Blackheads, the black dots on your nose, chin, forehead or back. You want to remove eaters with you! There are all kinds of products, strips, sebum regulating products, masks, expression pens, skin brushes and skin treatments. Your expectations are often very positive, due to the golden mountains that are promised. But in most cases, unfortunately, the results are disappointing. You also, through many of these products and treatments, unknowingly do more damage to your skin. That, of course, is the last thing you want. That’s why I like to tell you the best way to remove blackheads and give you 12 tips!
Blackheads and whiteheads removal
A distinction can be made between two types of blackheads, called comedones in professional terms. You have the blackhead comedones and whitehead comedones. The most well-known are blackhead (open) comedones that can be recognized as black dots. This is an open comedo, where oxidation from oxygen in the air has colored the surface brown or black. Blackhead comedones are usually seen on the T-zone nose, chin or forehead, but can occur on entire face and even in the ears and mostly on the body, such as on the back or chest. Whitehead comedones are deeper in the skin. In this, a white ball is visible when you put a little tension on the skin. Whitehead comedones are more difficult to remove.
Blackheads self-expressing?
Rather not! The temptation to squeeze out blackheads yourself can be very strong, but know that you are often doing more harm than good by doing so. The risk of skin damage and inflammation is high. Eventually, this creates scars that do not disappear on their own.
What can I do about blackheads?
Tip 1: Don’t be tempted to opt for home devices and pore masks
Please ignore skin brushes, scrubs, vacuum cleansers, pore strips and (black) masks. By doing so, you damage the skin barrier, which only creates more turmoil in the skin and increases the problem. Read on quickly to find out what you can do to remove blackheads.
Tip #2: Look critically at the triggers, can you make an adjustment there?
There are several triggers that can cause blackheads. By knowing what causes them, you can prevent blackheads as much as possible in some cases. Realize that sebum has an important function in keeping the skin supple and prevents dehydration. When the sebaceous glands are stimulated to work harder, problems can arise and can eventually cause clogged pores and acne. Other common causes of blackheads are:
- Hormones; the best known cause is hormonal changes, such as during puberty but also with pill use, pregnancy and menopause.
- (Wrong) food; sugars in food are the biggest culprits for developing skin problems such as acne and therefore blackheads. So leave out the sugary products as much as possible!
- Skin products; What we see most often in practice are improper skin products that close the pores or too strong cleansers that make the sebaceous glands work harder.
- Medication; such as corticosteroids
- Makeup; with foundation you can literally clog pores.
- Self-tanners; pull into the pores causing faster clogging if you are sensitive to this.
- Excessive sunlight; causes the skin layer to thicken, making the sebaceous glands clogged faster.
- Stress; increases sebum production and causes skin aging, your pores enlarge due to too much stress.
- Hereditary predisposition; some people are predisposed to develop blackheads or acne more quickly.
Tip 3: Cleanse your skin
Cleanse your skin twice a day with a mild cleanser to prevent accumulation of dirt on the skin.
Tip 4: Remove dead skin cells (exfoliate the skin)
Start by exfoliating the skin daily. This is a product or cream that dissolves your dead cell layer and stimulates cell division. The main exfoliating ingredient to dissolve sebum in a skin-friendly manner is salicylic acid. Our preference for oily skin is a combination with a smaller acid for better absorption with AHA and/or PHA, for example. In this, the mandelic clarifying cleanser is an affordable option. On the contrary, if you have dehydrated skin, an AHA-only exfoliant is a better option because it does not dry out the skin, such as the Foamer 15/5. Both products contain no perfume or irritants. Should you want to know, what specifically works for your skin to remove blackheads, make an appointment for a free skin scan.
Tip 5: Protect your skin from the sun
Excessive sunlight thickens the top skin layer and dries out sebum, causing increased sebum production, while the thickening (dead cell layer) blocks pore exit. Use an SPF 50 cream daily during the day to protect your skin from the sun. This not only prevents increased sebum production, but also makes skin aging, such as spots, patches and wrinkles, less likely to show.
Tip 6: Be critical of the ingredient list
Avoid irritants and do not choose an oily cream that seals the skin. A skin therapist will be happy to help you make the right choice.
Tip 7: Get the right product combination.
A routine with skin products that are coordinated and work together prevents skin problems and ensures beautiful and healthy skin. Balance in your skin care results in fewer skin problems. A disrupted skin barrier is the cause of many different skin problems, including blackheads.
Tip 8: Use a moisturizer with the right ingredients
Oily skin or T-zone often results from dehydration (lack of moisture). So make sure to use a moisturizer so that your skin does not overproduce sebum to compensate for the lack of moisture.
Tip 9: Choose the right foods
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables with antioxidants for beautiful skin.
Tip 10: Be careful when drinking alcohol
Alcohol dehydrates your skin faster, increasing sebum production.
Tip 11: Choose products that work specifically for your skin
It is impossible to make a product, which is very effective for everyone. Therefore, the combination of ingredients and treatments is most effective in removing blackheads. You can have a free skin scan done by a skin therapist at De Laserkliniek in Groningen. You’re not stuck with anything. You will then receive an appropriate product recommendation for your specific skin. That way you avoid spending on products that don’t work for you.
Tip 12: Get rid of blackheads.
With a skin therapy treatment, the skin therapist removes all your blackheads using a special sterile technique, followed by a medical peeling to ensure that new blackheads are less likely to appear.
At the Laser Clinic, we are happy to help you get rid of blackheads and other skin problems. During a no-obligation intake, the quality-registered skin therapist takes a skin scan with the Observ520, asks questions about your health and habits. Based on your skin desires and based on the data, you will receive an appropriate product recommendation and possible treatment plan. The initial consultation with skin scan is free of charge.
Would you like to have your blackheads removed?
Check out the treatment and sign up for a free skin scan.
