Archive for the ‘Acne’ Category

All About Zapping and Popping Blackheads

May 5th, 2010

We all know blackheads, we all had blackheads, and some of us who aren’t blessed with great skin still have blackheads to this day. They are the bane of anyone who has ever experienced bad skin and popping blackheads is an obsessive side activity, usually with less than favorable results. The blackhead, as we know it, is the common word for the medical condition called the open comedo. It is an initial symptom of the other skin plague, acne, and is an open hair follicle filled with dirt, bacteria and oil. The “blackhead” is actually the oxygenized part of the debris that accumulated in the follicle, turning it into a dark color, hence birthing its name. Blackheads being to appear at puberty, when the change of hormones causes the skin to produce more oil and increasing the chances of blackheads, whiteheads and acne. Without proper skin care, blackheads can increase in number and persist as a problem throughout puberty and into adulthood.

There are safe and effective treatments that can be obtained over-the-counter and through your dermatologist, which should be no reason for you to be popping blackheads on your own. As tempting as it may be, putting the matter of blackheads literally at your own hands can just lead to scarring and more damaging results.

Maintaining a good skin care regimen can prevent blackheads. Make it a point to wash your skin everyday using a gentle cleanser. Avoid cleansing formulas that have harsh chemicals, which can further irritate your skin and aggravate the problem. If you fail to wash your skin everyday, the dead skin cells that our skin naturally shed could get into our pores and contribute to the irritation. On the other hand, don’t try and lessen your dead skin cells by exfoliating with a rough cloth or sponge. Your skin will react and try to protect itself from the damage and produce more oil.

If you use makeup, make sure to take it off thoroughly each day. Never sleep with makeup on. If you can help it, try to refresh your makeup in the middle of the day by washing your face instead of piling on a layer of powder, therefore further clogging your pores. Check the labels of your cosmetics and make sure they are water-based and non-comedogenic. Oil-based makeup will just add to the existing problem and cause more blackheads.

To ease the treatment of blackheads, you can try loosening the trapped dirt and tissue in your pores by steaming your face each evening. This can be done by exposing your face to a basin of hot, steaming water or simply putting a cloth that has been immersed in boiling water and left to cool for a moment. When done regularly, any treatment that you use for your blackheads, whether it be medication or extraction, should be done with less effort and pain.

So instead of popping blackheads with your bacteria-laden fingernails, try other treatments that are less damaging to your skin. Remember that with any skin medication, it’s always best to consult your dermatologist for the best way to treat skin problems.

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