We all know a blackhead when we see one--it's that dark spot stubbornly stuck inside an enlarged pore. Although a blackhead looks like a large speck of black dirt, it has nothing to do with your skin being dirty.
Blackheads result primarily from the following:
◕ Hormones cause excess oil to be produced inside the pore, which prevents it from flowing naturally to the surface.
◕ The excess flow means that oil gets backed up, and then it mixes with built-up dead skin cells that cannot be shed normally.
◕ When this combination of too much oil and dead skin cells is exposed to air, it oxidizes and turns black.
What Can You Do to Get Rid of Blackheads?
To start getting rid of blackheads, you need products that can do all of the following:
◕ Restore a normal flow of oil out of your pore by improving the shape of the pore lining
◕ Reduce and absorb excess oil
◕ Remove dead, built-up surface skin cells that aren't shedding normally.
Sadly, lots of products, no matter what they claim, just aren't capable of doing any of the above, mainly because the ingredients they contain actually make matters worse!
I've Tried Everything! Why Won't My Blackheads Go Away?
Blackheads tend to be stubborn no matter what you do. Often, however, the problem persists or becomes worse because of the skin-care routine you are using. Here's what you may doing wrong:
◕ Shockingly, lots of products claimed to address blackheads contain irritants--alcohol, peppermint, menthol, lemon, lime, eucalyptus--that actually increase oil production and make matters worse!
◕ Irritation of any kind stimulates nerve endings in the skin that lead to the release of hormones that cause oil production, leading to more blackheads!
◕ You can't scrub blackheads away. Blackheads are too deep in the pore to be removed by surface scrubbing, and the irritation of the scrubbing can cause more oil production.
◕ Blackheads cannot be pulled out of the pore by using pore strips. Pore strips remove only the very surface part of a blackhead, so you'll see it again soon.
◕ Microdermabrasion cannot reach the root of the problem, so any benefit you see from this procedure is only temporary.
◕ Bar soap is a problem for fighting blackheads because the very ingredients that keep bar cleansers in their bar form can clog your pores. Your skin might feel squeaky clean with bar cleansers, but that feeling is drying and irritating, and that won't help any blemish on your face.
How Can I Get Rid of My Blackheads?
The secret to solving any persistent skin problem is to use the right products and use them consistently. Here's what you can do to reduce and maybe even eliminate your blackheads:
◕ Use a gentle, water-soluble cleanser and a gentle washcloth to add a bit of manual exfoliation, but don't overdo it. No irritating or drying cleansers should ever touch your face.
◕ Avoid overly emollient or greasy moisturizers in blackhead-prone areas. As much as possible, use only gel, light fluid lotion, or liquid skin-care products because most of the ingredients that give lotions and creams their thick consistency can clog pores.
◕ Use a well-formulated, leave-on salicylic acid–based exfoliant (also called BHA) that contains absolutely no irritants! Unfortunately, there are very few products available that hit this mark.
◕ Absorb excess oil. Those with oily skin will benefit from irritant-free clay masks and oil-blotting papers.
Can I Remove Blackheads Myself?
Extremely stubborn blackheads can be removed, but only by gently squeezing them out of the pore. Using a comedone extractor and light-handed squeezing can help a great deal.
Follow these steps for gentle, at-home blackhead extraction:
◕ Wash your face with a gentle, water-soluble cleanser and follow with a well-formulated toner containing niacinamide to improve the shape of the pore.
◕ Place a slightly warm (not hot), wet washcloth for about 2 to 3 minutes over the area you want to squeeze, and then pat the area dry.
◕ Use a comedone extractor. First, center it over the blackhead and then gently press down and pull forward at the same time.
◕ Next, to get more of the blackhead out, use a tissue over each finger (to prevent slipping and accidentally tearing your skin) and then apply even, soft pressure to the sides of the blackhead area, gently pressing down and then up around the affected pore.
◕ Repeat this process only once. If nothing happens, it means that the blackhead cannot be removed with this first treatment, and continuing will most likely cause a wound and scabbing. You can try again in a few days..
◕ Follow up with a well-formulated BHA (salicylic acid) exfoliant.
Remember: Never pinch, scrape, poke, press, or squeeze too hard!
Source: Beautypedia
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