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?

In all earnestness, to squeeze blackheads or not has been a point of contention for decades. 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 proceeding lets define a blackhead, whitehead, pimple and zit. Many people tend to group some or all of these conditions together but they are different and in understanding their differences we can better understand why or why not squeezing them is a good idea.

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. The blackhead is composed of sebum (the natural body oil that is used for lubrication of the skin and hairs) and dead skin cells or keratin, the protein that makes skin protective to the outside environment. When there is an excess of sebum it joins with the skin cells and clogs the follicle. 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 like to use this in reference to the whitehead that is not inflamed. It is a common term to use for acne cosmetica, diaper rash and other skin conditions that cause pimples. There are other conditions as well that cause pimples but they are not the kind where sebum and/or bacteria are present.

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.

Unlike blackheads and whiteheads the bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes is present. This is the bacteria that lives in a hair follicle to raise a family with plenty of sebum to eat. 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. When a zit is squeezed the pus can be pushed through the tissues to another region of the facial skin and can spread the acne and pimples. This is in addition to the pus getting on the surface of the skin and spreading the acne and pimples that way. 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. There are people that think there is a proper way to squeeze blackheads but the risks are always going to be there. It would be far better to change our lifestyle that would naturally eliminate the circumstances that cause an excess of sebum to be produced?

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.