Blackheads - Read This Before You Squeeze!

For those with oily skin, pores can easily become blocked with excess sebum and the contents turn black. The most commonly affected areas are the nose, chin and forehead. Other parts of the body can also be affected, including the neck and back. There is a great temptation to squeeze out the contents to remove the unsightly blemish. Before you do anything about this problem, there are some important facts you should know about squeezing blackheads.

Firstly, just touching your face with your hands can spread bacteria which can lead to spots. It is surprising how many times a day we touch our faces without even thinking about it. The best method of preventing blemishes is to keep the face clean by using a gentle cleanser three or four times a day. For a deep cleansing treatment, remove any make up and excess oil with your daily cleanser. Open your pores by placing a warm face cloth on the skin and leave for one to two minutes. Follow immediately by using an exfoliating scrub, and then close the pores with a toner or by splashing the face with cold water.

Squeezing blackheads should be avoided as this can create more problems. The correct method for removal is to apply gentle pressure around the affected area, and specially designed cosmetic tools can be purchased for this purpose. The common method of pinching the skin together can actually push the blockage further back in, causing inflammation and the possibility of enlarging the pore even further. This can sometimes create a lump which can only be removed by a clinician using a Cannula to create a larger hole to release the built up pus. Sometimes after removing the plug, the pore remains open and appears as a hole which is very difficult to conceal with make up.

Another problem created by pinching is possible damage to blood vessels or capillaries which can be seen on the surface of the skin as red spider veins. You may require expensive laser treatment to remove these broken veins, so you must think carefully about how to remove blackheads.

The best way to get rid of blackheads is with adhesive pore cleansing strips. These are applied to the affected area and slowly peeled away. The contents of blocked pores can be seen on the strip after it is removed, so you know the product actually works. A combination of prevention and treatment of problem areas is required to ensure that your skin stays clear and healthy. Avoiding alcohol, spicy and fried foods, eating a healthy diet and drinking eight glasses of water a day will also help to improve your complexion.

By: Lin Parker

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Author Lin Parker researches anti ageing beauty treatments and skin care products available to help women look younger and feel more confident. To see a demonstration video showing how pore cleansing strips work, visit the Blackhead Removal page at Face Lift Advice.