In your pursuit to get clear skin you might have faced the frustration or awkwardness of dealing with blackheads. For many this can be a situation limited to during or just after puberty and for other people it may be a continuous battle, well into their adulthood. Whichever your circumstance, you’ve arrived at the right spot. In this article I’ll be covering what can cause and how to get rid of blackheads.
Before I describe how to get rid of blackheads I’ll explain the skin issue and where it comes from.
Exactly what is a blackhead?
A blackhead is acne which shows up as a dark colored spot or lump caused by the blocking of the skin’s sebaceous glands. This blocking develops as a result of excessive oils and dead skin cells gathering within the glands opening. When this build-up develops bacteria will move in and create the redness in the pores which is sometimes seen. Due to the open nature of the glands ducts the oil, skin cells, and accumulation of bacteria comes into contact with air. Due to that exposure the buildup oxidizes causing the dark spot found on the skin. Blackheads are described by their dark colored or brown tone and they are most commonly located on sections of the head, face, and back.
Acne Fact: In medical terminology a blackhead is referred to as an open comedo, which makes sense if you understand how it is actually created. This information is helpful when determining how to get rid of blackheads.
What are the causes of blackheads?
Ahead of figuring out how to get rid of blackheads we ought to first know a few standard causes of blackheads, to help identify your particular technique towards getting clear skin.
Hormones: Human hormones play a tremendous role in the changes your body sees over time. A surge in the amount of your skin’s hormones can result in excess production of oil from the sebaceous gland. This excess oil builds within the pores, accumulating dead skin cells, creating the blockages and bacterial build up previously mentioned. This is why blackheads are quite frequent in times of elevated hormone levels such as puberty.
External products: These sorts of products are makeup, foundations, sun screen, moisturizers, etc. Excessive use or layering of these products could potentially cause blackheads by quickening the process of blocked pores, creating build up.
Excessive Sweating: Increased sweating, particularly when paired with external skin products could be a part of what causes blackheads. The perspiration can add to the build up and obstruction of skin pores.
Medication: Medicine that raises amounts of testosterone or estrogen can bring about the development of blackheads. This relates to the rise of hormones as mentioned above.
Misconceptions:
1. Certain varieties of food and stress can result in blackheads. It has been claimed that there has been no association found between stress or foods which you consume (even greasy food) and the source of blackheads.
2. Blackheads are the result of poor personal hygiene. In fact, quite frequently, products used to try and achieve clear skin can contribute to what causes blackheads.
How to get rid of blackheads
Frequent Cleansing: Consistent washing two times a day using the correct type of products may be the most effective way to get rid of blackheads and achieve clear skin. Stay away from overly drying or irritating skin cleansers and make certain cleansers are water soluble in order to not leave residue on your face that can obstruct pores.
Exfoliating: Exfoliating is a process by which you can slough off old dead skin cells on the outermost layer of your skin. A lot of exfoliates consist of tiny beads mixed into cleansing soap for their abrasive functions. When scrubbed over skin the dead skin cells are removed which makes them less likely to clog pores. The same result can be attained by scrubbing with soap and a wash cloth. Exfoliating should be only done twice a week at most as to not irritate the skin.
Salicylic acid based exfoliates are also extremely popular for the treatment of blackheads. This is a beta hydroxy acid that has been proven effective in clearing oil clogged pores and hair follicles. It is comparable to what dermatologists use for face peels but it is obtainable in a less potent form mixed into products designed for everyday use.
Face Steaming: A terrific way to get rid of blackheads is facial steaming. For this procedure you’ll fill a sizable pan with water and boil it. Once the water is boiling cautiously move the pot on to a high temperature proof surface. Next, take a towel and drape it over your head as well as the pot, ensuring no water vapor can escape. Hold your face above the water letting it to soak in the steam. Make sure never to get close enough to burn yourself, just close enough to soak up the steam.
Once you’re finished your pores will have opened up enough to allow the blackhead to get gently squeezed out.
Squeezing: Squeezing out a blackhead is a method which should only be done once you’ve loosened it with steam and you should disinfect the area directly after. Whenever squeezing, be sure to work from underneath the blackhead in order to draw it out from the skin. Don’t make use of your finger nails because this can lead to breaking the skin and creating sores. One handy tip is to wrap the ends of your fingertips with tissue. Another method that may be used is a comedone extractor. This is a metal tool with a circle on one side that you simply press down around the blackhead driving it out, comparable to squeezing.
Face and Nasal Strips: These kinds of strips are a helpful remedy for how to get rid of blackheads on the nose or certain other parts of the face. The approach is quite easy; moisten the strip and put it on the spot with blackhead problems. After the strip has had time to dry out and harden you peel it off and the blackheads are ripped out of the pores leaving clear skin behind.
In Conclusion
There are a lot of methods that can be used to get rid of blackheads. You will have the best success by finding a method that works for you personally and then staying consistent with the treatment. This consistency is key towards overcoming blackheads.
