Blackheads is one of the frustrating types of breakouts as they are very difficult to treat. However, knowing what blackheads are and what type of skincare can treat them, will be helpful in improving and eliminating blackheads for healthy skin.
It is generally believed that blackheads are caused due to poor hygiene or dirty skin. But, Dr. Harold Lancer says that blackheads are caused as a result of clogging of skin pores due to sebum, an oily substance secreted by our skin. When sebum is exposed to air, it oxidizes and turns black, resulting in a blackhead. To get rid of blackheads, it is necessary to unclog the clogged skin pores, just removing the black oxidized part will net help.
Unlike pimples, blackheads are not caused due to bacterial infection. So, they cannot be cured by topical treatments that are mostly used to disinfect skin, like sulfur or benzoyl peroxide. Fortunately, Dr. Lancer has suggested some ways to treat blackheads to improve the health and look of your skin.
Three-Step Approach to Remove Blackheads
Well, Dr. Harold Lancer has come with a “3-Step approach” to treat blackheads to improve the look of your skin:
1. Exfoliate Your Skin
Make sure you are not irritating or over drying your skin in order to get rid of these notorious blackheads. Blackheads are penetrated deep inside your skin which cannot come out easily just by scrubbing the surface of the skin. The exfoliation should be gentle and that is the reason an exfoliant is required. The exfoliant should be more like a polish rather than a scrubber which can act gently on your skin. This method makes use of pumpkin and pomegranate enzymes as wells as uniform quartz and crystals of sodium bicarbonate to remove dead cells of skin. The salicylic acid and lilac stem cell compound work beneath the skin surface to keep it free from oil and dead skin.
2. Use a Cleanser
Once you have polished your skin to remove dead skin and excess oil, you can use a gentle cleanser to keep the pores clean. Avoid anything that is overly creamy as it can lead to clogging of the pores. Use a gel cleanser with exfoliants like salicylic acid and tree tea oil. It helps to remove dead skin cells and excess oil from the pores of the skin. The skincare products with Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) exfoliants like salicylic acid, mostly found in the cleanser are effective for treating blackheads. They help to minimize pores and remove excess skin oil and dead cells that causes blackheads.
3. Apply Moisturizer
After these two methods, all you need is a moisturizer, that will provide your skin with further moisture without further clogging your pores. Seek for a gel or a light moisturizer as these do not include creamy emollients that can clog your skin pores. Not only this, grape polyphenol õ-viniferin, an antioxidant ,helps the skin to fight against impurities along with anti-aging benefits.
The regular use of these products will help you to exfoliate your skin, making pores clear. Other alternatives like charcoal mask and oil-blotting papers to absorb excess oil can also be used to prevent clogging of the pores. However, if these treatments do not work out, you can consider a dermatologist to seek additional treatments.
Other Treatments to Get Rid of Blackheads
If these treatment is not sufficient, you can go for a treatment which includes glycolic acid, an Alpha Hydroxy Acid, for more effective exfoliation. It includes 10% glycolic acid to polishes dead skin cells to reveal fresher skin. This treatment enhances the presence of pores and color of the skin.
More willingly, you can seek advice from a dermatologist for blackhead treatment. Do not try to remove blackheads yourself, as it may lead to irritation or hyperpigmentation. A dermatologist can identify the most suited method to extract them. You might get confused to identify a blackhead with a sebaceous filament and if you try to pull it out, it could lead to a mild infection.
Once you get rid of your blackheads, you will try to do everything to make sure they don’t return. By taking proper care of blackheads with the above approach you can maintain clear pores. Try to be consistent with your skincare and avoid overdoing anything, like excess cleaning, exfoliating, and moisturizing. All these factors can contribute to enhance oil production and clogged pores. Drink enough water to maintain hydrated skin.
Avoid oil-based makeup products that may clog your pores. Try to avoid using oily hair products and sunscreens that may cause irritation or leave a greasy film on your skin. Finally, try to avoid taking stress, which can lead to hormonal imbalances and ultimately increased oil.
Blackheads can be exceptionally stubborn and hard to eliminate, but with proper care and treatment, you can eliminate clogged pores to have clear and radiant skin.
