Blackheads are caused by blocked pores filled with oil and dead skin. Using a warm towel at home can gently open pores and ease blackhead removal, offering a safe and budget-friendly solution.

We spoke to board-certified dermatologists about the best blackhead-fighting ingredients, how to safely and effectively remove blackheads at home and which over-the-counter products they suggest.

How to remove blackheads Learning how to get rid of blackheads at home can be a game changer, since they can stick around when left unchecked.

Before we get into the details of the best blackhead removal tools, it’s important to understand what blackheads exactly are.

Unfortunately, blackhead extraction is a "don't try this at home" kind of procedure. According to Bioelements, extraction should only be performed by a licensed esthetician.