Monday, December 24, 2007

REMOVING BLACKHEADS!!

It is very difficult to keep your hands off the blackhead or blemish that may appear on your skin . You always consciously or unconsciously, tend to squeeze your blackheads. But contrary to the popular beliefs, the fact is, "gentle removal of your blackheads" can actually help in reducing and preventing any further damage to your skin. But, the golden question here is how to remove a blackhead.

Following are some of the ways and means to remove blackheads with ease:

Light squeezing: You can remove the stuff from inside a blackhead with light handed squeezing. Such a process can actually help the skin. Yes, squeezing is detrimental to the skin, but how you squeeze determines whether it harms the skin or benefits it. Gentle is the key word and you have to be careful not to over squeeze it.

Using products for exfoliating: You can use some low potency benzoyl peroxide exfoliating product for removing dead skin cells. It is very effective on the blackheads and is mild to your skin as well. In this way you can remove even the most stubborn blackheads. Also, microdermabrasion can be used to remove stubborn blackheads.

Topical retinoids: Topical retinoids such as Retin-A help in battling against the blackheads, successfully. It also removes and prevents the formation of the blackheads. It reduces oil secretion and unclogs the pores by promoting normal functioning of the cells. However, it is a long process.

Chemical peels: Skin care products with salicyclic acid and chemical peels with glycolic acid are very useful in removing dead skin cells from the pores, effectively and quickly. However, you can not use them if you are already using topical retinoids.

Metallic Extractor: You can also take the help of a metallic extractor that has a small and round opening in the end. You can individually plug out each blackhead by using it. But, it must be done with utmost care to prevent scarring.

Blackhead strips: You can use blackhead strips which are tape like strips. Place the strip over the nose for 10 minutes or as directed on the cover of the strip. And pull off. The surface level blackheads will be successfully removed. This is an easy to use, quick and temporary method of removing blackheads. Always read the instructions on the pack carefully.

Diet/Food: You also need to alter your bad eating habits. You need to naturally reduce the oil production, initiate appropriate moisture for the skin and reduce acne. Drink lots of water and avoid oil food. Also, include lots of fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. Cooked carbohydrates and fats are a big no no and use raw fats such as olive oil in your recipes.

Make up: This is a cosmetic tip but important for those who do not clear it of their skin. You need cosmetics that do not blocks your pores. That is, the non-comedogenic make up! Follow some tips- do not keep the make up when sweating. Use make up cleanser and properly remove the cosmetics of your skin. Also, keep your brushes, sponges clean.

Undoubtedly these methods will help you remove your blackheads, but along you need to follow a regular skin care regime to permanently remove your blackheads.

Nose And Ear BLACKHEADS

Blackheads are yellow-black type of material present in a bump. This material is generally accumulated in the thin pocket of a sebaceous gland. A blackhead is also known technically as an open comedone. It is caused by accumulation of excess oils in the sebaceous gland's bump.

Nose and ear blackheads are all the same, only they appear on the nose and ear and are more difficult and painful to extract.

Treatments for nose and ear blackheads are not different from general treatments for blackheads. The hair follicle in nose and ear blackheads should be extracted with a good extractor with the help of a dermatologist. The presence of dermatologist is important as damage to the nearby tissues by hard-squeezing can lead to permanent scarring.

But how do you remove nose and ear blackheads? As in the case of other blackheads, nose and ear blackheads can also be remove by light squeezing, exfoliating, using chemical peels or by using a metallic extractor.

As your nose and ear are very sensitive, you should take utmost care in removing blackheads from these areas. Blackheads in nose and ear can make you look ugly, so you should take extra care to prevent it from appearing in the first place.

Blackhead Treatment Guide: How To Treat Those Dark Spots Forever?

Blackhead is nothing but a small comedo which is non inflammatory acne, pimple, or zit and appears with a black tip. The one with white tip is called whitehead. If you want to read detailed information on the blackheads read articles Blackheads And Whiteheads , What Is Blackheads? and What Is Blackheads? Part II.

There are several methods you can employ to treat, cure and remove blackheads prevalent on your nose, ear and back. Many of them may promise to remove blackheads at once but they would not ensure you the permanent cure. When it comes to selecting the right method for blackhead treatment, many of you would settle on blackhead removal methods such as blackhead removal strips, squeezing blackheads or using blackhead dissolving solutions.

I do not say they are No-No at all, but they are not blackhead treatment options your dermatologist would suggest you. This is simply because a wrong tampering with blackhead can infest "sebum" in it, which will cause a more severe form of acne called as " cyst." However the cases of cyst overruns are not common. Thus most people still prefer to get rid of their blackheads in the beauty salons.

Now let's find out how to treat these tiny black monsters, typically identified as "blackheads" with the help of medical treatments.

As with other mild to moderate form of acne, blackheads can be treated with both over the counter products and prescription medications.

OTC Treatments
Before using over the counter products to treat blackheads you should pay attention to following points:

Yours is mild case of blackheads, use it. If it is a case of severe blackheads, meet the dermatologist and get prescription advice. OTC products are not meant for severe cases.
Check out the ingredients written over the tube or bottle you plan to use over blackheads. If not listed, better not buy that product or call expert to find out the inside story of that product.
Always use OTC product first as a sample product. Only after you notice good results on your skin, continue its usage.

OTC Products with following ingredients have shown the best results:

Salicylic Acid or Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA)
What does it do to your skin?

Firstly, BHA exfoliates the top layer of your skin.
Then, it provides radiant skin by cleaning out the dull skin.
It gets inside the oil glands and clears clogged pores.
And finally, breaks down the dead skin cells and claim war against blackheads.

Glycolic Acid or Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA)

AHA comes out from sugar cane. Let's find out what they do to your skin.
AHA increases the population of skin cells by exfoliating them.
It dissolves the protein bonds present in the cells and which helps in their growth.
The dead skin cells then fall off.
This remarks skin present underneath the top layer which is more fresh and soft than the flaky skin on the top layer.
Besides, they even out skin tone.

Thus, AHA products are best for skin with blotch or marks. However, regular usage may make your skin more vulnerable to the sun. Also, do not use it for more than twice a week. You can use it after every three days. Benzoyl peroxide 5% lotion or gel is also used by many. It is good for other forms of acne but does nothing much for blackheads.You can employ other methods as well. These include: Light Squeezing, Exfoliation (using products containing Benzoyl Peroxide), Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels, Metallic Extractor, Blackhead Strips, Improving Diet/Food, Make up and facials. All these methods help but should be undertaken by expert hands. Read articles Popping blackheads, Your guide on removing blackheads and Removing blackheads on Nose to know about these methods.

Prescription Treatment
The best prescription solution for blackhead comes in the form of topical Retinoids.

Retinoids can be defined as a derivative of Vitamin A. It opens pores of oil glands. So it works well with both blackheads as well as whiteheads.

When you use Retinoids in the form of creams, it unclogs the pores and allows other medications such as antibiotics to enter the hair ducts to fight the prevalent infection.

It also prevents clogging of dead cells and thereby reduces the possibility of further outbreaks.

Side effects: Topical Retinoids makes you highly sensitive to the sun. You will get dry, flaky, red skin. But these side effects would subside with discontinuation of the treatment.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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