Blackheads are sort of like pimples, only smaller and much harder to get rid of. They can make your pores look gigantic and if you aren’t careful when removing them they can leave scars.
There are over the counter treatments similar to acne products that you can buy such as Blackhead Scrubs, pore refining masks and the ever famous (and very effective) Biore Strips which basically just rips the suckers right out of your skin. But as most girls know from experience sometimes creams, facials and strips just don’t get the job done. Especially in hard to reach areas such as the bridge of the nose and under the lips.
A simple way to remove blackheads from any area of your skin without damaging the skin around the blackhead itself is the simple, household, toothpick.
Yup, you heard me. A toothpick. All you need is a mirror, I use my compact, a toothpick, and you’re ready to remove some nasty blackheads.
This method is also good for those super tiny pimples that are impossible to squeeze or land in odd places as well.
Anywho, what you do is take the toothpick, turn it on it’s side (don’t use the point!!). Place the tip of the toothpick, flat-side down, right above the blackhead you’re planning to remove. Give a firm, but gentle, press and push it downwards towards the blemish. If the blackhead is ready to come out it’ll simply come out and you can wipe it away.
If the blackhead doesn’t come out using this method don’t force it because it’s not ready to come out and using extra force can make your skin sore and discolored. You can even make yourself bleed or in extreme cases cause a scar similar to those left by really bad acne.
The procedure is simple and you can use it on any and all blackheads and small pimples that you find on your skin. Just remember to keep the toothpicks point flat-side down, not to use the point and to not force any unwilling blemishes to come out if they aren’t ready.
If you don’t have a toothpick you can use a sewing needle made for thick fabric. Thick fabric needles tend to be over-sized (about the size of a toothpick, sometimes longer but just as wide) with a dulled tip. Do not, however, use any other kind of sewing needle as the tips are much too sharp and even when using it sideways and flat-side down you run the risk of poking the tip down into the blemish and poking it farther down into it’s hole which will make you bleed as well as make it harder to remove.
Use common sense and remember that you’re working with your skin and not a wax doll or mannequin. You can hurt yourself or leave scars if you aren’t paying attention or if you try to pull a warrior princess move. Be gentle and everything that’s ready to be removed will come out. Wait a few days and repeat the procedure to remove the naughty ones.
Side Notes:
To remove even more blackheads try coupling this procedure with a blackhead scrub or strip. Pore refining masks are also good as they tend to squeeze blackheads out when they shrink your pores.
Also, don’t be alarmed if your skin turns pink or slightly red after using the toothpick method. It’ll fade in a few minutes or so. I normally do this procedure right after a shower or bath as the steam helps to losen the pores and make it easier to remove blackheads and other blemishes.
If you get tiny red or pink lines on your skin from using the toothpick, don’t freak out, those’ll fade too. As long as you don’t use excessive force all redness and other ‘markings’ will fade within minutes 
