Black Heads & Clogged Pores

Clogging of skin pores is the root cause of skin problems like Blackheads and Acne. Blackheads also referred to as open comedones. These are filled with sebum, grime and dead skin which get oxidized and turn into a black mass. On the other hand, Clogged Pores are the pores on your skin which get blocked and take the shape of pimples or cysts.

A desirable trait for beautiful skin is clear poreless skin. Not all people are blessed with this type of skin but they can diligently practice the daily skincare regime to improve the appearance of their skin. Most skin problems arise when it does not get the care it needs.

WHAT CAUSES BLACKHEADS?

Clogged Pores are directly responsible for the formation of blackheads. Each skin pore or follicle contains a hair and a gland that makes sebum, which helps maintain softness in your skin. Excess sebum, dead skin cells, keratin, and dirt cause clogging of skin pores. Unlike acne, the clogged pores that turn into blackheads are open from the outside and remain in contact with air. This causes the grime inside the pore to oxidize and turn into blackheads.

How to Identify Blackheads?

Blackheads are easy to detect as they are tiny plugs of black mass on the skin pores. These are painless and appear on the oily regions on your face like around your nose, chin, forehead, upper arms, back, and thighs. The removal is necessary as they lead to the enlargement of skin pores.

Since blackheads are very tiny, you may be able to see them on close inspection of your skin. Many people are unaware of this condition. You must examine your skin to know whether you have blackheads or not so you can get rid of them at the earliest.

Prevention Tips for Blackheads and Clogged Pores at Home:

There are various methods which you can use at home to prevent any lasting damage caused by clogged pores and blackheads. Here are some tips you should follow to prevent blackheads.

1. Cleansing Regular

Skin cleansing is important to get rid of dirt and grime from skin pores. It eliminates the possibility of clogging of skin pores. Invest in a good quality face wash and cleanser that maintains the ph balance of the skin. Use it twice a day to remove grime.  Remove your makeup with a makeup remover before going to bed to prevent it from accumulating inside skin pores.

2. Moisturizing

Moisturizing is vital to keep the skin supple and elastic. It prevents bacteria from reaching the inner layers of the skin. If you miss this step, the sebaceous glands become overactive and start releasing more sebum. This leads to a collection of grime and residues inside the skin pores. To prevent this use a non-oily moisturizer to maintain skin moisture.

3. Toning

Toning is crucial to prevent skin pores from attracting dirt or other residues. Dab a toner all over your face paying special attention to oil-prone areas like forehead, nose, and chin to close the pores.

4. Exfoliation

Our skin sheds dead skin cells continuously which get mixed with sebum. This mixture is more likely to reside in the open skin pores. Exfoliate once or twice a week to prevent the dead skin tissue as they start collecting in skin pores. You can make your own face scrubs from natural ingredients like oats, gram flour, walnut powder or baking soda to exfoliate your skin.

How to get rid of Blackheads and Clogged Pores?

Here is the list of treatment options for blackheads and clogged pores :

Face scrubs: Using face scrubs and masks made from natural ingredients can help resolve the problem of blackheads or clogged pores.

Steam: Steaming your face is a good way to open clogged pores. It makes it easier to draw out the grime inside the pores using a blackhead removal tool.

Pore Strips: You can use blackhead removal strips available in stores to get rid instantly. You can even make your own pore strips from gelatin or egg white to remove these from your face.

Salicylic Acid: when it becomes difficult to remove them using home procedures you can use salicylic acid-based ointments or masks to remove blackheads. This agent gently removes toughened grime from skin pores by dissolving it.