Blackheads

This is a small bump appearing on the skin as a result of clogged hair follicles. The surface of this bump appears black or dark. The parts of the body that are affected by blackheads include face, back, neck, chest, arms and shoulders. They can be problematic to deal with due to the clogged dirt within the hair follicles.

Many medical practitioners consider them as the first level of acne. The development of blackheads can be catalyzed by not having the right hydration for your body. In this article, we explore the subject of blackheads by looking at the causes and the available blackhead removal techniques.

Common Causes of Blackheads on Nose

The number of hair follicles on your body range in the region of 5 million. Your face alone, has several hundreds of thousands of these follicles. Blackheads form as soon as a clog develops in the opening of your hair follicles. Each of the 5 million hair follicles has one hair and an oil producing sebaceous gland. The sebaceous gland produces sebum oil that keeps your skin soft.

As the skin sheds the dead skin cells, these cells tend to get into the hair follicles. This means that there is a likely mixing of the sebum oils and the shed dead skin cells. This mixing forms a plug which then pushes to the surface and appear as a bump. The bump is known as comedo. If this bump remains closed, it is referred to as a whitehead. But once it opens up, it get exposed to other factors such as air, bacteria and dirt causing it to turn black and hence referred to as a blackhead.

The common causes of blackheads on your nose include:

  • a) Oily skin – if your body produces too much oil.
  • b) Irritation of hair follicles – this is mainly caused by the presence of dead cells on your skin. Dead skin cells are meant to shed on a regular basis. If this doesn’t happen, then they will accumulate within the hair follicles.
  • c) Buildup of Propionibacterium acnes bacteria on your skin.
  • d) Hormonal changes – this happens mostly when going through puberty, menstruation and pregnancy periods. During this period, there is a significant surge in the amounts of hormone produced by the body. These hormones stimulate the skin’s sebaceous glands hence producing a lot of oil.
  • e) Taking drugs like lithium, androgen and corticosteroids.

How to Remove Blackheads

Some people just remove the black oxidized section and think they have removed the blackhead. The only sure way of getting rid of it permanently is by removing the entire blockage. The following steps can be used at home to clean out the pores for blackhead removal:

  1. Use hot water and a soft cloth to apply a hot compression to your skin. Maintain the compression for 5 to 10 minutes. This will open up the pores and make it easier to remove the blockages.
  2. While the skin is still damp from the compression, apply the blackhead removal pad or strip. The moist skin will assist the strip to bond with your skin. Allow between 10 to 15 minutes of the bonding of the strip. Pulling the strip off will then remove blackheads to a certain degree of success. You may be lucky to get the entire blockage removed. In some cases, only the blockage head may be removed leaving the pore.
  3. Using your fingers, squeeze the skin gently to remove the remaining blackheads. They should be able to come out easily. If they don’t, avoid squeezing harder as this could damage your skin. Take caution also not to use your fingernails. You may repeat the compression process and squeeze for a second time to see if they remaining blackheads will come out. If they can’t come out after the two squeezing rounds, then those blackheads are beyond finger removal.
  4. Using salicyclic acid liquid to break down sebum oil on your skin. This approach is meant to get deeper into the pores. Apply a hot compression after using the liquid and try squeezing out the blackheads.

There are also a number of methods that can be used to remove blackheads. They include over the counter treatments, prescription medications, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and light therapy. Some of these methods are natural and can be done on a regular basis. They include:

  • a) Use of honey and cinnamon – being a natural antibiotic, honey will assist in pulling out the dirt from the open pores.
  • b) Use of egg-white mask – this assists in tightening pores and pulling out any clogged dirt for a smoother skin.
  • c) Use of oatmeal and yogurt – you can create blackhead blocking formula using the mixture of yogurt and oatmeal. This formula can then be applied on the affected area to assist in blackhead removal.
  • d) Use of a salt cleansing solution – you can mix epsom salt with iodine to form a bacteria fighting combo ideal for blackhead removal.

How to Get Rid of Blackheads the Right Way

Some people have tried dramatic things in an effort to get rid of blackheads. This has led to painful experiences and a certain degree of damage to the skin. There are a number of mistakes that one has to avoid while removing blackheads. Some of the mistakes include over foliating, picking and not preparing the skin well before extracts. The smoothest way of getting rid of blackheads is by doing it right. You can therefore do it right by:

a) Minimizing exfoliation – the use of chemical exfoliates needs to be done in moderation. Whereas chemical exfoliates are good for removing excess oil, overusing them can actually cause you more harm than good. You should thus minimize physical exfoliation to your skin to only once or twice every week.

b) Not picking – it is very tempting to pick a pop-up on your skin but this has damaging effect on the skin. Besides causing skin trauma, picking up pop-ups opens raw skin which in turn exposes you to infections. You should therefore try as much as you can not to pick.

c) Extracting – pop-ups can be removed through extraction. Extraction is not as harmful as picking provided it is done the right way. Proper skin preparation is the first step in doing it right while extracting. For instance you can clean your face using a mild cleanser or using steam to open up the pores and soften the hardened oil. You can do extraction immediately after a shower. Use of moisturizer helps to trap the heat inside which is good for extraction process.

d) Using proper extraction techniques – you can do extraction using a tool or using your fingers. Employing proper technique during extraction will ensure little or no harm to your skin. Avoid those extraction techniques that may over stimulating melanin cells during extraction. A tool like come done extractor is recommended for extraction process. Use of recommended techniques is a sure way of avoiding darkening your skin during the extraction process . You can still use your fingers but ensure you spread them out for easier extraction. Finger spreading ensures that the extraction process is done from the deeper levels of your skin. Avoid using your nails so that you don’t puncture your skin.

e) Letting go the stubborn ones – some of the blackheads are stubborn and should be let go to avoid damaging your skin. Your first target should be the dark ones but if any of them doesn’t pop out, move to the next one. You can give up to three trials after which you let go.

f) Enough Moisturization – moisturizing well minimizes the imbalance in the oil levels within your skin. Whereas heavy oils like avocado can clog pores, lack of moisture can cause the skin to have more breakouts. Skin moisture will therefore ensure there is a normal flow of oil from the pores of your skin.

g) Avoid magnifying the problem – whereas it is a good idea to look into a magnifying mirror, the super close view sometimes can confuse you. You may for instance be confused on what actually needs to be removed from your skin. It is therefore in your best interest to avoid using these mirrors to avoid magnifying your problem.

TOP 10 Remedies to Get Rid of Blackheads

The 10 remedies that have been found to be the fastest and the most effective in getting rid of blackheads are:

i) Baking Soda – the antiseptic qualities of baking powder make it a good product for your skin. Baking powder can be used as an exfoliate or as a PH neutralizer. As an exfoliate, it will scrub away the dead skin cells for a smooth and soft skin. As a PH neutralizer, it will encourage your skin to produce less oil. Using it regularly will therefore assist you get rid of blackheads.

ii) Cinnamon – being an anti-bacterial spice, cinnamon can be used in making an aromatic face mask. Such a mask will benefit your skin by removing blackheads. It can also help to eliminate a flaky skin. As a body scrub, it can be used to give your body a smoother and glowing complexion.

iii) Oatmeal – this nutrient rich grain is not just a popular breakfast cereal but can also a skin remedy. Its use on skin is safe and effective in addressing a number of conditions. They include blackhead removal, sensitivity and irritation. It is a gentle natural cleanser that loosens the clogged pores. It can also be used as an exfoliant due to its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

iv) Lemon juice – this juice contains alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) citric acid. The acid works as a natural astringent by removing dead skin cells which in turn opens the clogged pores. Being rich in vitamin C, lemon juice has antioxidant properties that improves the health of your skin.

v) Green tea – green tea has antioxidant properties and vitamins that can be used to reduce inflammation in your skin. It also breaks up the excess oil and protect your skin from damage.

vi) Honey – the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey can be used to remove blackheads. This is by destroying germs and impurities that often clog the skin pores. As a natural antibiotic, honey can also be used to remove dirt from the pores while hydrating them for a clearer complexion.

vii) Tumeric – the powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of tumeric makes it one of the best medicinal spices available. Use the non-edible Kasturi turmeric variety to treat your blackheads in order to avoid staining your skin.

viii) Epsom salts – they can be used to ease sore muscles and blackhead removal. Epsom salt works by pulling the plug out of the clogged pores hence washing them away.

ix) Bentonite Clay – this is a powerful absorbent and healing clay that was discovered towards the end of the 19th century. It has over 60 natural trace minerals that can be used to treat many skin related conditions. Some of its minerals include calcium, magnesium, iron, silica and potassium. It works by drawing out clogged oils and impurities.

x) Sugar – sugar can be used as an exfoliate to clear out clogged pores. For effectiveness, it needs a carrier such as jojoba oil, sweet almond, olive oil and seed oil.

The Best Tools To Remove Deep Blackheads

Blackhead removal tools are specifically designed to give you flexibility in reaching difficult corners of your body. Unlike pore strips, blackhead removal tools are more economical as they can be used repeatedly. This is the reason these tools are preferred as the best for removing blackheads. The moles removal tools should be made from good quality stainless steel material. A trusted brand that is easy to use and clean will guarantee you better results.

One way of getting such a product is to look at the customer reviews for the different brands on the market. The best tools for removing deep blackheads are:

  • a) Skinmiso Comedo Remover – this is a high quality stainless steel and pore expert brand designed to effectively remove deep and stubborn blackheads.
  • b) Skinmiso pore beauty nose pack – this is a three step product designed to remove blackheads on the nose. This product can help you to remove excess blackheads without extending your pores.

Recommendation

If you are looking for a super-effective, safe and fast solution for blackhead removal, then Astrid Skin Solution will be the ideal choice. This is a revolutionary peel-off mask that gets rid of blackheads in a few minutes. A simple three step process can be used with this solution is:

  • i) Cleanse – as a way of preparing your face, you will have to wash it using a gentle and effective cleanser. After washing pat it dry.
  • ii) Apply – you then apply a thin layer of Astrid Skin Solution to completely cover the nose and pores. Peel off the mask gently after waiting for about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • iii) Moisturize – after removing the mask, you apply to your face a small amount of Glow Boosting Face Cream.

This mask grabs onto the blackheads and literally sucks them out. One of the benefit of using this solution is that once you take off the mask, your natural beauty will just reappear. It also prevents pimples giving you a flawless skin. We have examined blackheads and some of the techniques that can be used to get rid of them. Due to their dark color, blackheads can be easily spotted on your skin. Addressing them in time will minimize the bacteria invasion that can lead to painful pimples.

Proper approach to blackhead removal is the only way to get quick and effective results. We have shared some of the remedies and tools that can be used to achieve these results.