones, which in a small quantity are also present in females making comedones and as a result acne vulgaris (pimples) a universal problem.

Now to understand this apparently complex description, just think of this as small oil wells lying beneath your skin and opening on to the surface via a pipe.

This oily substance is known as 'sebum’ and it contains cholesterol, wax, and wax esters as its main constituents. Its production can increase as a result of many factors :

Excess Androgens (Hormonal)

Use of certain cosmetics and topical medications (irritants,oily preparations)

Certain drugs and medications such as corticosteroids

Excess sebum production, in turn tends to irritate the epithelial lining of the duct causing a cellular hyperproliferation, and eventually increased proliferation of a commensal bacterium : Propionibacterium acnes, which is present normally in small quantities as part of the pilosebaceous unit.

All these factors tend to cause the blockade of the duct, the outflow pipe of our oil glands,causing it to swell up and thus forming a comedone.

In the initial stages, there is a partial blockade, such that air and therefore oxygen can reach the collected sebum, cellular debris and oxidise the surface of this collection causing it to appear ‘black’. This is what is commonly knownas a blackhead.

And when this blockade becomes complete, and the duct is completely obliterated, oxygen can no longer reach this collected material causing the formation of what is known as a whitehead or a closed comedone.

Hence, even though a blackhead appears 'black' on the surface, pressing it and discharging it's material leads to expression of primarily sebum which is yellowish to white and mixed with this cellular debris of the cells lining the duct and few bacteria, all in all producing an oily whitish yellow dirty looking material.

And here is a guide about how to remove blackhead.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Use a Facial Cleansing Brush?

While you bought a facial cleaning brush from Lukelady , you'd better how to use the facial cleaning bursh. So what's the right way to use a facial cleaning brush? You can read this guide . 1. Choosing the right brush head for your skin is key. It's really important that the brush head isn't irritating or inflaming your skin, here are “ the best facial cleaning brush 2019 ”. 2. You only hold gently next to the skin and don’t push right it to allow the sonic to fully exfoliate all of the pores. 3. Moving the brush in small and circular motions will also help the brush’s sonic rays to work their way down into the skin’s depths. 4. Avoid working it around the skin under and around the eyes. The skin under the eyes is extremely thin and doesn’t need the deep clean provided by the sonic technology. Working with makeup remover or a basic skin cleanser will be far more effective for the area than the facial cleansing brush. 5. Don’t let it last for too long as this could e
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Get Rid of Blackheads, According to Dermatologists?

Blackheads, much like cockroaches, are the worst for this very reason: Every time you squeeze one of them away, you find dozens more to tackle. (How's that for a fun visual?) As satisfying as that squeeze may be in the moment, the peskiness of blackheads can wear on anyone. They just keep. Coming. Back. In search of answers, we turned to top dermatologists to find out how to get rid of them — for good. First things first, what exactly are blackheads? Before you go about trying to rid your skin of blackheads, it helps to first understand what they actually are. "Blackheads are just an oxidized mix of oil and dead skin cells that are sitting in pores, [and] the exposure to air is what causes them to oxidize and turn black," explains Rachel Nazarian, a dermatologist of Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. The technical name for a blackhead is an open comedone (and comedone is the scientific term for an acne lesion). There are two different types of comedones: Ope
Post a Comment
Read more

How do I fix pimples for good?

To treat a deep, painful pimple at home, Dr. Feely recommends the following tips: 1. DO wash your skin before treating it. Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, and be gentle to your skin while washing. 2. DO apply ice to reduce pain and swelling. As soon as you notice the blemish, wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and apply it to the area for five to 10 minutes. Repeat this two more times, with 10-minute breaks between icing. 3. DO apply a product that contains 2 percent benzoyl peroxide to the pimple. Available at your local drugstore, this treatment will help kill the bacteria that causes acne. Make sure you apply a very thin layer, as using too much can irritate your skin. While using this product, keep in mind that benzoyl peroxide can bleach fabrics. Avoid letting the medication come into contact with your clothing, and consider using white sheets and towels while using it. 4. DO apply a warm compress once a whitehead begins to form. To make a warm compress, soak a cl
Post a Comment
Read more