She’s not the first to hack the hack—but the question we have to ask: Is this safe? “The dental-floss method may be effective at removing blockages that are not deeply rooted, so long as you do not push too hard,” says dermatologist Dr Joshua Zeichner. The name of the game is gentle, even pressure.
If blackheads don’t come out, don’t pick, increase pressure, or use something sharp (your nails), which can injure, inflame, and potentially scar skin.
But perhaps you rather keep your floss in your mouth. In that case, Dr. Zeichner recommends salicylic acid cleansers and scrubs as the go-to for treating and preventing blackheads. “They help absorb excess oil and remove dead cells from the skin's surface,” he says.
The article Everyone On Instagram Is Obsessed With This Blackhead-Removal Technique originally appeared on Women’s Health.
