There are hardly any people that have flawless skin. However, certain problems, such as blackheads, can become very annoying as they’re often very hard to get rid of. Also known as open comedones, blackheads are mostly excess sebum and dead skin cells trapped in an oil gland. The black color is caused by oxidation at the pore’s surface, thanks to contact with air and light.
The difference between a blackhead and a pimple is that the second one is a closed comedo, so there is no opening at the surface, which is why oxidation never takes place and the sebum trapped inside remains white. There are thousands of methods that promise a clear, blackhead-free complexion. Sadly, lots of them are useless, if not even dangerous and there’s no single blackhead treatment that can work for everyone. Nonetheless, we’ve selected a few easy and accessible ways that work well for many people and also might do the trick for you.
Skincare Routines for Blackhead-Prone Skin
Exfoliation
This practice has many benefits besides clearing your face of blackheads when done properly. Home-made exfoliators that are known to be valuable assistants in the battle against blackheads are simple pastes made from the following ingredients:
– Baking soda and water
– Sugar and lemon juice
– Salt and sour cream
After you’ve cleaned your face, the resulting paste should be applied to the problem areas using light circular motions for up to 5 minutes. Rinse with warm water and you’ve got a much better-looking skin. Just remember, exfoliation should only be done weekly. Overdoing it can damage your skin and cause rashes and even lesions.
Masks
The most effective masks against blackheads are the ones made of clay. You don’t need to buy ready-made clay masks; you can easily make your own. All you need is to combine cosmetic clay (any kind you want) with water until it forms a paste and apply it onto your clean face. The best time is after a shower/bath or after you’ve steamed your face. Clay is very efficient in absorbing excess oils from the skin and it will be even more efficient if your pores are open when you apply it. You can use a clay-based mask 1-2 times a week.
Other helpful skincare practices
Sadly, simply cleaning your face in the morning and evening will not make blackheads go away. But it does prevent them from looking worse or adding up.
There are also skin lotions, cleansers, and peel-off masks based on salicylic and glycolic acid, which are in fact chemical exfoliators. These are very good, especially for sensitive skin which doesn’t support mechanical exfoliation very well.
Last but not least, a method that many people use, and it’s certainly one of the most aggressive ones, is squeezing blackheads. There are rare cases when some individuals can make their blackheads come out very easily with just a light squeeze of affected areas. Unless you’re one of those rare cases, it’s best to try out other methods, which are safer for your skin.
