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Blackheads on nose

I have a lot of blackheads on my nose. I’m not sure if I trust a beautician to extract them, as I am concerned about hygiene. Is there a way to treat these blackheads on my own or should I see a dermatologist for this? What would getting rid of the blackheads involve?
B.C.

Dear B.C.,
Blackheads are active oil glands. The oil from these glands flows to the surface, and upon exposure to air, they oxidise and turn black. Therefore, there is no need to extract them, as they are not blocked glands. If you remove the black portion, the oil will come out the next day and the blackheads will form again. The way to remove blackheads is to clear them from below the skin using ingredients such as tretinoin that "unblock" the glands.

Answered by Dr. Joyce Lim | Tue, 2008/09/30 - 9:02pm
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