Here's When You Should Get Worried About Your Blackheads

A symptom of mild acne, blackheads occur when pores are plugged with dead skin cells and sebum. Medically referred to as a comedo (via WebMD), the appearance of a blackhead occurs when this debris trapped within the pore reacts with oxygen and turns black. As Medical News Today notes, blackheads are not the result of trapped dirt and aren't related to how clean your skin is.

The number of blackheads you have can also depend on a variety of factors, according to Healthline, including your body producing too much oil, undergoing hormonal changes, dead skin cells not shedding on a regular basis, or taking certain medications like corticosteroids, lithium, or androgens.

And like any other acne, it's generally good practice not to pick or squeeze blackheads, as this can damage the skin further. "You will not be able to determine how deep your blackhead is, how tight your pores are, or how you should prep your skin in order to extract your blackheads," celebrity aesthetician Olga Lorencin told Insider.

Instead, it's best to try and keep control of the oil production and congestion while simultaneously booking a monthly appointment with an aesthetician to remove the pesky blackheads (via Insider). This way, you can keep on top of new blackheads as they appear and prevent any further damage to your skin. Not only that, but your aesthetician "will provide you with the advice and direction on the products and steps you should take to help prevent them in the first place," Olga Lorencin concluded.

The only time to really get worried about blackheads is if they just don't go away. But again, booking an appointment with a dermatologist, aesthetician, or even your usual doctor can ease those worries as they'll be able to point you in the right direction for treatment. As a common skin condition, there are dozens of ways in which you can get your acne treated — even if you're only suffering with blackheads. As Mayo Clinic notes, "The earlier you start treatment, the lower your risk of such problems" like emotional distress or scarring to the skin.