How to Take Care of Your Skin and Avoid Blackheads?

Just like your health, you should take good and proper care of your skin as well and should get rid of all the different types of skin problems that might occur. In the present day, we all are living a fast-paced life that is full of hustle and you might not get enough time to take good care of your skin. But it is important to remember that if you do not care for your skin, it might become dull and unhealthy due to a lack of proper care. When you stop taking proper care of your skin, it will start showing different types of problems, such as dullness, oily and dirty skin, skin tanning, acne, and so on. The appearance of blackheads is a type of skin problem that you might be struggling to remove.

What more do you need to know about blackheads?

You might have a general concept about blackheads and their occurrence on your skin, especially on your face. Apart from that, blackheads can also occur in different parts of your body, such as:

• Chest

• Neck

• Back

• Shoulder

• Arms

You may already know that blackheads are small bumps that are found to occur on the skin when the skin follicles become clogged with oil, dirt, bacteria, and similar other particles. When these follicles grow on the surface of the skin, they appear dark or black in color, for which they are commonly called blackheads. Blackheads are very common in their occurrences and can be very easily treated. Blackheads, also known as open comedones are a type of skin condition in which the follicles in your skin have a much wider opening compared to the ones that are in normal conditions. In fact, many dermatologists categorize blackheads as a type of acne because these are the very first stages of acne that occur during adolescence or puberty. The only difference here is that the openings in the case of blackheads are accumulated with sebum, along with dirt, oil, skin debris, and germs like bacteria. So, these types of skin problems are more common among those who have oily skin.

There are many articles that talk about skincare and removing pimples. But do you want to know about the causes and the treatment options for blackheads? If yes, then this article must be the most beneficial guide for you on blackheads. Read the article till the end and have a clear concept of blackheads, their causes, and easy blackhead removal techniques that will easily align with your healthcare and skincare schedules.

What are the common causes behind the occurrence of blackheads?

The skin surface consists of follicles and each one of them has an opening of hair in the skin. Each one of the follicles consists of certain parts, such as one hair and a sebaceous gland. This sebaceous gland is responsible for secreting oil that helps to keep the skin soft. The most common cause behind the occurrence of blackheads is the deposition of oil, dirt, and germs in the opening of the hair follicles on your skin surface that clogs them. This leads to the development of blackheads as the dead skin cells, dirt, and oil collect at the opening of skin follicles and it produces a small bump that is known as a comedo. Once the skin over the newly formed bump opens and comes to contact with open air, it looks black, and thus a blackhead is formed.

Besides these, there are some other factors that lead to the occurrence of blackheads, some of which can be listed here as follows:

• If your body produces too much oil on the skin’s surface
• If you have irritation in the hair follicles when the dead skin cells are not allowed to shed off daily
• Development of a certain type of bacteria on the skin, scientifically known as Propionibacterium acnes that is responsible for the cause of acne and blackheads on your skin
• If you are undergoing changes in hormonal secretion in your body, especially during your teen years, when you are undergoing menstrual cycles or in your pregnancy, or even if you are taking birth control pills, that leads to an increase in the oil synthesis of the body that can help in the growth of blackheads
• Blackheads can also occur because of side effects of several types of drugs and medical compositions, such as lithium, androgen, corticosteroids, and so on.

How can you effectively treat your blackhead conditions?

The occurrence of blackheads is quite a common skin condition that may affect many people. The development of blackheads on your skin will not only make your face and skin look unhealthy, but you will look untidy in public as well. Many people prefer to undergo blackhead treatments at salons to get rid of their blackheads, but in most cases, these treatment options prove to be quite painful for both the body and the skin. So, there are several types of home remedies that you can try out to treat blackheads. These natural methods are not just effective to get rid of your blackheads but will also help you to stay away from different types of side effects that are related to the skin treatment of blackheads.

What are the best home remedial options to treat blackheads?

Since blackheads are a type of acne, it is very important to know that whatever you eat, or drink regulates the occurrence of acne and/or blackheads on your skin. There are certain food components that trigger the development of acne and blackheads, such as dairy products that can increase the levels of carbohydrates and sugar content in your blood and can thus lead to more blackheads on your skin. Similarly, packaged foods, junk foods, and over-processed and unhealthy over-fried foods are also considered to increase acne and blackhead formation on your skin.

So, to reduce the development of blackheads naturally, you need to follow certain steps. Some of them are listed here as follows:

1. Cleanse your skin and face regularly:

Now that we all know that blackheads mostly occur because of oil and dirt accumulation on the follicles of your skin, it is important to cleanse your skin and face at least twice each day, so that your face and skin can be clear of all the dirt and so there will be a comparatively lesser chance of developing acne and blackheads. According to recent studies and experiments (1), modern scientists are stating that if you cleanse your skin daily, there will be a much lower accumulation of oil, dirt, and germs, which are considered some of the major sources for the development of blackheads.

2. Use blackhead-clearing topicals:

There are several types of blackhead-clearing topicals that are essential to lower the deposition of oil and dirt that clog the pores of follicles on the surface of your skin. Some of the most used blackhead-clearing topical applications are listed below:

• Alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs: this is the most common type of blackhead-clearing topical that is used, and it is safe because it is a fruit acid that is essential for proper exfoliation of the skin. Some of these types of blackhead-clearing topicals are mandolin, lactic acid, glycol, and so on.

• Tea tree oil: tea tree oil consists of the goodness and the nutrients of plant extracts that are not only useful as blackhead-clearing topicals but for retaining the overall health of your skin. Besides, tea tree oil is vital to get rid of blackheads as it has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Salicylic acid: this is another form of blackhead-clearing topical that is extracted from the willow tree and acts as a key natural peeling component and fights the occurrence of blackheads by peeling away the pore clogs.

3. Cleanse and exfoliate your skin with a brush:

Cleansing and exfoliation are essential to get rid of the dirt and oil that lead to the occurrence of blackheads. In that case, if you dry brush your skin, you will be able to remove the dead cells from your skin, so there will be less chance of developing blackheads. When you are brushing your skin, make sure that you are using a soft and natural-bristled brush that will be gentle on your skin. If necessary, you can also use electronic brushes to get rid of blackheads but take the suggestion of your dermatologist first.

4. Use sun protection when you are going out:

Whenever you are going out, it is important to protect your skin, especially when you are going out under the scorching heat of the sun. Do not forget to put on your sunscreen and try to wear light and loose-fitting clothes when you are out in the sun, because if you do not take sun protection, acne and blackheads can increase.