Blackheads may have gotten cutesy rebrands over the years—”strawberry nose,” for example—but they’re anything but charming, prompting leagues of skin-care shoppers to seek out the best blackhead removers. Unfortunately, blackheads can be quite stubborn spots to treat: Though they look like little specks of dirt, they’re actually blemishes. “Blackheads are a form of acne that causes small, dark bumps,

most commonly on the nose, neck, and chin,” says Dr. Sean Alemi, double-board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in New York, NY. Like whiteheads, blackheads are caused by a blend of dead skin cells and excess sebum trapped within the pore, but the pore remains open, allowing you to see the gunk inside.

That’s also what gives blackheads their characteristic appearance, says Dr. Connie Yang, board-certified dermatologist at PFRANKMD by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank in New York, NY. “When this mixture becomes exposed to oxygen, it oxidizes and turns dark in color,” she explains. Blackheads can be caused by myriad factors, including pore-clogging beauty products, excess oil production, and genetics.