Hello my lovelies, I hope you are all well and somehow managing to stay warm through all this snow!
Now my pet hate, when it comes to skincare problems is much bigger and annoying than you think….. yes it’s blackheads!! The one’s you cannot miss!
So I say know your enemy… You can’t tackle the problem until you understand the cause, right? So let’s go back to basics first… Why do we get blackheads to begin with? That’s because we all have pores and when those pores become blocked with debris (dirt), oil, or dead skin cells, that’s when you get a blackhead.
The reason they look black is because all the oils in them become oxidized. It’s not the dirt that is black, it is just oxidized oil.
So how are they different to white heads? When it comes to blackheads, the pore remains open, whereas when you get a white head the pore has become blocked over the top and then you end up getting a little pustule (puss filled spot)
Could it be an on-going problem? There are loads of ways you can get rid of blackheads; however, the underlying problem is the excess oil that is being produced. So whatever treatments you decide to do, blackheads will always naturally reform every 20 to 40 days.
Annoying, I know!
This means doing a one-off treatment won’t permanently get rid of them, the blackheads will come back. That is why tackling them needs to be an ongoing process.
The first step is the simplest, try an exfoliator….
Exfoliation removes that upper layer of dead skin cells. So you’re effectively you’re preventing everything from old skin cells to dirt, and makeup, from getting blocked inside that top layer of pores.
So in terms of exfoliation there are two ways you can do it, mechanical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation.
Mechanical is physically using something abrasive on the skin, so either a face cleansing brush which rubs the surface of the skin, or something like a face scrub with granules in it to buff away that top layer, but be careful not to over-exfoliate, as that can push the inflammation deeper and worsen the spots, whilst also causing dryness and irritations.
If you are exfoliating acne or oily-prone skin, once a week is fine.
Chemical exfoliates are used to dissolve the upper layer of dead skin cells. So things like glycolic acid, salicylic acid or chemical peels*
*Please remember ladies everyone’s skin is different. It is advised under going a skin analysis from a qualified therapist or dermatologist before any treatment is carried out.
Like myself there is many therapist who offer skin extraction facials, these are beneficial as they will deeply cleanse and extract the blackheads. You can also try the blackhead removing masks which are pretty popular on the market. But remember one treatment will not make it go away, the key to healthy skin is maintenance of your routine!
Until my next blog, over and out my dears!
Quote of the day – ‘Beautiful Makeup begins with Beautiful Skin’ – Saira Javed