Why Do I Still Get Blackheads When I Wash a Lot?
Acne begins with the development of a plug of hardened sebum that stops up the openings of the follicular pores on the face. These plugs seem to become darker with age, hence the term blackheads. When there is a layer of skin covering the follicular opening, the sebaceous plug usually does not darken and is called a "whitehead" by some. Once the follicle becomes clogged, it will enlarge as more skin and sebum is produced behind it. Bacterial contamination of this sebaceous mixture is common since bacteria normally inhabit the follicle. If stretched enough, the wall of the follicle ruptures. This enables this material access to the deeper tissues, which produces inflammation in the form of a pimple.