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Acne is a nightmare that affects more than 85% of the population at least one time in their life. Among several types of acne, blackheads should receive certain attention for its frequency and complexity. This condition is the open comedo, which is different from closed comedo (whiteheads). You can tell that you get blackheads if the small, dark lesions appear on your skin. As they are noninflammatory, blackheads do not cause pain or physical discomfort, however, these little lesions are still annoying like other acne conditions. No matter how hard you poke, scrub or squeeze them, they always come back to your nose and destroy your confidence and self-image. The wrong approaches to remove them can make it worse and often leaves long-term consequences. Therefore, you need to know how to prevent blackheads effectively in the first place. In this article, True Remedies will give you an overview of this acne condition, focusing on ways to avoid it. Don’t miss this article if you are having troubles with blackheads.
- Top 27 excellent ways to get rid of blackheads on nose and chin
- Top 34 proven home cures for blackheads on nose and face
Top 9 Unexpected Ways To Prevent Blackheads On The Ear And Face Naturally
I. What Are Blackheads?
Acne, including blackheads, affects around 50 million Americans and appears most frequently in the United States[1]. They are one type of comedo, which often appears when the pores get clogged, dead skin cells and oily sebum start reacting with oxygen and turn black. This skin condition gets this name as its top, which is visible on your face and has a dark color. Blackheads can be found in any area of the skin, but the most common place is on the face.
II. Risk Factors Of Blackheads
Before learning how to prevent blackheads on the ear and face, you should know what its risk factors are to get a better understanding of this skin condition. These following factors are believed to worsen blackhead problems and turn it into more severe acne:
- Genes
- Hormonal status
- Overactive oil glands
- Menstruation
- Psychological issues, for example, stress
- Skin care products that cause pore-clogging
- Pressure from sports equipment, tight-fitted collars, sports helmets, and other sources of rubbing
- Medications
- Exposure to moist temperature conditions or pollution
- Sweating
- Picking or squeezing at skin lesions
- Excessive skin scrubbing
Understanding the risk factors of blackheads will help you choose the best ways to prevent blackheads. For instance, we know that stress makes blackheads worse, so stay healthy and relieve your mind might reduce the risk of this acne condition.
III. Symptoms
We know that blackheads are one symptom of acne caused by open pores but are they different from other types of acne? The answer is yes. The typical symptoms of blackheads are small, dark lesions. For its color, blackheads are easy to spot on our face, especially on the nose. Although they are not inflamed and painful like pimples, which form when the invading of bacteria leads to redness and inflammation, blackheads still have raised texture.
IV. Do Blackheads Need Early Treatment?
You need to know the best time to treat blackheads when you already know about blackheads. These dark spots appear on the skin’s surface and are noticeable on the skin. Although it is not as painful as other types of inflammatory acne or red acne, the wrong treatment can make acne worse. So when blackheads appear, you should focus on skin care to avoid future skin damage. Here are some of the most effective ways to treat blackheads and prevent them from coming back
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V. How To Prevent Blackheads
1. Cleanse Your Skin Regularly
This method not only removes dirt, a cause of blackheads but also help you get rid of excess oil and dead skin cells. This action can prevent blackheads from developing and clogging pores. All you need is a gentle cleanser containing neutral pH. A cleanser with salicylic acid is also a suitable choice to keep the pores clean and reduce the risk of breakouts. Using bar soap is not a good option to prevent blackheads as it may clog our pores. You can find some skin cleansing products that do not cause irritation in pharmacies or grocery stores, especially those labelled “for sensitive skin”. In case your skin is oily, you should choose an oil-free cleanser. Likewise, a cream-based cleanser or glycerine will be suitable for dry skin. Remember to use warm water when you wash your face. The hot temperature can irritate your skin and cause extra oils.
2. Avoid Over-Washing Skin
Cleansing your skin is important to prevent blackheads, but over-washing is not recommended. Excessive or vigorously scrubbing your skin may irritate your skin, strip its oil and lead to an unwanted breakout[2]. You should gently wash your acne-prone skin twice a day when you wake up every morning and before you go to sleep. Use your finger to apply cleanser and rinse off with water.
3. Remove Makeup Before Bed
Leaving the makeup on your skin overnight increase the risk of blackheads as it can clog your pores. Keep in mind that your skin also needs to “breathe”, so if you don’t want to get stuck with blackheads, remove all your makeup layers with your favorite makeup cleanser or a gentle cleanser. Your pillow may get dirty because of the makeup and become a potential environment for germs and bacteria to develop. Don’t forget your makeup applicators. They can be the cause of acne, including blackheads if you leave them unhygienic. Therefore, cleaning your applicators at least once a month with soapy water to get rid of bacteria that may clog your pores.
4. Showering
Dead skin cells, excess bacteria, and oil produced after vigorous daily activities can lead to blackheads. If you’re an active person who works a lot daily, don’t forget to take a bath regularly. Avoid using harsh soap for the acne-prone area, or you will weaken your skin, making it more vulnerable to blackheads. Pick up a gentle shower gel and keep your body, especially your face skin hygienic every day.
5. Apply Moisturizer Every Day
Not many people know that moisturizing is the key to prevent blackheads on the face. You should choose a moisturizer that is specified for your skin type and use it after washing. The properly hydrated skin is not likely to get blackheads and other types of acne in comparison to dehydrated skin. Some people may make a mistake when they think oily or combination skin does not need moisturizing. The fact is that if you miss this step, more oil will be produced on your skin in the long run. A non-comedogenic, gel, water-based or oil-free products will be the best moisturizers for people with oily-type skin while the heavy moisturizers can lead to blackhead formation. In case you don’t know about your skin type or suitable products, a skincare professional or a dermatologist can give you some useful advice on that.
6. Exfoliating regularly
A lot of people skip this step in their daily skin care since they hear that exfoliation can be harsh on our skin and thinner the layers. This may happen if your skin is sensitive and your exfoliators contain crystals or sand particles. Dead skin cells can contribute to blackheads by clogging the pores. So, exfoliating is important if you want to stay away from this acne condition as it can remove the dead skin, bacteria, rough skin cells and decongest pores. However, do not try to exfoliate blackheads or active acne as an exfoliator only affect the surface skin but not penetrate deeply. Excessive effort can irritate the sensitive skin areas. Therefore, remember to choose a soft washcloth to exfoliate gently once a week to revive your skin and avoid any skin imbalance.
7. Absorb Excess Oil
This step is especially crucial for those who have oily skin. If you absorb excess oil carefully with a topical product, it can remove not only the skin oil but also the dead skin and bacteria that often lead to blackheads on the skin. As it has a huge impact on skin-care routine, people have come up with various ways to absorb excess oil. You can choose an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid treatment for your skin. Clay mask is also an effective weekly choice to purify the skin and remove the excess oil. If you often work in offices for a long time, you can try oil blotting papers. They are the favorite options for officers to soak up excess oil. All these products are available at pharmacies and most grocery stores. Remember to follow your doctor’s advice and direction to avoid overusing and irritating your skin later.
8. Avoid Touching Your Face With Fingers
You may notice that our hands are constantly touching a lot of things every day, and all these things are not necessarily clean. Our hands are a breeding ground for bacteria, one of the acne triggers. If you touch your face with fingers frequently, the risk of getting blackheads will be higher. Moreover, if you use your bare hands to touch the existing breakouts and then touch other skin parts, you may spread the bacteria, resulting in breakouts in areas that, at first, are not vulnerable to acne.
9. Overhaul Your Daily Diet
The diet you consume every day make a huge impact on your body, including skin health. A well-balanced one without junk foods and other unhealthy foods will reduce the risk of blackheads and other stubborn acne conditions. Follow these rules if you want to maintain a healthy skin condition:
- Reduce fat and sugar take-in. A diet that is high in sugar and fat such as fried foods and sweets leads to a higher risk of blackheads by slowing cell turnover.
- Add more foods high in beta-carotene and vitamin A in your diet. Vegetables and fruits, for example, carrots and raspberries are good for the skin because they enhance the reproduction of new skin cells.
- Include walnuts and olive oil as these high in essential fatty acids are very helpful in keeping the skin cells hydrated.
- Cut off unhealthy foods and replace them with other choices to increase the supply of vitamins and antioxidants required for healthy skin.
- Drink enough water every day. Proper hydration is one of the keys for a well-balanced diet, and it keeps your skin and your body healthy.
10. Additional Tips
- Avoid wearing a lot of makeup as the possibility you fail to remove them completely is higher.
- Do not forget to change and wash the pillowcases frequently every week They are full of dead skin cells and excess oil, making them the ideal environment for bacteria to develop.
- Remember to use facial steam twice per month to open and unclog the skin pores.
- Prepare tissue paper to blot your face throughout the day and soak up the excess oil before it clogs the skin pores, causing blackheads.
- After cleansing, splash your face with cool water to close the pores and to prevent dirt from getting in there, causing blackheads.
VI. How To Treat Blackheads
No matter how hard you try preventing blackheads, there are always some chances for these little pimples to appear on your skin one day. Let’s have a look at some of the most effective remedies recommended below to deal with blackheads:
- Baking Soda. This soda is useful in balancing the pH level of your skin and removing the oil, dead skin cells and dirt as an excellent exfoliant. However, baking soda should only be applied twice a week as it can dry your skin.
- Green Tea. It can work as a wonderful antioxidant and decrease the skin’s oil production effectively if used 2-3 times per week[3].
- Turmeric. As a rich source of antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is a good choice for blackhead removing[4]. You can make yourself a turmeric mask and let it deal with all the stubborn blackheads.
- Lemon Juice. Containing AHA citric acid, a natural astringent, lemon juice can deal with clogged pores and dead skin[5]. It’s a source of vitamin C also enhances collagen production, which reduces scarring and improves skin health[6].
- Honey. Honey is popular for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which can clear out the impurities and germ from clog pores[7]. Besides, it performs as a natural antibiotic to clear the blackheads, hydrate the pores, and tighten the skin.
- Sugar. Well-known as a great exfoliant[8], sugar is often used to clear out clogged pores and cope with nasty stubborn blackheads. Add sugar to carrier oils will enhance the effectiveness as these oils, such as jojoba, olive or almond can mimic the skin sebum well.
Acne, especially blackheads, has always been the trouble for people of all ages. People try all the ways to remove them from their lives, but the remedies do not work all the time. Therefore, paying attention to how to prevent blackheads is a good way to save time from dealing with these stubborn acne conditions.
All material provided in this article is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is best to consult your doctor or healthcare professional to determine which method is appropriate for you.
Read more: 10 Best Science-Based Treatments For Cysts In Breast. This article was medically reviewed/fact checked by Myle Akshay Kiran & Millie Lytle ND, MPH.
References
https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Blackheads
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/311991.php
https://www.healthline.com/health/blackheads#treatment
