What are blackheads?

Blackheads are nothing more than skin eruptions that we can notice on our face, but not only, because it happens that they also appear on the chest or back. They are created largely by blocking the sebaceous glands by sebum and exfoliating epidermis, but also by inadequate care. It is therefore worth delving into the subject to be able to enjoy beautiful and smooth skin.

There are two types of blackheads:

  • Open - arise when the sebum stagnates and is exposed to infection with bacteria that occur on the surface of the skin. We can then notice the characteristic black dots, which over time can turn into papules or purulent pustules.
  • Closed - differs from open ones in color - these are white and noticeable only after skilfully stretching the skin. They are a problem mainly in people suffering from acne.

Both in the case of open or closed blackheads, proper and conscious care of the face and the whole body is necessary.

 

What are the causes of blackheads?

 In the case of the causes of blackheads, we can distinguish direct causes:

  • Excessive sebum production,
  • Disturbed exfoliation process of dead epidermis,
  • Excessive keratinization of skin cells,
  • and indirect:
  • Skin type - mixed or oily,
  • hormonal changes,
  • Diet - processed foods, fatty foods, sweets, nuts,
  • Inadequate skin care - using cosmetics that clog skin pores (composed of paraffin, lanolin, silicone, artificial dyes, talc, avocado oil) or using cosmetics that excessively dry our skin and cause increased secretion of sebum - strong scrubs or cosmetics and alcohol in composition,
  • Irregular care and exfoliation of dead epidermis,

How to get rid of blackheads?

 The most important thing in the fight against blackheads is regularity. Pay special attention to daily cleansing and moisturizing the skin using appropriate and well-matched cosmetics. It is also worth taking advantage of cosmetic treatments after prior consultation with a specialist - cosmetologist or dermatologist. Recently, a very popular treatment performed to combat blackheads are chemical peels, which are designed to exfoliate dead skin, thanks to which the sebaceous glands are unblocked and the skin is not contaminated and exposed to the possibility of bacterial infection.

Other treatments that allow you to get rid of blackheads are microdermabrasion, ionopheresis, ultrasound or laser therapy. However, it should be remembered that it is the specialist who selects the appropriate treatment for our skin.

Treatments performed in specialist offices are unfortunately not as effective as our daily support at home and skin care. First of all, the face must be cleansed daily to get rid of impurities, dead skin cells, make-up residues, microbes and excess sebum. All these factors clog pores, block the outlet of the sebaceous glands and lead to its accumulation and contamination. Therefore, you should wash your face at least twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. It is also beneficial to use a delicate gel and massage it into the skin with circular movements, then rinse with warm water. It is best in such a situation to use only your own hands and not to use washcloths for this purpose, which often accumulate bacteria and impurities.

After proper cleansing of the face, it is necessary to apply the cream. It is best to choose the one that will protect the skin against excessive loss of water from the deep layers of the skin, stimulate the regeneration processes of the epidermis, will be a barrier to the harmful effects of external factors and will regulate the work of sebaceous glands. Just like face cleansing, moisturizing should be done systematically - in the morning and evening on each part of the face, preferably with a tapping motion to stimulate circulation and skin tension.

In addition, it is worth performing an independent exfoliation treatment once a week. People with acne should opt for an enzymatic peeling due to the risk of exacerbation of the skin condition after mechanical peeling.

What cosmetics to choose?

Regardless of the intensity of the problem of blackheads, acne or single eruptions, care products must be selected for our skin type. Starting from a washing gel, through cream or make-up remover, they should be selected so as not to aggravate the problem with blackheads. It is recommended to choose dermocosmetics - products that not only care, but also have healing properties. What to look for? First of all, for the composition! Vitamin E accelerates the regeneration of the epidermis, the cleansing foam with zinc will prevent the formation of new eruptions. In the fight against blackheads, glycerin, vegetable fats and pantothenic acid are also beneficial. It is very good when the day cream has an SPF sunscreen, also the one for winter. The composition should beware of ethyl alcohol, artificial dyes or fragrances, as they can adversely affect the condition of our skin and even worsen it.