Mostly the dramas of puberty leave you, but not blackheads. They stay with you forever. They emerge at puberty and like weird ear hair, they are a fact of life.
Dr Dennis Gross, Manhattan dermatologist and founder of Dr Dennis Gross Skincare explains- “Blackheads are a type of acne and like all acne, are caused by a clogged pore. When dead skin cells or other debris get into the pore, they mix with the oil and cause a clog.”
Blackheads are quite different from pimples. They don’t hurt as much because they’re not embedded beneath the skin. The color is caused by the exposed comedone, a mass of oil and dead skin, which turns dark when exposed to oxygen.
So, how do you get rid of blackheads? It’s not that easy. You will need to maintain a skincare regimen as a means of preventing more blackheads and promoting healthy skin.
Here are four tips to follow that will help you remove blackheads and keep them away-
Use a cleanser with salicylic acid
You must be following the three-step skincare regimen- cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising. Whilst effective, to effectively reduce blackheads, you will need to make a few changes in your regimen. Exclude the physical exfoliator and substitute in a cleanser with salicylic acid (a chemical exfoliator). Instead of scrubbing away dead skin cells, salicylic acid dissolves them.
“To avoid blackheads, you should be using a gentle daily cleanser with alpha and beta hydroxy acids (namely salicylic acid),” says Dr Gross. “Blue LED light is also great for killing acne-causing bacteria, and is not drying like other topical products.”
Moisturise twice a day
Yes, moisturising your skin twice a day is important. Get a good skin moisturiser, preferably one with SPF. It will keep your skin nourished and prevent pores from enlarging due to sun exposure. The skin stays firmer and the moisturiser creates a thin barrier on the skin to prevent excess grime and environmental threats. Moisturise twice a day- morning and night.
Apply tretinoin before bed
Retinoids are regarded as the best way to tighten pores, prevent acne and reverse aging signs. There are a number of low-concentration retinol products available to the consumers but consulting a dermatologist is the best solution. Apply it evenly on the entire face. It will sync with your body’s restorative cycle to give you tighter, firmer and blemish-free skin.
Do a weekly mask
Facial masks are the vacuum cleaners of the skincare world. For this reason, they shouldn’t be used more than once a week. But, it is important that you use them once a week, after cleansing and before a shower. Wear it for 10-15 minutes until it tightens and indicates that all excess oil has been absorbed.
Follow these above mentioned tips for clear, healthy skin.