What causes blackheads, and how do you get rid of them? And which products help? Get tips for skin cleansing from this article!
Make-up artist and beauty influencer Miia Johansson often gets questions about skin problems - including blackheads. In the treatment of blackheads, he would consider the most important thing is to take care of the skin every day.
- With miracle products, you can get relief for a while, but the problem will soon return again, says Miia.
Many are waging an outright war against blackheads, but what are they really? What causes blackheads, and how do you get rid of them? We figured out the answer!
READ ALSO: They are not tutorial videos! The Internet's most famous Finnish pop artist talks about his work
Blackheads are clogged skin pores
Blackheads are simply blocked skin pores, says dermatologist Carl Kyrklund from the Skin Hospital. A blackhead occurs when there is sebum and skin cells in the skin pore.
- When these get oxidized on the surface of the skin, they darken and are therefore black, Kyrklund describes.
- Blackheads usually appear on the forehead or cheeks, sometimes also on the nose. Less often elsewhere, such as in the ears, chest or back.
Blackheads are not dangerous, although they can also be the first symptom of acne. Generally, however, blackheads are a so-called aesthetic nuisance.
- They usually disturb people, Kyrklund admits.
Blackheads can be removed at the beautician's office. Kyrklund points out that simply exfoliating the skin is not enough to remove blackheads, but the beautician removes them mechanically, for example using a purpose-made iron.
Caring for the skin is the most important step in preventing impurities. According to Kyrklund, for example, BHA products containing salicylic acid could be beneficial for blackhead-prone skin - although only to a certain extent.
- The development of blackheads can also be prevented with medicated creams applied to the skin or edible medicines. From over-the-counter products, you can try to treat blackheads with, for example, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, or vitamin a preparations, says Kyrklund.
READ ALSO: A new way to remove blackheads at home is being hyped on the Internet - do the pictures prove it works?
Cleanse the skin in two steps and moisturize at the end
Make-up artist Miia Johansson would start removing blackheads with a beautician. After this, the so-called housework begins, i.e. skin maintenance care. Miia would compare skin care to working out: even if you work out hard with a personal trainer once a month, you won't get results if you don't also work out independently.
- Gentle washing is absolutely essential. I personally recommend double cleansing for skin that collects impurities easily. First, make-up, dirt and possible sunscreen are removed from the skin with an oil and balsamic cleanser, Miia advises.
In the second step, a shaking product, such as a cleansing balm, is rolled on the skin. This ensures proper cleaning of the skin pores. After cleansing, the skin is treated with face water and, for example, a product containing BHA acids.
- Face wash no longer cleans the skin, but a cleansing product takes care of it. The function of face water is to bring the skin the much-needed hydration, says Miia.
At the end of the routine, face cream is applied.
- The face cream should also contain ingredients that prevent impurities and reduce sebum production, such as manuka or jojoba oil.
Miia has sensitive, combination skin prone to impurities. In addition to the double cleansing routine, she applies facial oil to her skin in the evenings; in the mornings, she rolls her face with a damp konjac sponge and sprays on the skin first with face water, then applies moisturizer.
- My skin care motto could be "less is more", and this applies both to skin care products and the amount of raw materials in the products, he says.
Get rid of blackheads - Miia's product tips:
- The power product is Finnish Olivia Klein's deep cleansing Detox mask
- Flow Cosmetics cleansing balm
- Neal's Yard Remedies Sensitive Soothing Milk
- Olivia Klein Hydra Toner treatment water
- Antipodes Rejoice cream
Always refer to the ingredient list of the product
To treat blackheads, Miia would use, for example, products containing jojoba oil and BHA acid. You shouldn't always believe the incredible promises of advertisements.
- When choosing skin care products, it is of the utmost importance to look at the product's INCI list and see if your own skin can benefit from them. Only the ingredient list tells the truth. In the jar itself, you can read any of the advertiser's stories. Even a product intended for sensitive skin is not always good for the skin, Miia describes.
- It's not worth believing anything in the treatment of blackheads either. Sometimes, for example, even BHA acid products can be too harsh for the skin. This depends on the product.
So the skin does not necessarily need exfoliation with an acid product. Gentle products support the skin's own function; Miia reminds us that the skin takes care of itself a lot.
- Gentle washing is the most important of all. There is no point in ruining the skin's delicate protective barrier. Other skin care products only support the skin's natural function, says Miia.
Modern cleansing oils are also suitable for oily skin.
- Gentle but effective washing is also the most important thing in the prevention of blackheads. In addition, preventive ingredients in products left on the skin. It is good to remember that impure skin also benefits from effective cold-pressed vegetable oils, and all oils therefore do not support the skin, but rather treat it.
READ ALSO: Expert warns: The shower routine familiar even to Finns can cause unpleasant skin symptoms
" Perhaps the biggest misunderstanding people have is that the skin needs an awful lot of different products"
The condition of the skin is also affected by, for example, lifestyle, stress and hormonal activity. They cannot be changed with a cleaning product. According to Miia, many people can unknowingly cause or worsen their skin problems: for example, cleaning products that are too strong can do more harm than good.
- Perhaps the biggest misconception people have is that the skin needs a huge number of different products, even though most of the problems can be fixed with the basic skin care, which is a gentle skin wash, a moisturizing face wash and a moisturizer and face oil that really nourishes the skin, he describes.
- Some have even thought they were suffering from adult acne, and with gentle cleansing, the condition they thought was acne has indeed disappeared. In addition, there is also a misunderstanding that the skin can always be fixed with skin care alone. It doesn't always go like this either.
" Blackheads might be mistaken for sebaceous glands "
Virve Fredman , an expert in skin care and cosmetics legislation and a professional blogger , receives questions from her readers about, for example, skin dryness and impurities. Blackheads are also interesting, because many people find them a problem.
- However, blackheads can easily be confused with sebum fibers , which are a natural part of the skin and cannot be permanently removed. While blackheads are, as the name suggests, black dots visible on the surface of the skin, blackened and hardened blockages due to the oxidation of sebum, sebaceous strands are visible as grayish or yellowish dots, Virve, known for her Ostolakossa blog, describes.
- So many people think that they are fighting a desperate battle against blackheads, although in reality it is sebaceous fibers that you cannot even get rid of, because they have a natural purpose: they are used to transport the sebum that keeps it elastic and moisturized to the surface of the skin.
Mustapää appears as a "hump"
According to dermatologist Carl Kyrklund, sebaceous glands usually talk quite a bit at the reception. A blackhead is clearly larger than a sebaceous strand and appears as a bump on the skin. Sebum, on the other hand, is like a small dot on the skin.
Sometimes a red mark on the skin, which is assumed to be a pimple, may also be keratosis pilaris , i.e. a skin horn , or an inflammation of the hair follicle, so it is not a pimple at all. The patient's concern may also be simply large sebaceous glands, which can be treated with, for example, a laser.
Do not wash the skin with a product that washes too much
Blackheads can be removed with, for example, blackhead tweezers or a comedone iron. However, it must not be too violent.
- When using these, it is very important to remember to treat the skin gently, because in careless hands, tweezers or an iron can cause long-lasting visible marks or even permanent scars. Blackheads should never be squeezed out of the pores by force, Virve reminds.
There are also blackhead patches or masks on the market. Primarily, however, Virve would recommend skin cleansing by a professional. After that, we move on to skin care at home. According to Virve, a good skin care routine consists of skin cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection.
- If the skin is prone to impurities, such as blackheads, it is easy to choose a cleansing product that washes too much, which may even do more harm than good to the skin. At worst, the cleaning product can make the surface of the skin dry, but the impurities do not decrease and the skin continues to get greasy, explains Virve.
- You should always clean your skin gently, avoiding products that wash too much, and then choose a treatment liquid, serum or moisturizer containing BHA acid to help your skin care routine, which helps prevent clogging of skin pores.
The optimal pH for the skin is around 5.5
Virve also favors double cleansing of the skin: in the first step, make-up, sunscreen, excessive sebum and other oil-soluble impurities are cleaned from the skin with cleansing oil. After this, the skin is washed with cleansing foam.
- This way you can specifically ensure that the skin pores are deeply cleansed. However, it is important not to choose a product that washes too much, i.e. the skin should not remain tight after cleansing.
The optimal pH for the skin is around 5.5. The wrong pH in the product can cause the skin to become dry, tight and irritated.
- To help with makeup removal, you can take a reusable konjac sponge, which gently enhances cleaning and makes makeup come off the face better. Similarly, skin cleansing can be enhanced with the Foreo facial brush, which uses silicone bristles and micro-vibration, which helps ensure that the skin areas that are prone to impurities become clean.
Get rid of blackheads - Virvi's product tips:
- Tweezerman Blackhead Extractor blackhead tweezers
- Blackhead Killer Peel Off Mask
- Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid exfoliating care liquid
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar K(+) Moisturizer
- Foreo Luna facial brushes
" I don't take care of my skin with certain products, but I monitor the condition of my skin"
The needs and problems of different skin areas of the face vary. For example, Hyaluronic acid, which binds moisture, is suitable for Virve's skin; on the other hand, he uses exfoliating salicylic acid for nose skin prone to blackheads. The skin care routine and products vary from day to day according to the needs of the skin.
- So I don't take care of my skin with certain products just out of habit, but I monitor the condition of my skin and react to it with skin care. I typically double cleanse my skin in the evening, but in the morning even one product can be enough, says Virve.
Cleansing is followed by moisturizing face water or treatment liquid and the application of serums to the skin areas that need them. In addition to these, Virve uses eye cream and moisturizer. During the day, he also protects his skin with a sun protection product with a factor of 50, if necessary.
- Prevention is always the easiest anti-aging solution. In general, skin care for me is more about the prevention of problems, he advises.
Skin pores are a natural part of the skin
Exfoliating the skin may fade blackheads and create a smoother skin surface. Still, the skin should not be taken care of too much; for example, there is no need for daily exfoliation, but once a week is enough.
- If you exfoliate the skin too much, it weakens the skin's natural protective barrier, which in turn can, for example, cause moisture to evaporate from the skin more easily and sensitize the skin, says Virve.
On the other hand, Virve would also like people to remember that pores are a natural part of the skin. They cannot be made to disappear permanently with cosmetics, and there is no need for it.
- Many are desperately looking for ways to get rid of pores, even though they actually have an important function on the skin, says Virve.
- Even though the cosmetics industry sells various pore-disappearing products and social media is full of filters that make pores invisible, real skin naturally has a surface texture that pores are a part of and there is no need to make it a problem. The skin does not have to be flawless to be beautiful and the most important thing is that the skin is healthy.
0 Comments