Blackheads, also known as “open comedones”, are slightly raised fatty clusters that appear on the skin due to clogged pores. The name “blackheads” comes from the fact that the surface is dark.
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What are Blackheads or Open Comedones?
Summary
- Blackheads or Open Comedones Are Benign but Sometimes Unsightly Lesions
- What causes blackheads to appear?
- How to Get Rid of Open Comedones?
Published March 4, 2024,
by
Maylis, Chemical Engineer
—
7 min read
Topics:
Blackheads or Open Comedones Are Benign but Sometimes Unsightly Lesions.
What are blackheads?
Blackheads are retentional lesions that appear following the agglomeration of an excess of sebum (hyperseborrhea) and a deposit of dead cells called corneocytes (hyperkeratinization) that obstructs the hair follicle canals. This mixture in contact with the air oxidizes, forming a small black and hard ball on the surface.
If left untreated, blackheads can break off and spill their contents outward, either spontaneously or when pressed with the fingers or a blackhead remover. Blackheads can also progress to an inflammatory stage and form red and painful acne pimples. They appear mostly on the face (especially on the forehead, nose, and chin), the neckline or the back, areas rich in sebaceous glands.
What causes blackheads to appear?
Certain factors can cause the development of blackheads, including:
Hormonal disorders during puberty, pregnancy, taking birth control pills or menstrual periods activate the sebaceous glands, favoring the appearance of blackheads;
The application of comedogenic products, such as occlusive makeup products, which is why it is necessary to read the list of ingredients in the product before purchasing it;
Combination to oily skin is more affected by blackheads. Indeed, these skin types produce an excessive amount of sebum and their pores are much more dilated than other skin types;
Poor skin hygiene, such as going to sleep without removing makeup or not moisturizing the skin daily.
How to Get Rid of Open Comedones?
Now that we know what blackheads are and how they form, we are going to address the getting rid of them. Obviously, the first thing to do is to avoid handling them and removing them with your fingers. Your nails are real nests for bacteria, which can infect them and make the situation worse. There are other more effective ways to get rid of them. Adopting an appropriate and non-comedogenic skin care routine is one of them to fight against blackheads and prevent their appearance. This routine should include the following treatments:
At the end of a long day, the first thing to do is to remove your makeup. Indeed, sleeping with your makeup on clogs your pores and encourages the appearance of new open comedones. So, in the evening, removing makeup and using a cleanser is mandatory, even if you never wear makeup. First, remove traces of makeup, pollution, and impurities from the skin with a micellar water or a cleansing oil. Follow with our gel cleanser for a deeper, gentler pore cleansing to free the skin of impurities.
Although exfoliation is not recommended for inflammatory acne, it is strongly recommended to do it regularly if you have blackheads. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells gently that can lead to clogged pores, as well as existing open comedones. Instead of opting for a mechanical (grainy) scrub, you can opt for the daily application of a fruit acid (AHA) based treatment, such as glycolic acid or lactic acid. Both act by eliminating the most superficial layer of the epidermis (horny layer) and prevent the formation of blackheads.
Once a week, in addition to your weekly exfoliating treatment, apply a purifying mask with green clay and charcoal. It works deep down to draw out sebum and other impurities, thus unclogging pores.
Next, opt for the purifying toner with salicylic acid, known for its exfoliating action. It helps break down the materials that clog pores. It is also known to limit the development of microorganisms.
Finish your skin care routine by applying a moisturizer adapted to your skin type. For example, for combination to oily skin, choose the purifying face cream enriched with zinc PCA and bamboo extract. Zinc PCA is a natural active ingredient that acts on inflammation, the regulation of sebum production and the proliferation of bacteria. Bamboo extract absorbs excess sebum.
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