Blackheads are a type of acne. They occur when pores collect debris, such as excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, and appear black because the pores remain open. While they are typically harmless, many people still get concerned because they make the skin appear less smooth. Here are some tips on how to prevent blackheads.
How To Prevent Blackheads: Tips To Keep In Mind
So, you’ve used blackhead strips to get rid of the pesky, dark spots. How can you prevent them from appearing again? These tips might help:
Wash your face twice daily with a mild cleanser
The first step that helps prevent blackheads is cleansing your face twice daily with a mild soap. Cleansing helps get rid of dirt and excess oil that might clog the pores and trigger blackheads.
Washing your face more than twice daily is usually not necessary unless in instances when you sweat excessively.
Use an appropriate moisturizer
Moisturizers are a mainstay for skin care routine. If you have acne, such as blackheads, applying a moisturizer is even more important. It helps with dryness brought on by treatments, such as salicylic acid.
Experts recommend applying a moisturizer daily after washing the face. You may also apply it whenever your skin feels dry.
Exfoliate once a week
How to prevent blackheads? Consider weekly exfoliation. Exfoliating the skin helps get rid of excess oil and dirt that contribute to acne.
Note that you can exfoliate physically with the use of a towel or products. Whatever method you choose, please be gentle with your skin. Also, don’t forget to apply a moisturizer after.
Consider using salicylic acid or retinol
How to prevent blackheads? If you want to be proactive in preventing blackheads, you might want to consider using products that contain salicylic acid or retinol.
Salicylic acid helps breakdown sebum. However, it’s not advisable to use products that contain it daily as it may irritate the skin.
Retinol, on the other hand, helps in a lot of things. It can reduce the amount of sebum, have anti-inflammatory properties, and helps improve overall skin appearance.
Reminder
Before using any skin care product containing salicylic acid or retinol, please consult your dermatologist and don’t forget to perform a patch test.
Be careful with your makeup choice
People with blackheads don’t have to stop using makeup. However, it’s highly recommended that you use makeup that does not clog the pores (non-comedogenic).
Also, you must remove your makeup before going to bed.
Quit Smoking
How to prevent blackheads? It might be wise to avoid or quit smoking. While cigarettes don’t appear to be associated with blackheads, there’s a report saying some of the chemicals in cigarettes are linked to the development of blackheads4.
Keep your hands off your face
It may seem like a trivial tip, but keeping your hands off your face reduces the risk that you’re transferring dirt or bacteria to your pores.
Should You Visit A Dermatologist For Blackheads?
Many people do not find it necessary to consult a dermatologist for blackheads. Often, they resort to treatments like blackhead removal masks or strips whenever they observe that the spots are becoming noticeable.
However, if these products do not work for you, or you want a “better” solution, it is advisable to go to the dermatologist for assessment and treatment.
Key Takeaways
How to prevent blackheads? The following steps might help:
- Cleanse your face twice daily
- Use a moisturizer regularly
- Exfoliate once or twice a week
- Consider products containing salicylic acid and retinol
- Choose non comedogenic makeup products
- Avoid or quit smoking
- Keep your hands off your face
If you’re unsure about the products to choose, please do not hesitate to visit a dermatologist. Same goes if you want a more permanent solution to your blackhead problems.
Learn more about Acne here.
