A blackhead is a tiny, dark spot that forms when a pore in your skin gets clogged. Pores are the small openings in your skin, and they can fill up with oil, dead skin cells, and dirt. When this mixture gets exposed to air, it turns dark or black, creating what looks like a little black dot on your skin, most commonly on your nose, forehead, or chin.

Blackheads are a type of acne, and they're extremely common, especially as kids get older and their skin produces more oil. The black color isn't actually dirt (washing harder won't make them disappear), but rather a chemical reaction that happens when the clog meets oxygen in the air.

Many people try to squeeze blackheads out, but this can irritate the skin or cause scarring. Dermatologists (doctors who specialize in skin) recommend gentle cleansing and sometimes special products to help prevent them. While blackheads might feel annoying or embarrassing, nearly everyone gets them at some point. They're a normal part of how skin works as you grow.