Wow, I am slowly turning this into a beauty forum.:o
What products ( pref. cheap and effective) do you guys use to treat blackheads.
Have you ever tried those blackhead strips? They work pretty effectively.
Aside from that, you need a good salicylic acid exfoliator. I unfortunately cannot personally recommend a drugstore brand because everything I use is higher end and somewhat pricey, but that doesn’t mean I think drugstore brands are ineffective.
Let me look around in a few places and see what I can come up with that has high recs.
Just for reference, this is what I use: How to Exfoliate Face: LacSal Serum Hydroxy Acid - Effective Hydroxy Acid Cream for Skin Exfoliation Proven to Improve Skin Texture and Pore Appearance for Aging Skin Care for Young Face | Shop Skin Biology Products - Call 1-800-405-1912 for a FREE s. If $17.95 isn’t out of your price range, I’d definitely recommend it. It lasts a good while, too. I’ve been using the same bottle for about three months.
The problem I found in the past is that my skin would get dry, but the blackheads would still be there.
What I would recommend (I’m not a doctor, but I play one on PheroTalk 
) is a salicylic acid exfoliator or peel (don’t go over 10% acid, whatever you buy) and a good moisturizing oil.
I don’t recommend SA washes, because you put it on, you take it off. It has no time to get down to work in your skin. You need something you put on your skin and leave. The stuff I use, that I linked to above, I put on at night before bed. I let it sit for 20-30 minutes, then I add a moisturizing oil. Some examples of good moisturizing oils are emu, jojoba, rosehip seed (if you’re not prone to acne), shea nut, olive, grapeseed, and hazelnut. Do not use baby oil, or any other type of mineral oil. That could make it worse.
Anything you start doing is going to take time. And exfoliator needs some time to start removing enough built up dead skin cells to where you can start getting the blackheads out.
would you recommend the copper peptides too?
Dang!!
I put in a URL and when submitted an “Amazon Thumbnails” box appears but when I click on it it leads right back here.
Try Googling “Blackhead remover” and you’ll find it on Amazon. Just “pops” 'em out.
I love copper peptides - Neutrogena Daytime Active Copper is AWESOME! I love it.
I would, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it for your needs.
why not just squeeze them out with clean fingers? fast and does the job. just don’t touch the site for a while till the pores close!
Well there are two things Id recommend.
I agree w/ariadne you should probably use something that has salcylic acid, it helps remove the dead skin that can get into pores and clog them up and then you break out.
I have something called “Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Anti-Blemish” by Neutrogena. It has 2% salcylic acid and retinol. It’s ok if you dont have wrinkles, the retinol is good for blemishes.
This is a 1oz tube.
Or you could also just get a toner that has 2% SA, but make sure you check the ingredients, because some sell it w/only 1% and that isnt as effective.
I would also recommend Acne Products aka acne.org
This site sells 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, which is a much lower % than you will find at the local stores (except Neutrogena sells it in that % but charges $5 for a itty bitty tube).
The lower % is more gentle on your skin and works better than the higher %.
He has the best price Ive found for 2.5% bp.
Depending on your skin, you might want to use the SA and BP sepperately. Like one day do the SA and then the next the BP. But just play around w/it start out slow so your skin doesnt get irritated.
Also using a good moisturizer that doesnt clog your pores, that’s meant for someone who tends to break out will help the dryness.
Aloe vera is also very good for the skin, lots of good healing properties. You can buy it in a tube, but my dad just got me a live plant from home depot so Im going to use that instead.
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I finally gave in and went back to the dermatologist. He has me on a prescription of an antibiotic and topical cream that has BP and another antibiotic in it.
So if all else fails, going to the doctor can be a lifesaver.
as far as products, all cosmetic and skin care companies buy “cosmetic grade” ingredients and are the same quality regardless of the brand.
A high brand’s “glycolic acid” is no better than a GA youd find at your local drugstore.
I buy both drugstore brands and department store brands, it just depends on what it is. It’s just if I can buy a drug store brand that costs 3/4th less than a department store brand but has the same active ingredients, well then Im going to do that.
This is also a good site, lot’s of info and she sells skin care too.
Skin Care Facts: Cosmetics Cop: Skin Care & Makeup Tips & Reviews
hope this helps =)
Make sure you always wash your face before bed and in the morning.
I use a exfoliater in the morning and something more gentle at night just to remove the makeup and daily pollutants that can land on your face.
I don’t really have blackhead problem but my older son has had them. He has large pores.
Get derma doctor Ain’t Misbehavin’ Blackhead Treatment
Then he go’s over his face with a cotton ball and witch hazel to shrink the pores so he doesn’t get as many recurrences of black heads.
Oh and for pimples a little dab of tooth paste (arm and hammer mint) and it will shrink away by morning 
Tisha
My wife has the kids using a 3 step Clenziderm cleaning system. 2% Salicylic acid and another contains 5% benzoyl peroxide.
This is not necessarily true. Skin Biology manufactures all of their own products, which are developed by a PhD (who owns the company). Department store brands may do this, I don’t know, but I don’t buy department store brand products. I’d rather use gentler ingredients than can be found in most department store and drugstore brands, which is why I make a good amount of my own skin care items.
There is some evidence out there that benzoyl peroxide causes irreversible skin damage to differing extents. It’s been proven to be a free radical generator, so if you use it on a daily basis for long periods of time, you’re eventually going to do your skin a disservice as far as advanced aging goes. I have read quite a few reports from people stating that BP created hardened masses under the surface of their skin, which gave their skin a lumpy, uneven appearance. They at first thought this was just leftover bits of pustules they had tried to eliminate, but after aggressive peels and microdermasion started bringing them to the surface, they were revealed to be keratine-like lumps with fibrous hairs keeping them somewhat attached to the subcutaneous layer. This description comes from a variety of people in several different places. A derm I saw several years ago refused to prescribe BP because he had seen this sort of side effect in patients over the years.
Blackheads = oil and dirt clogging your pores
Treatment = wash, and scrub regularly.
I tend to use a blackhead scrub and oil free wash and rotate, having fought blackheads for many years. (after the cystic acne I had as a teen)
because most of the products are very drying, I rotate them to keep my face soft.
So I have Noxzema (or store brand knockoff), a blackhead scrub, daily facial scrub, Burts Bees Oil free citrus cleaner (I swear they sell this stuff as hand grease remover by gojo) Neutragena Men facial scrub.
I use Soap or Noxzema in the evening and one of the scrubs in the morning or a textured facial scrubber. and yet still fight some breakouts. but keeping my face from over drying has helped the zits, I keep some facial moisturizer around in case I get over dry in the winter.
Omigod, omigod, like ! Black heads, my mortal enemy 
Here’s what I do stey by step = but I must warn you. This be hella ghetto.
First, I exfoliate my face well with a scrub while I’m taking a hot shower. Whatever soap, face scrub, okay.
I get out and boil some water in a pot. I let it cool down for like 3-4 minutes, and bend my face over the pot. ( I add a pouch of green tea seeping in there if I have it ) I take a towel, and cover my head and the pot of hot water with it. This is basically just steaming. If it’s too hot, let it cool off alittle more. You don’t wanna scald your face and dry your skin. Steam it for ..10-15 minutes max. Only do this once a week.
When you’re done, immediately wash your face with clean warm water and apply a mud mask. Don’t have one ? Eggwhites and lemon will suffice. It’ll tighten your pores after the cleansing you gave it. 8-10 minutes. Wash off.
Apply moisturizer. Congratulate yourself by touching your face and seeing how smooth it is ! 
It’s fairly ridiculous sounding, but ridiculously cheap as well. (Lets see…water, a pouch of green tea, a lemon and an egg) And it works! I vouch ! (myself)
Also, using a good toner ( doesnt dry skin out like most toners) daily helps too.