The stuff from blackheads is a mix of excess oil (sebum), dead skin cells, and dirt, which oxidizes and turns black when exposed to air, but if it's a white/yellow waxy string, it's likely a natural sebaceous filament (sebum + dead skin) helping oil flow, not a true blockage, so it's best to leave them alone. Squeezing them can damage skin, cause inflammation, or lead to infection, resulting in pus (dead cells, bacteria, fluid).
You've probably heard that squeezing or picking at a pimple is not a great idea, and the same goes for sebum plugs. By squeezing, you can push the contents deeper into the skin or break the pimple open, which allows the bacteria inside the pimple to spread and any bacteria on your hands to enter the pore.
That white, hard material you see when popping pimples is primarily pus—a mixture of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and debris. Pus is essentially your body's response to infection or irritation caused by clogged pores.
Prolonged exposure to the air causes the blockage to oxidize and darken. Because the pore gets stretched out of shape, it will fill back up again even after it is emptied.
“Avoid picking at blackheads! Attempting to extract will introduce additional bacteria and actually cause the opening to get bigger,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Diane Madfes. “Forcing the contents of the gland deeper and causing scarring.
While Vaseline doesn't directly dissolve blackheads, it does soften keratin and sebum inside the pores, allowing them to be removed more easily — a gentler alternative to forceful squeezing.
The 4-2-4 rule is a Korean-inspired deep cleansing method: massage an oil cleanser for 4 minutes to break down makeup/SPF, follow with a water-based cleanser for 2 minutes to remove residue, then rinse with 2 minutes of warm water and 2 minutes of cold water to open and close pores, leaving skin deeply clean but can be irritating for sensitive types, so it's best for deep cleaning or heavy makeup days, not daily.
Incorporate Salicylic Acid to Clean Out Impurities
“Salicylic acid is your go-to ingredient if you have sebaceous filaments. It's a beta-hydroxy acid that helps remove excess oil and exfoliate dead skin cells from the skin to keep the pores clear,” says Dr. Zeichner.
Factors that can cause your pimples to smell
The smell associated with acne isn't just a byproduct of the blemishes themselves—it's caused by an interplay of factors. The presence of bacteria, the intensity of your acne breakout, and your personal hygiene practices all collectively contribute to this distinctive scent.
A comedo (plural comedones) is a clogged hair follicle (pore) in the skin. Keratin (skin debris) combines with oil to block the follicle. A comedo can be open (blackhead) or closed by skin (whitehead) and occur with or without acne.
Pimples refill after popping because you often don't remove all the pus and debris, pushing some deeper, while the inflammation continues, and the pore wall itself can be damaged, allowing oil (sebum) and dead cells to collect again, leading to recurrence in the same spot. Popping also creates an opening for bacteria, causing more inflammation and new pimples nearby.
Blackheads are a type of acne (acne vulgaris). They're open bumps on the skin that fill with excess oil and dead skin. They look as if dirt is in the bump, but an irregular light reflection off the clogged follicle actually causes the dark spots.
Does toothpaste remove blackheads? No, toothpaste can irritate the skin and is not recommended. Benzoyl peroxide for blackheads? It's more effective for inflamed acne but can help reduce bacteria and oil.
The best way to remove blackheads is by using exfoliating ingredients, regulating oil production, and keeping pores clear. Salicylic acid is particularly effective because it penetrates deep into pores "because it can penetrate into the pores to break down the plugs of oil and dead skin,” says Dr. Khalifian.
Some untreated blackheads are a bit more stubborn than others and can become inflamed or infiltrated by bacteria. What happens if you don't remove blackheads like these? They'll likely turn into deep blackheads and, eventually, pimples.
Your body can gradually break down pus and reabsorb its components. That's why small accumulations of pus (like in a pimple) often don't need treatment.
On the other hand, bumps caused by STDs, like herpes sores or genital warts, are often accompanied by pain, itching, or changes in appearance, and they tend to appear near the vulva, vagina, and anus.
The trauma caused by the squeezing can also cause blood vessels underneath to burst, causing the pimple to fill with blood. Regular pimples occur when the skin's pores become clogged with bacteria, sweat, or dirt. More severe acne can be due to hormonal changes in adolescents and adult women.
Foods that cause your blood sugar to rise quickly, such as white bread and fries, may worsen acne.