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Causes of clogged pores on the face
Pores on the face are present in owners of all skin types, including normal and dry. Enlarged pores is an aesthetic problem, predominantly characteristic of combination and oily skin, in which the openings of the excretory ducts of the sebaceous glands become wider than normal and thicken. It is against the background of oily and combination skin that their clogging most often occurs and, as a result, rashes appear.
This happens due to excessive production of sebum, which mixes with external impurities and keratinized skin particles, creating a sebum plug. It clogs enlarged pores, the mouths of hair follicles and sebaceous ducts, and open and closed comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) appear on the face. Also, the sebaceous plug creates an ideal airless environment for the reproduction of acne bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes), which provoke inflammation.
Consider the main causes of clogged pores on the face:
- Insufficient or improper care. A regular oily skin care routine includes the following essential steps: cleansing in the morning and evening, deep cleansing 1-2 times a week, toning, moisturizing, narrowing pores and preventing breakouts. Choose non-comedogenic skin care products based on your skin type and needs.
- Incorrectly selected decorative cosmetics. Often pores become clogged due to the use of thick, oily foundation formulas or correctors. When choosing decorative cosmetics, it is also recommended to pay attention to the composition. It is important to exclude the presence of fats or oils, silicones, parabens and preservatives in it, which can clog pores. Look for the label “non-comedogenic” or “for oily and combination skin” on the packaging of cosmetics.
- Wrong lifestyle. First of all, an unbalanced diet. The condition of the gastrointestinal tract directly affects the condition of oily skin. With excessive consumption of fatty, fried, floury or sweet food, the risk of clogging pores and the appearance of imperfections increases. To avoid such troubles, it is recommended to enrich your diet with fresh vegetables and fruits, minimize the consumption of junk food and dairy products.
- Hormonal fluctuations in the body. Another reason why pores can become clogged is hormone surges during puberty, PMS, or pregnancy in women. Also, the hormonal background can change when taking certain medications, for example, in the treatment of thyroid diseases. The occurrence of comedones is also associated with hypersecretion of sebum in the androgen receptors, which occurs due to a decrease in estrogen levels and an increase in testosterone production.
How to clean the pores of the face with the help of salon procedures
How can you clean the pores at the beautician? Deep pore cleansing aesthetic treatments are a great addition to your home care routine. It is important to remember that aesthetic procedures should not replace, but complement it. Among the wide list of cosmetic procedures, one can single out all kinds of facial cleansing that will help to effectively clean enlarged pores:
Ultrasonic cleaning
A hardware technique for cleansing pores by means of ultrasonic waves, which literally push impurities out of them. Ultrasonic cleaning is a quick and painless way to deeply cleanse your face of impurities and blackheads.
Vacuum cleaning
The beautician performs this procedure with the help of a special vacuum apparatus, which, under negative pressure, draws out impurities from the pores. Suitable for thin and sensitive oily/combination skin with closed and open comedones.
Galvanic cleaning or deincrustation
It is carried out by a cosmetologist using a special alkaline solution and a galvanometer, which creates small direct current pulses on the skin. This technique promotes deep penetration into the pores of the solution, which splits the sebum plugs and brings them out.
Mechanical (manual) cleaning
If you have wide and deep pores, then this procedure will be the most effective for cleansing them, although not the most pleasant. The cosmetologist cleans the pre-cleaned and steamed skin manually with the help of an uno spoon.
Atraumatic cleaning
Suitable for owners of hypersensitive skin with a low pain threshold. During the procedure, a special agent is applied to the face to help open the pores and pull out the sebaceous plugs from them.
How to choose cosmetics for cleansing pores
Dermatologists recommend following several rules:
- Opt for formulas designed for oily combination skin with a non-comedogenic formula. Such products will help not only clean the dirty pores on the face, but also narrow them. It is good if cosmetics for oily skin have a sebum-regulating effect – this will save you from oily face and clogged pores.
- Be sure to moisturize oily skin, otherwise, when dehydrated, it will moisturize itself with the help of increased sebum production. Suitable products based on plant extracts, hyaluronic acid.
- Probiotic-based cosmetic products, which are designed to normalize the epidermal microbiome (beneficial natural microorganisms that live on the surface of the skin), will help prevent inflammation.
- Eliminate alcohol-based products from care – they damage the natural protective barrier of the skin, provoke dryness and irritation. This also includes hard scrubs with large abrasive particles, which also violate the integrity of the hydrolipidic mantle of the skin (a light protective film covering the skin).
Most oily combination skin care products contain a combination of active ingredients with different effects:
- seboregulators: retinoids, azelaic and salicylic acids, extracts of various herbs (green tea, pumpkin, burdock, cedar, etc.);
- matting: kaolin, perlite, silicon;
- keratolytics: AHA and BHA acids, retinoids, glycosil, azelaic acid, bromelain, etc.;
- anti-inflammatory: niacinamide, allantoin, panthenol, bisabolol, zinc salts, azelaic acid, extracts of tea tree, sage, chamomile, witch hazel, aloe vera, etc .;
- antibacterial: piroctonolamine, triclosan, glycosil, sulfur, plant extracts of calendula, chamomile, green tea, burdock, etc.;
Vichy pore cleansing products
How to effectively clean the pores on the face at home? As a home treatment for pore cleansing, use the highly effective Vichy products of the Normaderm Phytosolution range. Their formulas undergo strict control by dermatologists, are hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. We offer a complete multi-stage beauty routine for oily or combination skin care from Vichy:
The first step towards clear skin is regular gentle cleansing. Normaderm Phytosolution cleansing gel with salicylic acid, Vichy Volcanic thermal water and Bifidus probiotic is suitable for every day. refreshes, does not tighten and does not overdry it.
The next step is toning. Choose Normaderm Phytosolution Pore-Tightening Cleansing Lotion, which deeply cleanses oily problematic skin, effectively tightens pores, reduces shine, restores and strengthens the epidermis. Normaderm Phytosolution dual action spray control with amino acids and Vichy Volcanic Thermal Water strengthens the protective barrier and normalizes pH, moisturizes, absorbs sebum, mattifies the skin for up to 8 hours.
As a corrective care, choose Normaderm Phytosolution daily dual-action care based on salicylic and hyaluronic acids, kaolin and Bifidus prebiotic. The tool not only helps to eliminate black spots, enlarged pores, oily sheen, but also increases the skin’s resistance to external factors. The Bifidus probiotic at the heart of the formula reduces the hypersensitivity of the epidermis, strengthens its natural defenses and increases the content of NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor) in the skin.
Deep pore-cleansing mineral mask with Vichy clay is suitable for oily combination skin care 1-2 times a week. A mask based on white clay kaolin will help to deeply clean the polluted pores in the T-zone, helps to reduce the production of sebum and prevent the occurrence of inflammatory foci.
How to take care of your skin after cleansing your pores
How to save the result of cleaning clogged pores? To keep your pores clean for as long as possible, follow all the steps of home skin care: always cleanse your face before going to bed and in the morning, tone your skin with tonics or lotions with acids (they additionally have an exfoliating effect), mattify and moisturize the epidermis at the same time.
Once a week, make clay masks for oily skin – they have a drying effect and an absorbing sebum effect, and also visibly tighten pores. Soft peels with hydroxy acids (salicylic, lactic, glycolic) or retinol are also suitable (be sure to use a cream with SPF afterwards). They will help to deeply cleanse the skin of the keratinized layer of cells at home.