Problem: Article: Extracting blackheads at home can cause irritation, infection, scarring, and discoloration of the skin if you don't do it correctly. For this reason, it may be a good idea for you to see a dermatologist or an esthetician to have stubborn blackheads professionally extracted. In addition to extractions, skin care professionals can also provide services such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels, which can reduce the appearance of blackheads. Some people have skin that is naturally more prone to inflammation and scarring. If this is the case for you, it is even more important that you do not attempt to manually extract blackheads by yourself. If you choose to attempt extraction at home, no matter which method you choose, you will need to prepare your skin properly for the best results. You will want to make sure that your skin is clean and your pores are opened. Always wash your face thoroughly before attempting any kind of blackhead extraction. Make sure any makeup is completely removed from your skin. Use steam to open your pores. You can do this by applying a warm, wet washcloth to your face for several minutes, by placing your face over a vessel of hot water and covering your head with a towel to prevent the steam from escaping, or by taking a hot shower. If you plan on doing this often, you may want to purchase a facial steamer. Whichever method you choose, be very careful not to burn yourself! Once you have properly prepared your skin, you can attempt to extract a blackhead from your forehead by applying pressure with your fingers. The key to this technique is to be gentle. If you use excessive force when attempting to extract a blackhead, you may cause your skin to become inflamed, and you may even end up with a permanent scar, though this is rare. When using this method, apply pressure from opposite sides of the blackhead using your two index fingers. If your first attempt is unsuccessful, try moving your fingers to another position. Make sure your fingers are not touching the blackhead. You want to apply pressure around the blackhead, not on top of it. Wrap your fingers with a tissue to protect your skin. It is very important to not use your fingernails to extract a blackhead, as this can damage your skin and introduce bacteria into the pore. If the blackhead does not come out after two attempts using gentle pressure, it's time to give up. If you really want to extract that stubborn blackhead, it's best to see a skin care professional. You should also stop your attempt if your skin becomes red at all. This is a small metal tool with a loop at the end that can be used to extract blackheads from your skin. Comedone extractors can be purchased at most beauty stores or pharmacies. These tools must be used with extreme caution in order to prevent scarring. If your tool comes with directions, follow them precisely, or ask your dermatologist to show you how to use it properly. Before using the comedone extractor tool, make sure it is sterilized. A good way to do this is to place it in boiling water for five minutes. Make sure to let it cool down before using it. Position the loophole of the comedone extractor carefully around your blackhead. Apply gentle pressure to one side of the comedone extractor at a time. If the blackhead does not come loose, do not use excessive force. Instead, try again in a few days or see a skin care professional for a professional extraction. Some comedone extractors have a lancet on one end, which is used by professionals to puncture the skin in order to remove whiteheads. This part of the tool is not necessary for the removal of blackheads because they are not covered by a layer of skin. Furthermore, it is extremely easy to damage your skin with this tool, so it is best to leave it to the professionals. These strips are widely available at beauty stores and pharmacies, and are made by a variety of manufacturers. They work by pulling the oil and bacteria from the pores in your forehead when you peel the adhesive strips away from your skin. They are much less likely to cause damage to your skin than other extraction methods, but they are also less likely to remove the entire blackhead, so they may not be a good long-term solution to your blackheads. Be sure to dampen your face before applying the strip. This allows it to fully adhere. Make sure to read the directions on the package and leave the strip on your skin for the specified amount of time in order to achieve the best possible results. After you have finished extracting blackheads from your forehead, it is important to clean your skin using an antibacterial cream or toner. This will help prevent infection and, hopefully, the recurrence of the blackheads. If these products are too harsh for your skin, you can also try apply tea tree oil after an extraction. While skin care products that contain acids are generally recommended to help prevent blackheads, it is best to avoid these products for 24 hours after you manually extract a blackhead.
Summary: Consider seeing a professional. Prepare your skin for extraction. Use your fingers. Use a comedone extractor tool. Use blackhead removal strips. Treat your skin after extraction.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication can be used to treat swelling around the nose that can result in a nose ring bump. This usually works for bumps and swelling caused by trauma such as a piercing. Try taking something like ibuprofen while symptoms persist. Make sure to check with a doctor or pharmacist if you're on any prescription medication. You want to make sure over-the-counter meds will not interfere poorly with your existing medication. Your piercer should have given you sea salt solution after you had your piercing done. If you do not have saline solution from your piercer, you can make it by mixing a cup of warm water with an eighth a teaspoon of salt. Soak your piercing regularly to reduce swelling and get rid of a nose ring bump. Place the sea salt in a cup of water. Move your head sideways and dip the pierced half of your nose into the solution. Leave your nose in the water for about 15 to 20 minutes. You can also dab a cotton ball in sea salt and apply it to your nose ring bump for 15 to 20 minutes, as this may be more comfortable. You can buy cortisone cream at most drug stores. It can help decrease swelling that results in a nose ring bump. You can apply the cream to the area surrounding your nose ring to reduce swelling. Make sure to read the instructions on the cream you choose to make sure you apply it properly.
Summary:
Use anti-inflammatory medication. Do regular sea salt soaks. Try cortisone cream.