Everyone dreads blackheads and clogged pores. We receive daily requests for help eliminating blackheads.
Technically called comedones, blackheads appear in a variety of types. Open comedones are what most people call "blackheads." Closed comedones appear as small bumps or pebbles just under the skin. Blackheads frequently occur in people with oily skin areas. They begin as a build-up of dead epidermal cells on the walls of the follicle. This phenomenon is known as retention hyperkeratosis, a hereditary condition in which the cells don't shed normally, thus forming a build-up lining the follicle. This build-up is coated with sebum that solidifies, forming a clump-like mass in the bottom of the follicle known as a microcomedone. From this beginning, either an open or closed comedo is formed.
The small clogged pores on the nose are not classic comedones. They are called sebaceous filaments and are mostly just solidified sebum. Oxidation causes the black part as sebum is exposed to oxygen. Closed comedones do not have a black color because they are not exposed to air. Sebaceous filaments form quickly because of the volume of sebum produced in oily areas like the nose and re normal. Antioxidant serums can help reduce the darkening of these facial oils.
The development of clogged pores and blackheads is a chronic condition, also known as maturation arrest acne, and requires the guidance of a certified acne specialist. Once the visible clogs are gone, proper home care products must be used or the pebbles and blackheads will rapidly return.
Avoid using any facial product or cosmetic that is on our Acnegenic Ingredient List. Pore clogging and acnegenic products contain oils, certain waxes, fats, fatty acids, or esters that can penetrate the follicle and cause clogged pores from the outside. Avoid any product that is oily or heavy. Many of these are acnegenic and pore clogging. These fatty materials can be present in almost any product but are most often found in moisturizers, creams, makeup foundations, and powders. Acnegenic fatty materials are used in products as emollients and spreading agents and to add softness to products.
An acne safe product does not contain these fatty emollients and is generally very light in texture and thickness.
Review our Acnegenic Ingredient List Here >>>
Giving the skin an extra deep cleanse every few days can be very helpful for those with sticky pores. Here are some our favorite cleansers for deep cleaning:
Sorella Lychee Willow Bark Deep Clean
Skin Script Raspberry Refining Cleanser
Le Mieux Exfoliating Cleansing Gel
Masks:
Skin Script Retinol 2% Scrub/Mask (use twice per week)
Sorella Rosehip Warming Mask (use once per week)
Skin Script Charcoal Refining Mask (use once per week)
Blackhead-ridden skin that is also oily:
Skin Script Glycolic & Retinol Pads (may be used once per week or once per day, depending on the strength of the skin)