How To Get Rid of Blackheads At Home
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Updated 2024.07.30. This post contains affiliate links and Useful Roots will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on these links.
Blackheads are dark colored bumps that appear on the surface of the skin and blackheads are caused by clogged oil in hair follicles openings which contain sebaceous (oil-producing) glands.
Excess sebum production, which can be caused by hormones, diet, ingredients in cosmetic products, medical conditions and medication, mixed with dead skin cells, creates a hardened oil that oxidizes, and in turn, a blackhead is formed.
They can be quite a stubborn skin concern, though with a little finesse to your skincare routine, you can minimize the number of blackheads you see and the occurrence of the number of blackheads you get in the future.
When attempting any of the tips below, keep in mind that if you have success with one tip, but stop seeing results, skin can get used to a routine, and stop responding to what you are doing.
This is normal.
Even if you are getting good results, consider shaking up your routine every once in a while to try another tip on the list below to continue to see results.
Still wondering how to prevent blackheads, and how to remove blackheads? Read on -
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1. Add a BHA
BHA, which stands for beta hydroxy acid and can also be known as salicylic acid, is an ingredient that can get into the pores and dissolve the hardened oxidized skin oils known as blackheads.
It is a BHA product that is light on the skin in texture and easy to layer into an existing skincare routine.
Paula’s Choice has a range of BHA products that do not include irritating ingredients that may create additional skin issues when removing blackheads.
2. Use a Konjac sponge
Konjac sponges are made from the root of the Konjac plant and can gently, physically exfoliate the skin. This keeps your pores clear by removing dead skin cells which can trap oils in the pores.
When oil gets trapped in the pore by being blocked with dead skin cells waiting to exfoliate, excess oils can build up in the pores, which then oxidizes, hardens, and creates a blackhead.
3. Try an exfoliating cleanser
Consider using a cleanser with glycolic acid in lieu of the Konjac sponge to exfoliate the skin’s surface, allowing oils in the pores to freely escape, preventing clogs.
An exfoliating cleanser can provide the same benefit as a Konjac Sponge, but with chemical rather than physical exfoliation.
The moisturizing features in a cream exfoliating cleanser can help soften the drying, irritating side effects of the exfoliation itself, leaving you with smooth, soft skin as well as clean pores.
To avoid pore irritation: add an exfoliating cleanser or a Konjac sponge to your routine, but not both.
4. Consider a weekly at-home facial steam
Facial steamers, when set to gentle heat, and used for up to 15 minutes, can melt hardened oils in the pores, and release blackheads trapped in the pores without creating skin irritation.
Facial steaming can be a great way to deep clean the pores while removing build-up from makeup and other impurities.
If you have tried one of these methods above, select another from the list, and give that a try. Shaking things up and trying new things for your skin is beneficial for continued success with blackhead removal.
If you haven’t tried any of these blackhead removal methods yet, start with the one that works best for your budget, or the one that interests you most.
They all work, it just depends on your skin type, your skincare routine, and your budget.
All skin responds differently, so if you need to try a few of the things above before you find the perfect solution that works best for you, don’t worry - this is all just part of the process.
How To Get Rid of Blackheads - 4 Blackhead Removal Tips text overlay photo of cream schmears on tan marble background by Birgith Roosipuu on Unsplash
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And finally as a general rule, only add one thing new to your skincare routine every three weeks.
This allows you to notice the difference between single products and identify what really works for you. Also if your skin is sensitive, it will help you avoid irritated skin from experimenting with too many products at once.
Ready to begin the blackhead removal process?
Start with one of the 4 ways to remove blackheads above, and then go through each option until you find the perfect routine to keep your skin and pores blackhead-free.
Blackheads can be managed, and you can get clear, flawless skin.
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