When you get blackheads, it can be one of the most frustrating things in the world because they make your skin look rough and dull and even if you are successful in extracting them, they tend to come back. If you face this problem regularly, you might have spent hours trying to remove these with different types of tools. However, this does more damage than good to your skin. Before we have a look at the remedies for the prevention of blackheads, let’s first dive into the details of what blackheads are and what causes them. So keep on reading!
What are blackheads?
Blackheads are a very common skin problem that many of us face (pun intended). Due to clogged hair follicles, blackheads appear on the skin. The hair follicle contains one hair and sebaceous gland that produces oil. This oil is called sebum which helps in keeping the skin soft. The dead skin in the pores reacts with oxygen and turns black, forming a blackhead. Blackheads are not a serious concern as they do not physically affect your health but they do affect the way you look and perceive yourself and they can often cause self confidence issues.
What are the causes of blackheads?
Just like acne, blackheads also start appearing on the skin when an individual reaches the age of puberty. Hormonal changes and age are two most common factors. During puberty, there is a spike in sebum production due to the change in hormonal levels. However, blackheads do not appear during puberty only, they can appear at any age.
Other factors that can cause blackheads are:
- Heavy sweating
- Shaving that results in the hair follicles to open
- High humidity
How to prevent blackheads?
Wash and cleanse your face regularly: Make it a habit to wash your face when you wake up and before you go to bed. When buying a cleanser, try to look for cleansers that have salicylic acid because one of its benefits is that it is comedolytic which means that it effectively unclogs the pores and in turn combats whiteheads, acne and blackheads. It also prevents further acne from developing. Leovard’s Multicleanser is a great product owing to a fantastic list of ingredients such as salicylic acid and green tea that work together in combating the occurrence of blackheads, acne and whiteheads. Not only does it provide gentle exfoliation, it also makes sure not to strip off the skin of its natural oils, giving it a fresh and radiant glow.
Keep your skin hydrated: If your skin is naturally oily, you might be hesitant to moisturise out of fear that your skin will get more oily leading to the appearance of blackheads. However, this is not true! When your skin is dry, it tends to produce more oil to keep the skin’s natural oil intact. Keeping your skin hydrated by regularly moisturising it can help to reduce the production of excess oil and in turn, the occurrence of blackheads. The Leovard Multicream makes an excellent lightweight, yet deeply nourishing and hydrating moisturiser, that can be applied morning, night and as need be.
Apply retinol before bed: Retinol, a vitamin A compound that is usually recommended by dermatologists in order to tighten the pores, fights off acne and slow down signs of early ageing and sun exposure. Applying retinol every night will give you firmer and tighter skin, free from any blemishes and will make blackheads a distant memory by completely curing them.
Home remedies to get rid of blackheads
Steaming: Steaming the face can effectively soften the blackheads and eventually clear them out. When you steam your face, you sweat, which helps in clearing the toxins from within. It also softens the pores which makes it easier to work upon and remove them.
Scrubbing: Scrubbing works as exfoliation which is an effective way of getting rid of blackheads. Using DIY scrubs such as an oatmeal and yoghurt scrub can be of great use. Both of these ingredients are high in nutrients and can work wonders in clearing your skin. Oatmeal has a property of absorbing excess oil which helps in preventing blackheads. Whereas, yoghurt moisturises and nourishes the skin.
Treatment with green tea leaves: Green tea is also a great antioxidant and its leaves when wet, help in reducing oil production in your skin. Wet a few green tea leaves with water and gently apply them on your affected area in small, circular motions for 20-30 seconds. After you are done massaging, rinse off your face with water. Try doing this at least twice a week for better results.
If all else fails, and none of the above work in clearing the stubborn blackheads, you might need to visit a professional dermatologist to get them extracted safely.
Takeaway
While having blackheads is extremely normal, it goes without saying that one should take care of the skin in a way that there occurrence is kept minimal, so that you can enjoy your clear, radiant and beautiful skin. Always.
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