Blackheads causes and treatment - Hw to get rid of blackheads

Blackhead develops when, Hair follicle is clogged by dead skin and oil, called sebum.
the surface looks dark or black that’s why it is called blackhead. The dark color of blackheads has nothing to do with dirt: They look dark because this kind of blackhead is “open” and the skin pigment melanin reacts with oxygen in the air.
It is milder type of acne.
Most common location of blackheads are face, nose and cheeks, but it can appear on other places on the skin like: chest, neck, arms, shoulders.
The main mechanism of blackhead development is, The oil that is made in the skin is called sebum, and it is produced in oil glands called sebaceous glands. Sebum protects the skin and helps to keep it moisturized. But if a layer of dead cells blocks the opening of a pore, the sebum can't leave the pore. It builds up in the sebaceous gland, and a blackhead or whitehead develops. If this becomes inflamed, it turns into a pimple (also called a zit or spot). Acne mostly develops on areas of skin that have more oil glands, like the face, chest, back and shoulders.
The most common cause of excessive oil production is a hormonal state, when male sex hormone androgens are produced excessively. It causes excessive sebum production on skin. That’s why acne is the common problem among teenagers, when androgen production is increased in both, girls and boys.
The only reason for acne and blackheads is not hormone production, but genetics and immune system also plays role.
There are many ideas what causes acne worse, but nor all of them are scientifically confirmed. For example:
There are associations between washing face and worsen acne but real connection is not confirmed. Also according to some sources some food like chocolates and carbohydrates can worsen the acne but we still don’t know if it is reality.
Certain skin care products, such as moisturizing creams or oils that might block skin pores, can make acne worse. That's also true for rubbing your skin too hard or squeezing blackheads.
Some people report that their acne gets worse when they are stressed. Scientific studies also suggest that there is a link here. It is not clear whether there might be a connection between smoking and acne.
Treatment:

Oil-in-water emulsions (lotions) or moisturizing gels (hydrogels) are recommended for skin care with acne.
Greasy creams can clog the pores in your skin even more, so they aren’t recommended.
Soap-free cleansing products that have a similar pH to skin (5.5) are a good idea too.
It's important not to overdo it, though, because too much skin care can irritate the skin even more.
Some treatment approaches and medications have been proven to effectively reduce acne, while others have not. Examples of effective treatments include benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics and retinoids.

Acne treatment usually requires patience: Most products have to be used for a long time before there is a noticeable improvement. The treatment may take months or even years. Every treatment can have side effects, too.
Salicylic acid: This is available over-the-counter for blackheads as a cleanser or lotion. It helps remove the top layer of damaged skin. Salicylic acid dissolves dead skin cells to prevent your hair follicles from clogging.
Azelaic acid: Barley, wheat, rye and other various grains naturally contain azelaic acid. It kills microorganisms on your skin and reduces swelling.
Benzoyl peroxide: This is available as an over-the-counter product (such as Clearasil®, Stridex® and PanOxyl®) as a leave-on gel or wash. It targets surface bacteria, which often aggravates acne. Lower concentrations and wash formulations are less irritating to your skin. Irritation (dryness) is a common side effect.
Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives): Retinoids, such as Retin-A®, Tazorac® and Differin, break up blackheads and whiteheads and help to prevent clogged pores. You may notice a change in skin color or peeling. Using retinoids every other day or using them at the same time as a moisturizer can reduce these side effects.
Oral antibiotics: Oral antibiotics reduce the bacteria that cause blackheads.
Microdermabrasion: A dermatologist uses a specialized instrument to “sand” your skin. Removing the top layers of your skin frees the clogs that cause blackheads.

[playingwithmytoes]

I have a question though, if your treatment takes years to the point where your basically out of your teenage years and your hormones lower meaning the oil is reduced is it really treatment or is the whole thing just a placebo to buy products to make it feel like its working. Because I am a teenagers I have acne but you saying it might take years really just makes me wanna wait to see if it will just go away without buying products which are really expensive as a teenager. ( just a thought but stresses me out)