Blackhead Removal

What are Blackheads?

Often associated with teenagers and young adults, blackheads are a common form of acne that can affect all skin types and ages. Also known as an open comedone, blackheads are characterised by a black, often raised dot on the surface of the skin which is formed when oil produced in the sebaceous glands gets trapped in a hair follicle, clogging the pore and turns black from oxidation. While there’s nothing dangerous about blackheads, many people find them unsightly and would like to have them removed.

Blackheads are caused by a combination of genetics, environment and health. All humans produce an oil called sebum which lubricates their skin and hair but in some patients, the sebaceous glands that produce this sebum are over-productive or congestive quality. This causes excess oil to get stuck in the pore that holds a hair follicle, causing acne bacteria to grow. As the acne bacteria and sebum overgrow the pore becomes congested. If this congested pore has an opening to the surface of the skin, air oxidises the filaments present in the sebum, causing it to turn a dark colour, known as a blackhead.

If you are ready to take control of your blackheads and enjoy clear, glowing skin please contact Clinica Lase to find out more.  You can also enquire about our other treatments so we can tailor a plan to suit your needs. Fill out our contact form or get in touch with our friendly team, today.

What are the differences between blackheads and whhiteheads?

Both blackheads and whiteheads are forms of acne known as comedones. They both begin when the sebaceous glands overproduce sebum and excess oil gets clogged in the pore. Where whiteheads differ is that while blackheads take on their dark appearance because they have an opening to the skin that allows for oxidisation, whiteheads don’t have this opening. The excess sebum gets caught in a closed pore and the clogged matter remains white.

How do you treat blackheads?

CHEMICAL PEELS

A chemical peel is a skin treatment used to resurface the skin and promote the regeneration of cells, improving the skin’s overall appearance and reducing blackheads and congestion.

At Clinica Lase, your chemical peel will involve the application of a solution that works to quickly remove the outer layer of the epidermis promoting skin turnover. The fresh skin that is unveiled will give you a clearer, brighter, more glowing complexion.

Your clinician will advice you on whether you need a superficial, medium or deeply penetrating peel depending on your unique skin condition. The level of peel will determine the length of downtime you require and your final result.

LED LIGHT THERAPY

LED Light Therapy is a painless, non-invasive treatment that uses high-output, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to treat specific skin concerns. When using LED for blackheads, your clinician will only choose a setting that emits light at the wavelength that skin bacteria is highly sensitive to, killing the bacteria and reducing the development of new blackheads. One of the best things about LED light therapy is that it’s a completely safe, affordable treatment with no downtime required. 

LED light therapy will often be suggested by your clinician as a great complement to another blackhead treatment solution such as microdermabrasion because of it’s soothing and rejuvenating properties.

BLACKHEAD SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

Following any Clinica Lase blackhead treatment it’s imperative that you follow up with the appropriate at-home aftercare. Part of that aftercare will require you to use quality skin care products that nourish the skin rather than strip it of natural oils or cause irritation. Your Clinica Lase clinician will talk you through the right products for you and your unique skin needs.

What are some blackhead myths?

BLACKHEADS ARE DIRT CAUGHT UNDER THE SKIN

There are some unfortunate misconceptions around blackheads that can lead to sufferers making skincare mistakes that inflame the problem. Because of the dark appearance of a blackhead, some believe that it’s dirt trapped under the surface of the skin. This leads to the sufferer trying to squeeze the dirt out, pushing the oil further into the pore and causing it to become infected or scar. The idea that blackheads are caused by dirty skin also leads to people using very harsh cleansers and scrubs that strip oil from the skin completely. Unfortunately, all this does is unwittingly cause the skin to overreact and begin producing more sebum, causing a vicious cycle that leads to further blackheads.

BLACKHEADS ARE CAUSED BY SUGARY AND FATTY FOODS

There’s a common myth that blackheads are caused by consuming sugary or fatty foods. While prioritising holistic health and maintaining a good diet will always help to support and create healthy skin, there is a direct correlation between high GI foods and blackheads.  

THERE’S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO GET RID OF BLACKHEADS

This is incorrect! Blackheads can be removed and treated completely safely and effectively with the right treatment plan and expert clinician. The team at Clinica Lase will use either one or a combination of techniques to help remove your current blackheads and prevent new ones from forming.

How do I prepare for blackhead treatment?

The type of preparation you’ll need to undertake depends on the type of blackhead treatments your clinician recommends for you. This is why at Clinica Lase we start all of our patients off with a thorough, complimentary skin consultation to discuss your treatment options and expectations. Once our dermal clinicians have devised a tailored treatment plan to your needs they will advise on the preparations you need to make. As a rule of thumb, apart from some deep chemical peels, most blackhead treatments are non-invasive and will not require too much preparation or downtime.

What should I expect after blackhead treatment?

The type of blackhead treatment that your Clinica Lase clinician recommends for you will determine what to expect after your blackhead treatment.

MICRODERMABRASION

Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive treatment with little to no downtime meaning you can expect to resume your usual activities immediately after your session which will last somewhere around 30-40 minutes. You can expect some light flaking of the skin in the few days after microdermabrasion, which will quickly turn into a refreshed glow.

CHEMICAL PEELS

The amount of downtime you can expect after a chemical peel with differ depending on the strength of the formula used. You can expect some tingling during the treatment and the skin to appear slightly more red than usual. This will fade a couple of days after treatment and the skin will naturally begin to peel, revealing a more youthful glow, free from blackheads.

LED LIGHT THERAPY

Because LED light therapy is non-invasive and carries a very low risk of any side effects there aren’t any post-treatment requirements. However, if your clinician has recommended the treatment to complement other procedures such as a chemical peel, you will have to adhere to those aftercare requirements. 

Is it safe?

At Clinica Lase, your safety is our first priority which is why we only use the highest quality products, ingredients and equipment available on the market.

During your initial in-depth consultation with one of our highly-trained clinicians you will have the opportunity to ask questions about your treatment plan without any obligation to go ahead with the procedures. 

With Clinica Lase you can enjoy beautiful skin and peace of mind knowing that you are in the hands of an expert.

How much does blackhead removal cost?

• $275 to $375 - Chemical Peels are a part of our Medi Facials
• $99 - Lactic Peel + LED Express
• $475 - Laser Genesis + Facial Treatment (includes a chemical peel, Laser genesis treatment, LED, growth factor serum & take home sheet mask)