Health and Fitness
Winning the battle with Blackheads & Whiteheads
By Heather Hawthorne
Mar 2, 2003, 00:36

Blackheads and whiteheads topics that aren?t so glamorous, yet so many people want to know more about them. In particular, people want to know how to get rid of their own. Read on to find out all you need to know.

First, a little background information on these skin nuisances. Anyone, with any skin type can have either, but it is most common for blackheads to occur in oily areas and whiteheads to occur in dry areas of the skin. It is quite normal for an excess of both to occur during the adolescent years, since the amount of oil our skin produces is regulated almost entirely by hormones, and during this time oil production is at a high.

Both blackheads and whiteheads are simply due to a clogging of the pores. Keep in mind, everyone?s pores get clogged, and it is a natural occurrence that we just can?t stop. Blackheads form when oil, dirt and dead skin cells that are trapped in a pore, turn black in color because of exposure to air. Whiteheads form when oil, dirt and dead skin cells become trapped in a pore under a thin layer of skin, then a small white or clear film develops on top.

How to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads:
Getting a facial from a licensed facialist/esthetician is the best way to safely remove some of your blackheads and whiteheads. Estheticians are trained to remove blackheads and whiteheads from the pores with an implement called an extractor. Receiving one facial won?t guarantee that all of your blackheads will be removed, but it is a good start and a great way to get many of your pores cleaned out. I don?t recommend trying to eliminate your own blackheads and whiteheads since you risk damaging your skin, creating scars, and infecting your pores - which only leads to more blemishes. In addition, I do not recommend using one of the many pore strips that are available on the market, since I find that they do more damage than good.


How to prevent blackheads and whiteheads from coming back:
The key to prevention is to assist your skin?s natural process out a bit by exfoliating regularly. Using a gentle exfoliant to remove excess skin cells from your skin?s surface will keep your pores clear of any buildup. Drier skin types can use a granular exfoliant in a moisturizing base, while those with oily skin will benefit from using granular types, or gel/liquid products that contain BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), salicylic acid, or beta hydroxy acid. Some of the products available by prescription that exfoliate and improve pore function are: Differin, Retin-A, and Renova.
Whatever you do ? DO NOT OVER EXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN ? too much does nothing but damage your skin! It is suggested that normal to dry skin types exfoliate 1-2 times per week, while combination to oily skin types exfoliate 2-3 times per week.

It is also recommended that you avoid thick, greasy creams, regardless of your skin type. Don?t use moisturizers if you do not need them. In other words, if your skin doesn?t feel dry don?t apply moisturizer. Use gentle cleansers when washing your face. Harsh cleansers, especially bar soap, will only encourage your skin to flake off and contribute to the clogging of your pores.

If you have super oily skin you?ll want to use something to absorb the excess oil like a clay mask 3-4 times per month. Your dermatologist may be able to prescribe something for you if oily skin is a serious problem.

So, remember that having a few blackheads or a whitehead from time to time is pretty normal. It is when either are in excess that you might want to take a closer look at your skin care regime.

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Written by Heather Hawthorne, licensed esthetician, expert advisor for Spalook.com
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