Terrifying simulation shows how to correctly remove blackheads without causing damage

A simulation has shown how the most common way we deal with blackheads is actually making the problem worse.

The awareness surrounding the importance of skin care has grown exponentially in the past few years, day and night-time routines have become all the craze.

It's not a bad thing either, good skin care can save you from a few wrinkles in your later years, prevent pimples, and even help to improve scarring.

While people are becoming more aware of the importance of using sunscreen to protect your skin from harsh ultraviolet rays, there is a specific type of skin condition that many don't know how to deal with properly.

These are blackheads.

Here's the science: The common skin condition is caused by clogged hair follicles as a result of sebum oil and dead skin cells building up.

This oxidises when it is exposed to air, which then turns the pore opening black and gives you a blackhead.

They aren't as troublesome or noticeable as pimples, so a lot of people don't do much to remedy them.

But the majority of those that do may choose to squeeze them until they come out - which can work, but this may not be the smartest choice.

A simulation doing the rounds on social media from the creators over at MindMyst has revealed the safe method of removing blackheads, while highlighting why you may want to avoid the old squeeze-and-hope method.

They explain that this way, 'you may rupture the walls of the pore', which would leave a hole in the skin and impair its ability to heal properly.

Not only that, but the move may force the blackhead deeper into your skin, worsening the problem, according to the viral video with over 73.8 million views on TikTok.

So how do you get rid of them?

"Place your face six to eight inches from the steam," the video advises, showing a man keeping his face above a pot of boiling water.

"Pat a towel over your head to trap the steam and use a clay mask, the steam softens blackheads and opens pores, making extraction or treatment easier," the video concludes.

Other methods recommended include regular cleansing with gentle face wash, use of products with salicylic acid, exfoliation, or even a blackhead extractor.

Viewers were in shock at how easy the method was, as one wrote: "Wow never heard of this method before," as another called it a 'helpful suggestion'.

However, a third said: "Yeah I did this and the holes still there."

A different user pointed out: "Gentle exfoliation helps, try it regularly."

This steam and towel method might be worth a shot, after all.