Blackheads can be incredibly frustrating. They can form anywhere, on the nose, chin, back and even the legs! But where do blackheads come from and how to get rid of them?
The occurrence of blackheads is due to excess sebum in the pores of the skin. This excess prevents the sebum from rising to the surface of the skin and causes an excess of pores. They are also called "closed comedones ". The dead cells that have then accumulated on the skin and in the pores clog the opening of the hair follicle. Unlike whiteheads which have a completely closed surface, blackheads have a small opening that allows air to enter and that is exactly what makes it look black!
Here are 12 tips to follow to prevent and eliminate your blackheads easily.
It may seem logical, but it's always good to remember that a clean face is a face that you clean twice a day. This routine effectively helps prevent the formation of blackheads.
It is also very important to remove makeup before washing your face. Make-up clogs the pores, so it is very important to remove it every night with make-up remover wipes or using a cleanser.
Afterward, apply a mild moisturizer to your face to prevent your skin from producing too much oil, which causes blackheads.
The first thing to do is of course to clean your face regularly. But be careful with the products used! Choose a mild water-soluble cleanser (which therefore dissolves in water) on a clean, soft wipe/cotton/washcloth.
With your cleanser, gently exfoliate the surface of the skin, then rinse thoroughly with clear water!
Where possible, wipe your face by patting lightly with a tissue without irritating your skin by rubbing it with a towel.
What type of cleanser should I choose to prevent blackheads?
Unfortunately, while we think we are doing the right thing for our skin, we tend to apply all kinds of miracle products supposed to keep us young as long as possible. Sometimes, however, the composition of the products we use is much too aggressive for our skin and the application of these products does us more harm than good! Hence the importance of choosing the right products that you use.
If the composition of the chosen product is wrong, it will only encourage the production of sebum and bring you even more blackheads or other skin problems.
This may surprise you, but try not to use soap. This is because the ingredients used to give soap its solid form can clog your pores, irritate and dehydrate the skin.
Just as we have seen for cleansers, you also have to choose your scrubs carefully.
Avoid ultra-abrasive exfoliants.
If you have sensitive skin, using harsh exfoliators may just irritate it and make your blackheads worse. If you are irritated by a product, stop using it and switch to a milder cleanser. Try using a gentle or oatmeal-based exfoliator which will be perfect for your skin.
Even if you don't grind your blackheads, the simple act of touching your face transfers bacteria from your hands to your face. Hands are the dirtiest part of your body and are often the cause of many cases of blackheads. Avoid resting your face on your hands or touching your skin unnecessarily.
Veritable nests for germs, pillowcases retain dead skin cells and excess oil from your face when you sleep on them at night. The ideal is to wash them at least once a week. This will remove dirt buildup on the fabric.
This is a question we often ask ourselves! Should you squeeze your blackheads?
You certainly already know this without being able to help yourself, but you should not hurry the black dots alone. Why? Because when we perform this gesture with our fingers, we risk infecting the skin because of the germs on our hands and this could aggravate the blackhead by transforming it into a cyst!
As we know that you are naughty and that there are bound to be times when you cannot resist the temptation, here are some tips to follow if you are at fault:
First very important thing before performing this gesture:wash your hands. Then take a shower or apply a warm mitt to dilate the pores of the skin. You can also do a steam bath for about ten minutes to obtain the same result. Wash your skin, apply an astringent like rose water for example and take a cotton ball or a handkerchief to press your skin. Be careful, if your blackhead does not come out, do not insist! it will attack your skin.
You have certainly heard about them lately, they are everywhere on the net and on social networks:blackhead vacuum cleaners . These are small blackhead vacuums, there are hundreds of different models.
According to dermatologists, this tool is a very good accessory for sucking out blackheads. However, he strongly recommends being careful not to use it too regularly. Why? Because if you do it too regularly, by dint of being emptied, the pore will expand and fill up again. The risk is to end up with kinds of small holes on the skin at the level of the extraction zone.
And above all, before use, do not forget to first dilate its pores by taking a shower or applying a warm glove to your face.
There are patches to stick on the T area (forehead, nose, chin) which allow you to partially extract your blackheads. Once applied, we then wait about ten minutes for the patch to dry, then we take it off (often with a certain pleasure) to see our unsightly blackheads hanging on it.
Dermatologists will tell you that like blackhead vacuums, patches can have some short-term, one-time effectiveness, but they are not a basic solution for treat a real skin concern.
Another downside is that the rates are generally expensive.
If you have many blackheads, there is still the solution of the dermatologist who can carry out a complete and deep cleansing of your skin. This solution can be effective if you have not succeeded in limiting the appearance of new blackheads yourself or if you cannot get rid of them.
Use honey and cinnamon or, failing that, brown sugar. Honey is a natural antibiotic that works to remove dirt from your open pores. Mix a tablespoon of honey with ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon and use your fingers to apply it to your dry skin. Rub in circular motions for three minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water. Be sure to wash your hands before you start applying the mask.
Try an egg white mask. Egg white helps tighten pores and remove clogged dirt, giving you smooth, clear skin. A simple egg white mask is a great way to get rid of blackheads and help your skin feel fresh and clean.
