We’re all familiar with blackheads – those pesky dark bumps of oil that reside in our pores. Although they’re totally harmless, the general consensus about blackheads is that they must go. And for those of us who hate our blackheads with a burning passion, working on removing these baddies can turn us borderline obsessive.  

There are countless products aimed at eliminating them, from those pointy metal sticks with loops on the other end to the painful pore strips you apply on your nose. But most of these prove only partially effective. And while nothing beats a trip to the dermatologist, the steep price of a thorough facial keeps most folks from making it a regular exercise. 

There is one thing that’s been making a lot of noise lately among the blackhead-obsessed: blackhead remover vacuums. Yes, tiny vacuums that supposedly suck vacuums from your pores. They sound like a dream, but are they really effective? And more importantly, are they even safe? 

Before you get pulled into the enticing world of vacuum blackhead extraction, load up on all the necessary info here.

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A blackhead vacuum, also known as a pore vacuum, is a little hand-held electric machine that uses suction to unclog pores. Most of our pores are clogged with sebaceous filaments – that’s small greyish/brown/off-white gunk that’s made up of sebum and dead skin. These are totally normal and don’t really cause any skin problems. Sometimes, though, the oil and skin buildup oxidises and forms a black cap over the pore – kind of like a dark pimple. These are your targets: blackheads.

Now, blackheads are also pretty much harmless. But they are unsightly – especially if they’re on your face. Plus, they can be hard to remove. Pricking one could backfire, causing it to go even further into your skin and possibly leading to an infection. Blackhead extractors simply work to suck out all the sebum with a machine rather than manually. This makes the process faster, less painful, cleaner, and relatively stress-free compared to most other options.

Speaking to Well and Good , dermatologist Dr Joshua Zeichner says that vacuum blackhead removers are, for the most part, safe. “ Pore vacuums offer mild suction to help remove blackheads from the skin ”, he says. However, he also says that the mild suction might not be enough to remove deep-seated blackheads which only professionals will be able to get out.

Other specialists are wary though. Speaking to Metro , aesthetician Andy Milward says that using a vacuum sucker on the skin can damage pores, cause dryness, and even damage capillaries. When the latter happens, the skin becomes red, patchy, and sometimes even appears veiny!

Our recommendation? You can definitely give a blackhead sucker a try to see if it can effectively remove your blackheads. If yours are shallow enough, we’re guessing the remover will prove effective! Just remember not to leave it on for too long and to use it sparingly.

Overview: DermaSuction’s tagline? It “ sucks the yuck out of pores ”. This powerful but gentle machine comes with four heads – small for mild suction, large for stubborn spots, oval for corners and hard-to-reach areas, and sonic for exfoliation. While many reviews praise the product for its efficacy, users should still be careful of overusing it. Some have buyers have noted bruising and discolouration after use.

Overview: According to its site, the Yoii blackhead remover is said to have over “ 100 thousand natural mineral crystallite particles ” which help in the suction process to strip the skin of dirt. Similar to the Comedone Pro, the Yoii has six different functions which can either polish skin, extract blackheads, provide an ultrasonic massage and more.  

If you don’t know how to use a blackhead remover, the Yoii shouldn’t phase you. It’s simple and easy to use!

Overview: What’s great about the Comedown Vacuum Pro (also sold in some places as a Skin Vacuum Pro V2) is that it comes with four interchangeable heads – a diamond head that supposedly scrubs and exfoliates skin, a big circular hole head that removes blackheads, a smaller circular head that can strip away sebaceous filaments, and an oval hole head which is meant to improve skin elasticity.

Basically, a Comedone Pro is your personal facial machine!

Overview: This electric pore cleanser emits a mist spray that supposedly makes for a “gentle yet effective” suction of facial impurities. 

Last year, the Beauty Insider team took a video of themselves using another version of this product. While most of them seemed happy about the outcome, one girl did find that it left red marks on her face if she used it for too long.

Overview: If you’re on the fence about doling out a lot of money for a device like this, you can always try the Coofo. It costs only $AUD30 but has proven to be well-loved by buyers. It has 4 levels of suction power for sensitive skin, neutral skin, oily skin, and mixed skin, meaning you don’t have to worry about whether the product is suited to your skin type. It works for pretty much anyone!

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