The Expert’s Guide to Blackheads: How Men Can Finally Tame Stubborn Pores

There is no other way to put it but to say that if pores had a dating history, men and blackheads would have a very long and committed relationship. Though it may be one of those unfortunate relationships. Blackheads are quiet the stubborn companions that no matter how aggressively you splash cold water or rub your favourite 3-in-1 shampoo on your face, leaves your side.

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And while you may have evolved from relying on that all-in-one bottle of masculine mystery to actually embracing a three-step skincare routine, blackhead removal still feels like a hazy territory. It’s the one part of your grooming life that remains shrouded in confusion: do you scrub harder? Use those medieval-looking pore strips? Pray? Or simply accept your fate as the guy with the constellation nose?

Good news is that you don’t have to. What you need is clarity. Real, expert-approved, non-chaotic clarity. So let’s break down what blackheads really are, why men are especially prone to them, and how to finally sort them out without waging war on your face.

What Are Blackheads Exactly?

If you think blackheads are not dirt. You are not “unclean,” nor are you turning into a swamp creature. What you’re seeing is simply oxidised oil. Your pores produce sebum—oil—because your skin needs it. But when excess oil mixes with dead skin cells and gets stuck inside a pore, the top of that mixture meets oxygen, oxidises, and turns dark. Voilà. A blackhead is born.

It’s essentially skincare’s equivalent of leaving an avocado out too long.

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Should You Use Blackhead Strips?

Experts say absolutely not.

A relic of late-’90s bathroom cabinets that promised pore perfection in one dramatic peel, blackhead strips have enjoyed a strangely enduring reputation. They’re still popular, still viral, and still deeply satisfying to rip off. But according to skin experts, they’re also one of the least advisable methods for removing blackheads, especially for men.

The appeal is understandable. There’s something almost ritualistic about applying a strip, waiting for it to cement itself to your face, then pulling it off like you’re revealing the results of a scientific experiment. But dermatologists insist the result you see on the strip is misleading at best and damaging at worst.

Blackhead strips operate using powerful adhesives designed to lift whatever they can latch onto. The issue is they don’t discriminate. Yes, they may catch some surface-level debris, but they also pull off the top layer of your skin and remove sebaceous filaments — normal, healthy structures that help transport oil to the surface. Removing them isn’t cleansing; it’s disruption. And when the skin barrier is disrupted, irritation, inflammation and broken capillaries aren’t far behind.

Worse still, the strips do nothing to treat the underlying cause of blackheads. There are no active ingredients, no oil-dissolving mechanisms, no preventative effects. They remove a little; they harm a little; and they solve nothing.

Professionals argue that if you’re dealing with serious congestion, an extraction facial performed by a trained aesthetician is the only safe manual option. For everyday prevention and treatment, the modern toolkit is far more sophisticated: salicylic acid to dissolve oil inside the pore, retinoids to regulate cell turnover, and clay masks to mop up excess sebum before it becomes a problem.

Blackhead strips? They belong in the nostalgia archives right next to dial-up internet, frosted tips, and that oversized can of body spray you swore was a personality.

How To Get Rid Of Blackheads

Dermatologists agree that the most effective way to deal with blackheads is through consistent, targeted skincare, not quick fixes or desperate bathroom-mirror manoeuvres. Here’s what actually works.

1. Start With Proper Cleansing

Most men wash their faces far too quickly. According to skincare experts, a good cleanse should last about a minute long enough to lift oil, sweat, sunscreen, and debris before they settle into the pores. A gel or foaming cleanser works best for oilier skin; if you’re prone to congestion, cleansing twice in the evening (double cleansing) prevents buildup before it starts.

2. Salicylic Acid

If there’s one product that deserves the hype, it’s salicylic acid. Dermatologists consistently call it the gold standard for blackheads because it does what no scrub or pore strip can: it penetrates inside the pore and dissolves the oil responsible for clogging it. Use it three to five times a week in a toner, serum, or leave-on exfoliant. The goal isn’t to strip the face dry, it’s to keep pores clear from the inside out.

3. Bring In a Clay Mask Once or Twice a Week

Clay masks aren’t just spa-night props; they’re highly effective at absorbing excess oil and preventing congestion. Applying clay to areas that regularly get shiny, usually the nose, chin, and forehead pulls out the oil that would otherwise sit in pores and harden into blackheads. One caveat: don’t let the mask dry to a chalky finish. When clay is left on too long, it starts pulling moisture out of the skin as well as oil, which leads to the very problem you’re trying to avoid — overproduction of sebum.

4. Retinoids: The Long-Term Prevention Plan

Retinoids help regulate cell turnover, stopping dead skin cells from piling up inside pores and forming blockages. They also refine skin texture and boost radiance, making them the closest thing to a multi-purpose grooming superpower. Start with a gentle formula a few nights per week and build up. Moisturiser is non-negotiable.

5. Let Professionals Handle Extractions

While the temptation to squeeze is universal, at-home extraction is still a terrible idea. Pressing too hard or using the wrong technique can stretch pores, cause inflammation, and even lead to scarring. A trained aesthetician, on the other hand, knows exactly how to remove buildup without damaging the skin. If you’ve got a cluster of stubborn blackheads, book a facial and don’t stage a DIY intervention.

6. Maintain, Don’t Overdo It

Consistency beats aggression every time. Over-washing, over-exfoliating, or using too many products only irritates the skin, causing more oil production and, ironically, more blackheads.

A simple, repeatable routine wins:

• Cleanse
  

• Salicylic acid
  

• Moisturiser
  

• Retinoid at night
  

• Clay mask weekly
  

Stick to that, and your pores will behave better than they ever have.