Squeeze Blackhead And Damage Skin
I have heard like many people that you should not squeeze pimples but do blackheads fall into the same category? They seem so much more stable. Should you squeeze blackhead or not?
With all seriousness this has been a controversial point of discussion for a long time. Is a blackhead like a whitehead or a zit or is it different because it is true that you should never squeeze a zit. So lets take a look at the pros and cons of squeezing blackheads.
Before we get started on that topic I would like to differentiate between a blackhead, whitehead, pimple and a zit. Some people may group one or more of those together but it would be well for us to look physiologically at them so we understand a little bit more about why you should squeeze blackheads or not.
Blackhead
This is also known as an open comedone, meaning a clogged pore or hair follicle that is open to the outside air. A blackhead does not have the inflammation that a pimple or zit may have so it is not as dangerous for spreading since it lacks the bacteria that make pimples and zits so dangerous for squeezing amongst other things. Blackheads are made up of sebum (fat) and dead skin. With more sebum than is necessary for proper bodily function it combines with the dead skin cells and clogs hair follicles and pores. If the sebum in the follicle is exposed to the air it will darken causing the blackhead appearance.
Whitehead
A whitehead or a closed comedone is comprised of the same elements as a blackhead except there is a layer of skin over the top of the follicle, preventing the sebum to be oxidized by the outside air. The whitehead, like the blackhead, typically lacks the presence of the bacteria p. acnes, which are why there is an inflammation that is frequently painful and obviously an abnormality.
Pimple
This is such a general term and can refer to a whitehead or a zit. I prefer to use the term "pimple" to indicate a whitehead that is not inflamed like a zit or general bumps on the skin that result from acne cosmetica or diaper rash. It can also be used for skin conditions like acne cosmetica, which is when a chemical causing what appears to be acne irritates the skin. More situations exist that precipitate the formation of pimples but they are not the kind that include sebum or bacteria.
Zit
This is a hideous word and scares anyone who is familiar with the horrid presence of a zit. I want to classify the zit as a whitehead that is large and can even appear yellowish and typically has a reddish tint around the white center showing an inflammation. The zit is quite a bit different than the blackhead.
First there are Propionibacterium acnes present, the bacteria that eat the sebum and colonize in the hair follicle. Their presence stimulates an immune system response that leads to an inflammation. The whitehead from the skin is full of pus, which is constituted of sebum, dead skin cells, white blood cells and the debris of dead and dying bacteria. The depth of the zit is considerably more than a blackhead. Squeezing a zit can force the pus to other regions under the skin, spreading the infection, not to mention having the pus on the surface of the skin, which can lead to a spreading of the acne. There can also be lifelong scars left on the skin from this kind of zit squeezing activity.
To squeeze or not to squeeze blackhead
Unlike the zit the blackhead is a lot more stable but nonetheless if you are not careful your squeezing can damage the skin and cause more problems than it was worth. Products like blackhead extractors that use suction can cause similar problems and that goes for pore strips as well.
It would be hard for me to ever recommend the squeezing of any type of pimple because of what I know. People suggest there are ways to squeeze blackheads without any danger but the danger is always present. Wouldn't it be better to learn how to take care of our bodies and do our part to eliminate the conditions that favor excessive sebum production?
In conclusion I think it is dangerous to squeeze blackhead and further thought, time and attention should be turned to a lifestyle that is known to prevent skin conditions.
With all seriousness this has been a controversial point of discussion for a long time. Is a blackhead like a whitehead or a zit or is it different because it is true that you should never squeeze a zit. So lets take a look at the pros and cons of squeezing blackheads.
Before we get started on that topic I would like to differentiate between a blackhead, whitehead, pimple and a zit. Some people may group one or more of those together but it would be well for us to look physiologically at them so we understand a little bit more about why you should squeeze blackheads or not.
Blackhead
This is also known as an open comedone, meaning a clogged pore or hair follicle that is open to the outside air. A blackhead does not have the inflammation that a pimple or zit may have so it is not as dangerous for spreading since it lacks the bacteria that make pimples and zits so dangerous for squeezing amongst other things. Blackheads are made up of sebum (fat) and dead skin. With more sebum than is necessary for proper bodily function it combines with the dead skin cells and clogs hair follicles and pores. If the sebum in the follicle is exposed to the air it will darken causing the blackhead appearance.
Whitehead
A whitehead or a closed comedone is comprised of the same elements as a blackhead except there is a layer of skin over the top of the follicle, preventing the sebum to be oxidized by the outside air. The whitehead, like the blackhead, typically lacks the presence of the bacteria p. acnes, which are why there is an inflammation that is frequently painful and obviously an abnormality.
Pimple
This is such a general term and can refer to a whitehead or a zit. I prefer to use the term "pimple" to indicate a whitehead that is not inflamed like a zit or general bumps on the skin that result from acne cosmetica or diaper rash. It can also be used for skin conditions like acne cosmetica, which is when a chemical causing what appears to be acne irritates the skin. More situations exist that precipitate the formation of pimples but they are not the kind that include sebum or bacteria.
Zit
This is a hideous word and scares anyone who is familiar with the horrid presence of a zit. I want to classify the zit as a whitehead that is large and can even appear yellowish and typically has a reddish tint around the white center showing an inflammation. The zit is quite a bit different than the blackhead.
First there are Propionibacterium acnes present, the bacteria that eat the sebum and colonize in the hair follicle. Their presence stimulates an immune system response that leads to an inflammation. The whitehead from the skin is full of pus, which is constituted of sebum, dead skin cells, white blood cells and the debris of dead and dying bacteria. The depth of the zit is considerably more than a blackhead. Squeezing a zit can force the pus to other regions under the skin, spreading the infection, not to mention having the pus on the surface of the skin, which can lead to a spreading of the acne. There can also be lifelong scars left on the skin from this kind of zit squeezing activity.
To squeeze or not to squeeze blackhead
Unlike the zit the blackhead is a lot more stable but nonetheless if you are not careful your squeezing can damage the skin and cause more problems than it was worth. Products like blackhead extractors that use suction can cause similar problems and that goes for pore strips as well.
It would be hard for me to ever recommend the squeezing of any type of pimple because of what I know. People suggest there are ways to squeeze blackheads without any danger but the danger is always present. Wouldn't it be better to learn how to take care of our bodies and do our part to eliminate the conditions that favor excessive sebum production?
In conclusion I think it is dangerous to squeeze blackhead and further thought, time and attention should be turned to a lifestyle that is known to prevent skin conditions.
Source...