Blackhead treatment has thrown up some wild and wacky ideas of what works - and what doesn't.
But treating blackheads has also been a subject that has largely been hijacked by the major drug companies peddling chemical solutions.
Is that what you want? Let's consider firstly what causes blackhead breakouts in the first place - because we can then look at what the best blackhead treatments should be.
Blackheads are caused by the hardening of the skin's natural oil, called sebum, which is trapped or hardened in the skin's pores.
The "blackness" that gives them their name is the hardened oil protruding from the surface of the skin and it is one of the most common complaints affecting teenages, but it also affects a growing number of adults and can occur all over the body.
Indeed body acne (including blackheads) is a major problem.
Drinking plenty of water is one thing you should be doing to help 'cleanse' the skin from within and hydrate the body, which will help prevent the drying and build up of bacteria and sebum.
You should ideally be drinking six to eight glasses of water a day.
You should also avoid fast food that carries with it a lot of sugar, which includes sugar-based drinks and none of which is helpful in the prevention of blackheads and can lead to that oil buildup that creates the problem.
The best blackhead treatment is to use natural makeups or skin creams as much as possible so you let the skin 'breathe' and therefore keep the pores open and clean.
Something as simple as exercise should play a big part in your 'blackhead containment' routine.
If you exercise regularly you will ensure that increased oxygen and good blood circulation will keep the skin in good condition.
What about actually getting rid of blackheads? You need to clean the skin that is most affected by blackheads.
You can use warm water and make sure you don't scrub too hard.
You should also use some natural exfoliant to cleans the skin, which will remove the dead skin cells and ensure that the oil build-up in the pores will not be hindered, leading to the development of blackheads.
There will be products you'll find that can help clean up 'dead skin', which will let you more easily get rid of the blackheads on your face or body.
Use a glycerin soap like Neutrogena, which is more gentle on the skin.
Try and avoid using oil-based soaps.
You can also use some scrubs to exfoliate your face or a chemical like glyolic or salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid is often recommended as a good exfoliant and it will help open the pores to permit cleansing and good skin health.
Also frequently used is honey in warm water, applied to the affected area and then washed after about ten minutes with warm water.
And finally, 'steam' your face by standing over hot water with a towel over your head and open up the pores.
This is like a face sauna that will greatly help opening those clogged pores and letting you then wash your face with a gentle water, even using rose water and lemon.
Equally olive oil in water or almond oil in water can greatly help in cleaning your pores.
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