How to get rid of blackheads on face

Open comedones, or blackheads, are familiar to both teenagers and adults. Every fifth cosmetic product promises victory over them. But will the fight be easy? We understand.

What are black dots

Black dots are nothing more than the top of a sebaceous plug, that is, a “congestion” that has formed at the mouth of the sebaceous gland due to the accumulation of sebum and dead cells. The surface of this cork as a result of oxidation was painted in a dark color. Black dots (aka blackheads) are so-called open comedones and non-inflammatory elements.

Black dots are the most innocuous variant of acne, as they are quite easy to get rid of, and without a trace. But first, you need to find out what is the reason for their appearance.

Check if you are taking care of problem skin properly.

Back to the table of contents

Causes of black spots

How to get rid of blackheads on face? This question is most often asked by the owners of oily skin, because the tendency to acne is one of its natural features. Such skin is characterized by:

  • increased size of the sebaceous glands;

  • excessively active production of sebum;

  • hyperkeratosis, that is, a thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis in the sebaceous hair follicle.

All this clogs the pores, which leads to the appearance of blackheads. But the problem can get worse for a variety of reasons.

Hormones

Testosterone is responsible for the production of sebum in our body. And if the content of this hormone in the blood is increased or the sebaceous glands show increased sensitivity to it, the production of sebum increases.

Skin problems in adolescents arise due to the instability of the hormonal background, for the same reason, acne can also occur in women of mature age. Hormonal surge occurs during pregnancy and menopause.

Food

According to some studies, eating a large amount of fast carbohydrates (pastries, sweets) can affect the functioning of the sebaceous glands, and therefore increase the production of their secret. There is still little direct evidence, but many dermatologists associate the appearance of skin rashes with an excess of sweets and starchy foods in the diet.

Insufficient cleansing or exfoliation

Skin can be damaged by improper care, such as insufficient cleansing, so remember to remove makeup before bed. For make-up removal, as well as the first stage of evening cleansing, the following are suitable:

  • micellar water;

  • cleansing gels and mousses.

An important step in the care of acne-prone skin is exfoliation with mechanical or chemical exfoliants. By dissolving or removing keratinized particles of the epidermis, they contribute to the normalization of sebum secretion and become a prevention against clogging of pores.

Wrong cosmetics

Comedogenicity is inherent primarily in skin softening substances, such as coconut oil, isopropyl palmitate, butyl stearate. But there is no guarantee that it was they or other components that caused the poor condition of your skin.

If a new cream clogs your pores, study its ingredients and compare it to the ingredient list of the products that worked best for you. When choosing a new product, pay attention to the presence of the inscription “non-comedogenic” on the packaging.
Back to the table of contents

Basic care for the prevention of black spots

Consider the mandatory skin care procedures for acne prevention.

Washing

Even if your skin seems oily, do not torment it with aggressive cleansers. This will only increase the production of sebum, which will lead to an increase in the number of acne. To cleanse the skin without overdrying it, use special make-up remover products and gentle cleansers.

Exfoliation

Exfoliants remove dead cells from the surface of the epidermis, thereby preventing clogging of pores and inflammation. For problematic skin with open inflammatory elements, use products based on acids or enzymes, in other cases, delicate scrubs and gommages are suitable.

humidification

Feeling a lack of moisture, as a protection, the skin begins to produce even more sebum. To avoid this, moisturize your skin every day:

  • for oily skin, light gel textures of moisturizers are suitable;

  • for dehydrated oily skin – moisturizers with hydro-fixators, such as hyaluronic acid.

One of the measures to prevent blackheads is clay masks.

Deep Cleansing

Clay masks deeply cleanse the skin and prevent the growth of bacteria, so they can act as a means of preventing acne and expressly cleansing pores.

Use clay-based deep cleansing masks no more than twice a week and, if possible, do not let them dry on your face: when solidified, clay can cause tightness and discomfort.

Take our quiz to find out which mask is right for you.

Back to the table of contents

How to remove blackheads at home

The simplest folk method of dealing with black dots is to simply take them and squeeze them out. However, we do not recommend doing this yourself, although it seems to be a very simple matter. Even if you pre-cleanse and steam the skin, with inept pressure it is easy to provoke inflammation. And then you have to deal with acne and inflammation. And this is a completely different, longer and sadder story.

So it is better to entrust cleaning to a beautician, and as a home care measure, use the following scheme:

  1. after cleansing, treat the skin with a scrub or chemical peel to make it easier for the absorbents of the cleansing mask to access the pores;

  2. apply a cleansing mask to the entire surface of the face or only to problem areas (nose, chin, T-zone);

  3. leave the mask on the skin for no more than 20 minutes, rinse with warm water;

  4. Apply moisturizer or (optionally) a hydrating mask to your skin to replenish moisture levels.

Back to the table of contents

How to get rid of black dots on the face in the salon

The most effective procedure for acne on the nose is cleaning:

  • mechanical with the help of a vacuum apparatus;

  • manual, that is, manual;

  • ultrasonic.

A cleaning session may be accompanied by painful sensations. However, the recovery process after the procedure is relatively short – the redness will last up to several days.

A cream or mask with soothing ingredients (chamomile extract, allantoin, panthenol) will help shorten the rehabilitation period.

Back to the table of contents

Cosmetics to combat blackheads

To prevent or get rid of black spots on the face, you can use several categories of beauty products.

  • Moisturizer & Serum

    Moisturizing is essential for both dry and oily skin. Lacking moisture from the outside, the epidermis begins to produce even more fat for its own protection, which leads to clogged pores and the appearance of blackheads.

  • Purifying clay mask

    Clay cleanses, binds dirt and sebum. Clay masks are suitable as an express remedy or to keep the skin clean between salon treatments.

  • Exfoliants (peels)

    Both chemical and mechanical peels stimulate the process of skin renewal, preventing keratinized cells from accumulating on the surface of the epidermis.

Overview of the best funds

The beauty products listed below are the best of their kind, according to Healthy-Food, for those who are going to get rid of blackheads and / or do not want to allow them to appear.

Gel + scrub + facial mask “Clean Skin” 3-in-1, Garnier

Does everything to reduce the number of blackheads and prevent their reappearance. Salicylic acid, eucalyptus extract, zinc and abrasives are responsible for the success of the event.

Facial mask “Magic clay. Detox and Radiance, L’Oréal Paris

Kaolin, Ghassoul and Montmorillonite unclog pores and gently remove dead cells as the mask is washed off. Charcoal absorbs excess fat. It is applied for 5-10 minutes until completely dry, and then washed off.

Mineral peeling mask “Double Radiance”, Vichy

The double effect provides a combination of exfoliating agents of two types: chemical (fruit acids) and mechanical (abrasive particles of volcanic origin). Apply to cleansed skin for 5 minutes, massage and rinse.

Deep cleansing gel against imperfections for mature skin Blemish & Age Cleansing Gel, SkinCeuticals

A product with glycolic and salicylic acids helps to rid the skin of dead cells that provoke blockage of pores, already at the stage of cleansing. It is recommended to use in tandem with tonic from the same line.

Cleansing gel “Clean skin. Active” against blackheads and oily sheen, Garnier

Fights blackheads, freeing pores from impurities and excess sebum. The active ingredients are salicylic acid and charcoal.

Corrective emulsion for oily skin Effaclar K (+), La Roche-Posay

The daily care product has a solid arsenal of components against blackheads, they also improve skin texture and visually tighten pores: LHA and salicylic acid, matting agents, vitamin E – a protector and antioxidant.

Back to the table of contents

Leave a Reply