Problematic Skin

Blackheads are experienced by people of all ages. A teenager may feel insecure about them around herpeers, while for others, having blackheads is just plain irritating. Over the counter remediesoffer solutions to these skin conditions and many usually just buy creamtreatments along with other products that remove blackheads. Some however opt for a trip to the dermatologist. Butwhat are blackheads, and what are the things we can do to treat or to preventthem?

What causes Blackheads?

Blackheads appear like small bumps in our skin’s pores. Actually, blackheads, and pimples andwhiteheads are of an acne type called acne vulgaris. Rather than it beingbecause of poor hygiene, these blackheads are usually caused by oils thataccumulate within the duct of the sebaceous glands. Blackheads start once aperson enters puberty. In fact, blackheads are usually the primary stage ofacne. Blackheads, also, are not always "black," like their name says.A blackhead, when extractedfrom a pore, is more yellow-brown because of the melanin content.

Preventing Blackheads and Removing Them

If you want, it is possible to take the blackheads out yourself, providedthat there is no infection on or around the blackhead itself. It is advisableto use sterilized materials when removing blackheads. Also, your environmentshould be clean. First is steam your skin, usually for several minutes. One waythis is possible is to use abowl of hot water, if you don’t already have a facial steamer at hand. This allows the pores to loosen,and makes it less painful to take out the blackheads. Pore strips are alsoeffective in removing blackheads. Often, it is more advisable to visit aprofessional to get your blackheads removed. This way, you are less at risk of causinginfections. 

Most adult acne starts as blackheads, which get infected and become red and inflamed. Despite what people may believe, blackheads are not a result of poor hygiene, and scrubbing the skin too hard will not get rid of blackheads; it's more likely that hard scrubbing will result in even more inflammation. Rather than scrubbing, people suffering from adult acne should choose an alpha-hydroxy exfoliant, which cleans pores deeply without breaking the skin surface.

Changing your makeup can also help, as cheap cosmetics may be loaded with oils and chemicals that clog pores and result in more blackheads than normal. Also, take a look into your medicine cabinet. Certain medications, including anti-epileptic drugs and most prescriptions containing iodine or lithium, can cause adult acne. So can anabolic steroids and certain bulking and weight gaining preparations sold at health food stores and fitness clubs.

So how to banish blackheads? Gently, according to San Francisco Seth Matarasso to InStyle Magazine. People tend to scrub too hard which causes inflammation, he says. Instead of a grainy scrub, Matarasso suggests trying an exfoliant with alpha-hydroxy acids. A good one is Alpha Hydrox Foaming Face Wash, it received 4.5 out of 5 stars from 109 users, and it is inexpensive (about $8). You can also use a salicylic acid cleanser like Bliss Steep Clean Cleansing Milk, also very popular due to overall results. These chemical products clean out pores better than scrubs. For a great quick fix, Biore Pore Perfect Strips will get rid of your blackheads, also highly recommended due to fantastic results. Lastly, I know many people that swear by Zeno Pro Acne Clearing Device. Zeno works best when you first notice the signs of an oncoming pimple.  In 90% of patients involved in an FDA-reviewed clinical trial, pimples caught early and treated with Zeno faded or disappeared within 24 hours. Zeno works by applying controlled low-level heat to a pimple, causing the bacteria within the pimple to self-destruct.  It takes two or three 2 1/2-minute treatments, over 12 to 24 hours to work. It's a little hand held machine about the size of a cell phone. All of these products are available at drugstore.com.

One of these products, or a combination of them should get rid of adult blackheads and mild acne (what I call pimples). As we get older we tend to focus on anti-aging treatments (I know I do), but cleansing thoroughly and with the right products is also important.