Treating blackheads requires that you understand what a blackhead is. What causes a blackhead? How does it differ from a whitehead, pimple or zit? When you understand the causes of a break out, you can treat it.
When the reasons and origin are known, we can attack the source of problem and the blackheads will get eliminated. So, what is a blackhead, whitehead or pimple?
A breakout begins with a clogged pore. Each hair follicle is a combination of a follicle, a pore and a sebaceous gland. A pore can become clogged as dead skin cells block the pore. The oil from the sebaceous gland can't get out becomes trapped within the pore. The light colored oil creates a whitehead.
When a pore is partially choked up, some air can get through to the oil. Oxygen reacts with the trapped oil which darkens in color giving rise to a blackhead.
Next, it gets converted into a pimple or zit. Bacteria surviving on the skin injest the sebum oil and multiply. The trapped oil in these pores acts as a feast for these bacteria. The lack of air inside these pores accelerates the growth of these bacteria. Our immunity system becomes active due to the presence of the bacteria. As a result, our white blood cells converge at pore just below the surface causing inflammation and raised bump of a pimple.
When it comes to treating blackheads and pimples, there are two main types of treatments involved. The first method is to exfoliate the skin. This treatment facilitates the cleaning of the dead skins cells preventing them from clogging a pore. These substances can seep through these blockages and remove the dead skin. This will allow the oils in the pores to escape.
The other form of treatment is to kill the P. Acnes bacteria. Such treatments mostly use benzoyl peroxide to increase the level of oxygen on the skin, thereby successfully killing the bacteria and curing the pimple.
Lemon juice is also an excellent skin exfoliant because lemon contains salicylic acid. The acid helps you to get rid of the dead skin cells. It too can pierce through the clogged pores and remove blockages and permit the sebum oil to escape. Again, this relieves the underlying cause and eliminates pimples, blackheads and whiteheads.
But lemon juice can cause rashes as it is rather taxing on skin dues to the number of acids in it, including citric acid.. Doctors often recommend you to test your skin type by using lemon juice on a small patch of skin. That way you can determine if you have an adverse reaction. It can sting as well, especially if you accidently get it in the eyes.
Baking soda, which is also known as sodium bicarbonate, acts as an exfoliant. The action it produces is similar to an acne brush in that it physical remove the skin cells through abrasion. The rough feel of the baking soda causes you to shed off the dead skin cells. Gently massaging baking soda allows sebum oil to come out from clogged pores.
Baking soda actively scrubs off the top layer of skin. It is gentle, and should not damage the skin too much. But you can over exfoliate. Scrubbing beyond a certain point may affect the skin below the surface. You may experience tenderness, inflammation and potentially more acne.
Toothpaste has been a long recommend home remedy for acne. Toothpaste contains hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and alcohol. The hydrogen peroxide will increase oxygen levels and kill bacteria. Alcohol will also kill bacteria. Baking soda is an exfoliant. Thus toothpaste combines both treatment types.
Toothpaste can also reduce the size of a pimple by drying out the skin. But there is some chance of irritation that causes redness and peeling.
When the reasons and origin are known, we can attack the source of problem and the blackheads will get eliminated. So, what is a blackhead, whitehead or pimple?
A breakout begins with a clogged pore. Each hair follicle is a combination of a follicle, a pore and a sebaceous gland. A pore can become clogged as dead skin cells block the pore. The oil from the sebaceous gland can't get out becomes trapped within the pore. The light colored oil creates a whitehead.
When a pore is partially choked up, some air can get through to the oil. Oxygen reacts with the trapped oil which darkens in color giving rise to a blackhead.
Next, it gets converted into a pimple or zit. Bacteria surviving on the skin injest the sebum oil and multiply. The trapped oil in these pores acts as a feast for these bacteria. The lack of air inside these pores accelerates the growth of these bacteria. Our immunity system becomes active due to the presence of the bacteria. As a result, our white blood cells converge at pore just below the surface causing inflammation and raised bump of a pimple.
When it comes to treating blackheads and pimples, there are two main types of treatments involved. The first method is to exfoliate the skin. This treatment facilitates the cleaning of the dead skins cells preventing them from clogging a pore. These substances can seep through these blockages and remove the dead skin. This will allow the oils in the pores to escape.
The other form of treatment is to kill the P. Acnes bacteria. Such treatments mostly use benzoyl peroxide to increase the level of oxygen on the skin, thereby successfully killing the bacteria and curing the pimple.
Lemon juice is also an excellent skin exfoliant because lemon contains salicylic acid. The acid helps you to get rid of the dead skin cells. It too can pierce through the clogged pores and remove blockages and permit the sebum oil to escape. Again, this relieves the underlying cause and eliminates pimples, blackheads and whiteheads.
But lemon juice can cause rashes as it is rather taxing on skin dues to the number of acids in it, including citric acid.. Doctors often recommend you to test your skin type by using lemon juice on a small patch of skin. That way you can determine if you have an adverse reaction. It can sting as well, especially if you accidently get it in the eyes.
Baking soda, which is also known as sodium bicarbonate, acts as an exfoliant. The action it produces is similar to an acne brush in that it physical remove the skin cells through abrasion. The rough feel of the baking soda causes you to shed off the dead skin cells. Gently massaging baking soda allows sebum oil to come out from clogged pores.
Baking soda actively scrubs off the top layer of skin. It is gentle, and should not damage the skin too much. But you can over exfoliate. Scrubbing beyond a certain point may affect the skin below the surface. You may experience tenderness, inflammation and potentially more acne.
Toothpaste has been a long recommend home remedy for acne. Toothpaste contains hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and alcohol. The hydrogen peroxide will increase oxygen levels and kill bacteria. Alcohol will also kill bacteria. Baking soda is an exfoliant. Thus toothpaste combines both treatment types.
Toothpaste can also reduce the size of a pimple by drying out the skin. But there is some chance of irritation that causes redness and peeling.
No comments:
Post a Comment