When the hair follicle (pore) opens, a blackhead forms and gets plugged with dead skin cells and oil. This blockage causes a bump which is known as a comedo .When the comedo gets open, the clog becomes oxidized by the air then turns dark, and becomes a blackhead. If the comedo stays closed, it becomes a whitehead. Blackheads normally form on the face, but they can also seem on other parts of your body, including the thighs, armpits, and buttocks. Keep reading this article to know why blackheads can appear on your inner thighs and what the treatment to prevent them is.
Why do people have blackheads on their inner thighs?
Blackhead comes out on the inner thighs are often the result of a combination of:
- sweat
- oil
- dirt
- dead skin
Generating Friction and chafing from tight-fitting jeans and leggings can also be a reason of inner thigh blackheads.
Treatment and preventions of blackheads on the inner thighs
The initial steps to prevent and treat the blackheads include:
following proper hygiene, such as bathing or washing your skin regularly with low pH, or water-soluble liquid soap.
exfoliating your skin can also help to remove dead skin cells
wearing clean, washed and loose clothing
avoiding tight-fitting jeans or other clothing that rubs against your skin
Escaping fabrics that cause sweat, such as polyester and vinyl
A healthcare provider or a dermatologist can recommend an over-the-counter topical cream or gel that have either salicylic acid or retinoid for blackheads treatment. You can connect to a dermatologist in your area or find them online for the treatment of inner thigh blackheads.
Could it be hid adenitis supportive?
If you have blackheads on your inner thighs and buttocks, then there is possibility of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS).
HS is a skin illness that tends to affect those areas where your skin rubs together, including:
- Inner thighs
- Buttocks
- Armpits
symptoms of Hidradenitis suppurativa
HS normally presents in those areas of your body where your skin rubs together. following are the Symptoms of HS that include:
Blackheads: These are the small bumps that often appear in pairs and small pitted areas of your skin. Small, painful lumps: These lumps have often the size of a pea and they appear in areas with hair oil glands, follicles, and sweat, and also in those areas where skin rubs together.
Tunnels: If you are experiencing HS for an extended period, areas that connect the lumps may form under the skin. These have a tendency to heal slowly and can leak pus.
Treatment of Hidradenitis suppurativa
There is presently no definitive cure for HS. Contact your healthcare provider or a dermatologist and they will determine a course of treatment that may have both medication and surgery.
HS Medication
If you have HS, the following medications will be used to treat HS:
Antibiotic creams: such as gentamicin (Gentak) and clindamycin (Cleocin)
Oral antibiotics: such as clindamycin, doxycycline (Doryx), and rifampin (Rifadin)
Tumor necrosis inhibitor (TNF) blockers: such as adalimumab (Humira)
HS Surgery
In some cases, your healthcare provider may suggest you a surgical procedure. HS Surgery can include:
Unroofing: a procedure in which the skin is cut away to depict the tunnels.
Limited unroofing: In this procedure, also known as punch debridement, this is used to remove a single nodule.
Electrosurgery: During this treatment, damaged tissues are removed.
Laser therapy: This treatment is often done for treating and removing skin lesions.
Surgical removal: With this treatment, all affected skin will be removed. In many cases, this is often replaced with a skin graft.
HS Takeaway
Normally you can see blackheads on your face more often, this is not uncommon for them to appear somewhere else on your body, including your buttocks, inner thighs, and armpits.
Treating and preventing of blackheads on the inner thighs and other areas are same. Both of them focus on:
- Washing regularly
- exfoliating your skin
- Wearing clean clothing
escaping tight-fitting clothing and fabrics that cause perspiration
Blackheads on your buttocks and inner thighs can be considered as a sign of hidradenitis suppurativa. If you face other symptoms, such as painful, pea-sized lumps or tunnels beneath that the skin connecting these lumps, contact your healthcare provider or a dermatologist to diagnose and treat it according to the plan.