How to get rid of blackhead
Blackheads are a very common problem. Almost all people with oily or combination skin get blackheads and normal skins may get them too.
You can’t get rid of blackheads for ever. You can take preventive measures, treat them, get rid of them when they appear, reduce their number…let’s say you can win battles but you’ll never win the war. This means that there’s no miracle product that will eradicate them entirely. No cream, no lotion, no serum, no cleanser can promise you that. However, all these products can all help in their own way.
So all the solutions I’m going to give you are temporary. This means that you should practice all these methods regularly and for the long term.
Blackheads are caused in the same way as acne. Normally, pores can expel sebum but when there is a surplus, or pores are blocked by some elements such as dead skin or makeup for example, you can get a blackhead. As the pore is blocked and the sebum accumulates, part of it oxidises on contact with the air and becomes black. Often there are more blackheads around the T-zone, (forehead, nose, and chin) because this area is oilier than the rest of the face and the pores are often larger. We can therefore deduce that a well-cleansed and exfoliated skin will have fewer blackheads. Here are 4 essential steps for cleansing the skin.
1) Remove your makeup every night
Makeup can block pores: that’s why it’s essential to take it off each night and never to go to bed without doing that. During the night, the skin regenerates and has to be able to breathe. Choose the right cleanser for your skin type (by asking a professional).
2) Cleanse your skin every morning
During the night, dirt and residue can accumulate on the skin. In the morning, before applying moisturizer and makeup, it’s important to cleanse your skin with a product adapted to your skin type. If you are really in a hurry, you could wipe your face with a cotton pad soaked in tonic. If you don’t cleanse your skin in the morning, you’ll trap dirt and oil between layers and block pores.
3) Exfoliate 2 or 3 times a week
An exfoliant, with its little beads, gets rid of dead skin which can block pores whereas a regular cleanser can’t. Try to find an exfoliant that has round beads so that they don’t irritate your skin. There are also some daily exfoliants that can replace a cleanser. They’re gentler than a regular exfoliant and are a useful weapon in the war on blackheads. If you have sensitive skin, only exfoliate once a week and avoid red areas so that you don’t accentuate the problem. Whatever your skin type, you should massage your skin GENTLY and never scrub vigorously: you could irritate your skin and produce more sebum…
4) Apply toner again and again
After each cleansing, (morning and night), finish with a toner. Toner is essential if you’re aiming to get rid of blackheads because it eliminates residue left by cleansers and makeup removers. To know more about the advantages of a toner, consult my article: Why do you need toner?
Further advice
1) Consult a beautician once a month or every 2 months for a facial. You’ll get a deeper cleansing than you would at home and some beauticians can remove your blackheads manually. But be careful, the extraction must be done gently so as not to damage the skin and cause redness, swelling, permanently dilated pores or disfiguring scars. You have to choose a good beautician. But don’t try to extract blackheads yourself. You could cause your skin serious harm.
2) Avoid rich moisturizers which will make your skin oilier and block your pores. Choose a moisturizer adapted to your skin type such as a milk, lotion or gel.
3) Many products contain chemical exfoliating agents such as AHA (fruit acids), salicylic or glycolic acid, which are very effective in exfoliating the skin. Salicylic acid possesses other properties such as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial or astringent effect. On the other hand, these 3 ingredients should be avoided if you have sensitive skin because they can be irritating. In general, they’re good for oily or combination skins.
4) When choosing makeup, the same applies: you should select an oil-free product which will not make the situation worse. Some concealing products contain salicylic acid; they are an excellent choice.
Ready to go to war?