Blackheads are blemishes characterized by dark spots on the skin. They occur when your pores are clogged with dead skin and oil; the pore remains open, which makes it look black in color. According to MayoClinic.com, skin type, skin care regimen, hormones and the climate where you live can all cause blackheads to form and increase your risk of developing them.
Oily Skin
Your skin may naturally be oilier than someone else's, but everyone's skin produces sebum, the oil that moisturizes hair and skin. This substance typically travels up the hair follicle and onto the skin's surface. However, when your body produces too much sebum, it can result in excessively oily skin, and the sebum can also get trapped in the pores. If the oil combines with dead skin cells and other surface impurities, like dirt and makeup, blackheads can develop. These blemishes typically form on the chin, nose and forehead, or the areas where skin is the greasiest.
Improper Skin Care
You may be tempted to scrub your skin harshly or use abrasive products, but this can actually make blackheads worse. Rough care irritates the skin and can strip it of oil, which causes it to produce even more sebum to compensate for what is lost. Similarly, washing your skin more than two or three times a day can also rob it of moisture and make more oil form, according to the AcneNet website. However, failing to wash your face enough--especially neglecting to clean your makeup off at night--can clog your pores. Dead skin cells collect on the skin's surface throughout the day, and when they are not removed, they get trapped, forming blackheads and other blemishes. Using oil-based cosmetics and skin care products can also increase your risk of blackheads.
Excess Moisture
Living in a humid or tropical climate can cause your skin to become too moisturized, and this can make blackheads pop up, says the New Zealand Dermatological Society. When the skin is over-hydrated, sebum can become trapped inside the pores. Hormonal changes can also cause your skin to produce more oil and over-moisturize your complexion. Premenstrual women and girls, pregnant women, male and female teenagers and anyone on cortisone medications are all subject to hormonal shifts that lead the skin to become too moisturized, according to MayoClinic.com.
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