Resist the urge to squeeze ’em.

If you’ve ever used a pore strip or a peel-off mask, you’ve probably been equal parts amazed and totally grossed out by the teeny-tiny specks of gunk that came out of your pores.

That gunk comes from blackheads, a type of blemish that happens when sebum and dead skin cells clog up an open pore. (When that stuff gets trapped below the surface of your skin, it forms a whitehead instead.)

Blackheads may look like they’re filled with dirt, but they’re not. Sebum — which, btw, is just a fancy word for the oil your skin produces — contains melanin, the pigment that gives your skin and hair their color. When that hits the air, it oxidizes, which gives blackheads their dark appearance.

Blackheads aren’t the worst thing in the world — they usually aren’t inflamed like a bright red zit, and they can be hard to see unless you’re thisclose to a mirror. But we know they can still be annoying to deal with, so here are a few tips for banishing them.

Keep your skin clean.

“The best way to prevent blackheads is by washing regularly with a gentle cleanser,” says Ayelet Mizrachi-Jonisch, MD, a dermatologist at CareMount Medical in NY. Choose an oil-free, non-comedogenic cleanser to rinse away oils and dead skin cells, so they don’t build up in your pores in the first place. Make sure you shampoo on the regs, too, since oils and products from your hair can also clog your pores.

Don’t squeeze, pick, or pop a blackhead.

We know it’s hard to resist popping a pimple, but you really should have a strict hands-off policy. “Trying to ‘pop out’ a blackhead, if done incorrectly, can lead to infection and or leave a permanent scar,” says Jeffrey P. Schachne, a dermatologist at CareMount Medical in NY.

Oh, and those pore strips? While they’re weirdly satisfying to use, they’re really not the best way to treat blackheads — ripping them off can irritate sensitive skin.

Your derm can “pop” them for you.

You’ve probably noticed a tool in the beauty aisle called a comedone extractor, which looks like a teensy metal spoon for “scooping” the gunk out of your pores. But just like picking with your fingernails, this can damage your skin if you’re not super-careful. If you have a really stubborn blackhead, you’re better off calling your dermatologist and letting her do the dirty work rather than trying to DIY.

Treat blackhead-prone areas with salicylic acid.

“Using a salicylic acid cleanser, available over the counter, will help to unclog the pores,” Dr. Schachne says. Salicylic acid works by exfoliating your skin and clearing away dead cells. But using it obsessively won’t make your blackheads disappear faster — it’ll just dry out your skin. Once a day — or even every other day — is usually enough to see results without causing irritation.

When all else fails, ask your derm for an Rx.

Don’t panic if your blackheads still won’t budge — your dermatologist can recommend a prescription-strength med that’ll do the trick. “From topical medications to oral medications to laser devices, there are many options to treat your acne,” Dr. Mizrachi-Jonisch says. “The best way to start is by seeing your dermatologist.” She can help you figure out which treatment will work best for your skin.

Written by Kara Wahlgren, seventeen.com