BYRDIE.com – Dr. Kauvar provides a guide on how to properly get rid of blackheads in the ears.
“Blackheads in the ear are just like those on the face,” says dermatologist Arielle N.B. Kauvar, MD. “They are caused by excess oil that gets trapped in the pore, which is the opening of the hair follicle.”
But what may seem like something with an easy fix isn’t; dealing with blackheads in the ears requires more than standard acne care. We asked Kauvar to break it down for us and give us her tips on how to deal with them.
According to Kauvar, you can use the same acne-fighting exfoliators meant for your face for your ears as well. Ingredients such as retinol and salicylic acid will help treat those blackheads and prevent future breakouts. She suggests applying any product with a Q-tip and being careful not to have anything run down the ear canal.
Kauvar suggests cleansing your ears with a face cloth and gentle cleanser at the end of your shower to prevent future breakouts; your skin is warm and hydrated from the steam by then. She says this is especially helpful for those who are acne-prone.
It’s always super tempting to squeeze out a blackhead yourself—there’s a sick pleasure to it. But Kauvarurges patients not to. “They are difficult to visualize,” she says. “Picking and squeezing can be very painful on the ear because cartilage is sensitive. It can also lead to infection.
Yes, a trip to a derm or aesthetician for a blackhead seems excessive. But in this case, it is very necessary. Kauvar strongly suggests you see a dermatologist or an aesthetician to extract them. She explains that since the ear cartilage is sensitive, using a comedones extractor (that metal device with a small hole that is firmly pressed against the skin to extract blackheads) is often painful and causes unnecessary trauma. Dermatologists use a sterile, pointed scalpel blade to loosen the comedones and then extract the contents by applying pressure with a cotton tip applicator. This is gentler and minimizes pain and inflammation.
