Everyone around the world wants to look beautiful, right? The whole thing about beautiful on the inside as well as the outside is crap, who cares about the inside? You want to look good on the outside both in how you dress and how your skin looks like.
Having a flawless and glowing skin is a morale boost for anyone looking forward to a wow day. There is no fulfilling feeling like the feeling of you are commanding attention everywhere you go. It gives you confidence and energy to face all obstacles.
Unfortunately, due to various factors, it has been difficult to have that glowing skin always. No matter how much we use beauty products, it becomes difficult to hide those annoying skin pumps that pop up unexpectedly.
You may think it is simple and you can handle that, after all its only one pimple or a rash, but sometimes it becomes difficult and frustrating when it just won’t go away. Have you ever experienced a skin blackhead that just won’t disappear n no matter what? Now you get the feeling.
There are so many factors that can make you have a clear skin. Some are lifestyle causes while some are things we cannot avoid. What do you do when you find yourself with such a skin problem? Will you let it ruin your day? Read along as we explore how to deal with the situation.
In life, the skin is exposed to many factors that may affect how it functions and how it looks. That leads to conditions like allergies, acne, pimples, lesions, comedones and in unfortunate situations even cancer. Let’s have a look at comedones.
What are Comedones?
Comedones is another word for blackhead or blackheads. Generally, it is a bump formed when pores become clogged with sebum, an oily substance that is made to hydrate your skin. To understand more about the comedones, let’s look at the skin.
How is the skin made?
The skin is the largest organ in the body. It is estimated to cover a total area of about 20 square meters. Imagine yourself without your skin? You will be venerable and exposed to a lot of harm, right? The skin is responsible for;
- Protecting the body from any harm.
- Regulating the body temperature.
- Allows sensation of senses.
With the many layers that the skin has, the top layer has pores which have hair follicles and adrenal gland. the gland is responsible for the production of the sebum, an oily substance that keeps your skin hydrated and smooth always.
Due to many changes in the body and hormonal changes especially during puberty, sometimes the adrenal grand is forced to secrete excess sebum due to the increased activities of the gland. this becomes a problem to the skin.
That is because the sebum has no ability to flow on its own and when in excess, it will only sit there and clog the pore. With it, it will trap, dead skin, dirt and even bacteria which leads to the situation we are talking about, the comedones.
Now that you know what comedones are and how they are formed, its time you get to know the types that we have. When clogging of your pores happens, there is the formation of two types of comedones. These types are
Closed comedones
We all agree that comedones are because of clogging of the pores. that is due to overproduction of the sebum oil in the pores. when the clogging happens, it can rise into an envelope and form closed comedones or a white head.
White because the sebum inside is not exposed to the air hence the melanin in it is not oxidized. closed comedones are mostly found on the soft skin, especially around the nose. The following are the characteristics of an open comedone;
- They are not red or inflamed like pimples
- They do not hurt
- They obstruct the pore opening
- if they rupture, they develop into an inflamed pimple
open comedones
open comedones are because of clogged pores that are full of sebum mixed with debris then expose to the surface. The content of the pore is pushed to the surface of the skin where it is exposed to the air. They are also known as blackheads.
Blackhead name comes because of its color. When the sebum is exposed to the air at the surface, the melanin in it is oxidized and hence the dark color you see on the head. The following are the characteristics of open comedones;
- They are dark in color at the surface
- They are found at the tip of an open pore
- Can hurt if pricked
- Can lead into acne if not treated.
Both types of comedone can be confusing and one may not be able to know what he or she has unless you look at the opening. It should be noted that people think that they occur due to the unhygienic situation of a person nut it is not.
Comedones occur in both male and females of all ages, but it is more prominent among the teenage years. That is because this is the time that the body is growing and different changes including hormonal are taking place.
To know your skin type is important in search of a situation. That is because you will be able to know how well to take care of your skin when you have comedones or other skin problems. Do you know your skin type? A dermatologist can help you to know where your skin lies.
If you have an oily skin, then you should know that your skin is more likely to have more incidences of comedones than the dry or the normal skin. If you have a sensitive skin, you should know that when you have comedones, you should be careful in how you treat them to avoid irritating your skin more.
back to menu ↑Symptoms of comedones
We have many skin conditions that can affect our skin. Many are the times that you won’t know what affecting your skin. This is because diseases are similar, they look alike and unless you know specific symptoms, you will end up treating the wrong condition.
With so many information around us, it is difficult in relying on people to tell you what is it that is manifesting your face, unless you consult your dermatologist, chances are different people see conditions differently. Here is how you will know that you have comedones;
- You will know you have comedones when you have blackheads or whiteheads.
- If all over sudden, you start noticing that you have an oily skin.
- If you have a sandpaper texture of your skin.
- If you have additional blemishes on your skin.
- If the condition is leading you to have an acne.
The symptoms may appear as one or as all of them at once. When you notice such characteristics, you need to avoid pricking and look for the reason why you have them in the first place. Here are they coming from? Then you can know how to effectively take care of them.
Now that you know what comedones are, have you ever encountered with them? How did it feel, and how did you take care of them? Many factors cause the outbreak of comedones, but the following are the common ones that bring forth the outbreak of comedones;
back to menu ↑Causes of Closed comedones
When you wake up and look at the mirror, sometimes it comes as a supposed to see your face full of closed comedones that were not there yesterday. It’s a puzzle how they came to be and sometimes wonder what went wrong.
Don’t worry yourself too much. There are no specific causes of comedones. As mentioned earlier, they can occur to people of all ages and is not gender specific. However, there are some factors that facilitate the occurrence of the closed comedones. The factors include;
Hormonal changes
Our body is full of hormones that carry out different functions in our body. When there is a slight change in how the hormone is functioning or is being produced, it leads to the reaction of the body and the first organ to be affected is the skin.
When one is pregnant or is having menses, hormones shift and with that, you will experience an overproduction of the sebum which is responsible for clogging of the pores. this will, in turn, brings along the outbreak of the comedones.
Diet
Little is known about how your diet affects the sebum production but is known that when you eat food full of fats and a lot of calories, you will end up increasing the cholesterol in your body which will, in turn, have an effect in how your skin functions.
It is also known that when you want to have a clear and smooth skin, you need to eat food full of vitamin C and vegetables. This is because fruits and vegetables have a lot to do with how your skin looks so if you have comedones, you better watch what you eat.
Allergy
There are times when our body reacts to what we eat, this is what we call an allergy, a reaction to the certain stimulant. The stimulant maybe an excess protein, a grain or any other food that makes your body react, it can lead to an outbreak of comedones.
Heredity
Many will not want to hear this, but it is inevitable. If your sibling or any of your parent have this kind of problem, my friend you need to embrace the situation because it is in your family to stay. That is because the break out can be inherited by people sharing the same genes.
Exposure to the sun
When you busk in the sun with no sunscreen, don’t expect less. When your skin is exposed to direct sunlight, it will burn and raise your body temperature, as usual, the skin will work hard to regulate the body temperature and in turn increased sebum production will be the result
Bacterial infection
We get exposed to different bacteria every day. Sometimes the bacteria can be friendly, and others can lead to the disease on the skin. One of them is the comedones. The bacteria will be trapped by the excess sebum and when it is enveloped in the pore, it causes an infection in the form of a comedone.
The cosmetic products that you use
Are you keen when buying your skin products? Do you buy products that are meant for your skin? This is where comedones come from. Many people don’t know their skin type and if you are one of them, chances are you are buying the wrong products for your skin
when you have to buy oil-based products, you end up adding a layer of clogging to your skin. That makes your pores more clogged and comedones are likely to be the result. Your skin is producing natural oil and if you add an oil-based product, you will be adding insult to injury.
The way you handle your skin
You are supposed to wash your face twice a day, right? How do you do it? if you have comedones on your face chances are you are over crabbing your face. Scrubbing your face irritate it and make it dry. That lead overproduction of the sebum in your skin.
Do you prick every a pimple that you see on your face? That might also be the cause of the comedone that you have on your face. Pricking is not recommended as it leads to the spread or worsening of a situation.
Smoking
Smoking is a bad habit. Not only does it affect your chest, but also your skin and the neighbor who is next to you. when you smoke, your skin dries up leading to overproduction of the sebum. This, in turn, lead clogging in your pores when the sebum becomes in excess.
back to menu ↑How to Get Rid of Closed Comedones
Still standing on the mirror and wondering what you are going to do with the comedones? Well, here is the thing, no you have known what they are, what causes them it is time you get to know how to get rid of them, right?
The first thing you would want to look for a solution is the internet, right? It is true that you will get all the information you want, but most of them are not genuine, they will mislead you into buying products that won’t help you, so what do you do?
There are a few ways that have been proven to work with comedones. One mistake you don’t want to make is to make the situation worse. You want to make sure that you get rid of the comedones in the safest way possible. To do this, you should use the following;
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Use over the counter products
When you have a skin that is sensitive and wants the best for it, you need to go to the nearest store and get over the counter product that is available. You need to do this when you know exactly what you are having and what is your skin type.
You should be able to make the attendance work easier by describing what you are trying to treat and what is your skin type. In return, they will give you one of the following product that will make the comedones disappear;
Benzoyl peroxide
Since one of the substances that are clogging your pores are bacteria, benzoyl peroxide will help in clearing all the bacteria away. It will go deeper into the pores and wash all the bacteria that is trapped don there leaving your pores free from any bacteria.
To apply this, you need to first wash your face. Make sure you don’t over scrub your face while doing it. after washing, you need to pat dry your face then applies the peroxide all over the affected area. For a more effective result, you should do this at night before going to bed.
Salicylic acid
Use this to treat your face. When you use it, the skin around the affected area loosens up. That makes extraction and removal of comedones easier. It also cleans all the dirt that has built up and reduces the diameter of the pore.
When the pore is reduced in size, then there will be no space in the pore for the bacteria and dirt to log in. to get the acid, you need to go to a store near you and get the right concentration for your skin. Use it at least for to month continuous to make sure all the debris are washed away.
Glycolic acid
You need to start taking care of your skin. That means exfoliating every day. Using glycolic acid as an exfoliate ensures that your face is free from dead skin and your pores are well open. This in turn ill sooth and calm the irritated area making the healing process quicker.
Use retinoid
Retinoid id another over the counter remedy that you should have. It acts to speed up the process in which the outer layer sheds away. By doing this, it eliminates the chances of dead skin finding itself clogged in the pores.
Buy a mask
There are so many types of masks available over the counter. You need to make use of them by making sure you mask your face. When you mask your face, you place a magnet on your skin, it acts to pull out all the debris in your pores and when you remove or wash it off, it comes out with it. that leaves you with a popping skin that is glowing and very clear with no black or whiteheads.
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Making use of the home-made remedies
There is another great way in which you can get rid of those whiteheads that are disturbing you, by using what is available in your house. What many people don’t know is that there is a lot of products in your house that you can use on your skin to get rid of those nasty blemishes that you have.
This might come as good news especially when you have a sensitive skin. That is because a sensitive skin tends to react to almost every cosmetic product that you buy. The good thing about the home-made remedies is that they are effective yet very friendly to your skin.
Are you out of choices, then you need to read along as you look around your house, you will be surprised of how you have so many products to choose from to make your skin glow and shine. The following are some of the home products that you can use to heal your skin;
Steaming
Homemade remedies are all about going natural, steaming is a wonderful way of healing your skin naturally. When you steam your face, the steam opens the pores and loosen the debris in the pores. this makes it easier to remove the dirt and bacteria when you later wash your face.
To steam, you should boil water and put it in a bowl, with a towel, cover your face while bending towards the bowl with the hot water. Make sure steam does not escape. You can also use a towel with the hot water and pat your face for a while.
Baking soda
You thought this is for baking, only right? Well, you will be shocked to know that baking soda is one of the home remedies that can leave your face clear and shinnig.it is a natural exfoliate so when you use, there will be no debris left on your face. It also acts to maintain your face ph. for better functioning.
To use the baking soda, you need to make a paste using water then after rinsing your skin, you need to apply the paste all over and leave it to dry. After it is dry, wash away the dry paste using warm water them. Repeat this every night to see the result.
Oatmeal
There is so much you can do with oatmeal. It is healthy to eat and has a lot of benefits for your skin. Oatmeal is used as a neutral exfoliate. It acts to absorb excess oil from your skin and open pores. it also reduces irritations your skin heals with no pain.
Sugar Scrub
So, the over the counter scrub is not working for you? no need to worry, you can make your own face scrub at home that will be safe for your skin. The sugar in your house is not for sweetening things only, you can also use it to scrub that dead skin on your skin to make you look more stunning.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice is a great source of vitamin C. when you use the lemon juice on your skin, it helps in cell generation hence new cells grow faster. It also acts to exfoliate the skin and removing the excess oil that is clogging the pores leaving your pores clean free from any clogs.
Strawberries
It is a fruit eaten for its nutritious value, it can also be crushed and be used as a mild abrasive that removes and exfoliates the skin. The amazing thing about this is that they have a naturally occurring salicylic acid that is used to treat comedones. It also has ellagic acid which acts as a natural sunscreen.
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Lifestyle changes
Sometimes all your skin needs are some changes in how you do your routines. Some things you do know or unknowingly may have an effect on how your skin looks and functions. To heal your skin, therefore, you need to change what you have been doing to affect your skin. That includes;
Washing
Washing is the number one thing that you need to watch to when it comes to your skin. You are supposed to wash your skin at least twice a day and whole at it make sure you don’t over scrub it. use mild soap and an exfoliate that is good for your skin. Never ever sleep with your make up on.
Keep your hair and oil-based cosmetics away from your skin
Comedones are appearing on your face due to excess oil on your skin trapped together with dirt and bacteria. Having oil from your hair and oil base makeup ill make the situation even worse. Make sure you hold your hair up and when it comes to your make up, go for oil-free makeup.
Stop smoking
For smokers, know that you have a high chance of having comedones than no smokers. So, if you are a smoker and you have them, it is a high time you consider cutting on the smoking thing. It is not even healthy so why do it in the first place?
Keep off direct sunlight
The sun makes your skin dry leading to a trigger of excess production of sebum to moisturize your skin. You need to stop the trigger by keeping off direct sunlight. If you must, then you need to invest in a good sunscreen that you can find over the counter to protect your skin.
Stop pricking
Keep your hands away from your face. Sometimes you might be tempted to prick the pimples and the whiteheads, but it is advisable not to. That is because when you prick them, it leads to the spreading of the bacteria and can lead to a more serious infection.
Balance diet
Eating a balanced diet is vital for tour health. Not only does it keep you on the right weight but also provide the body with the right nutrients used to make your skin more healthy and beautiful. Include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your grocery basket for a more beautiful you.
back to menu ↑How to Use a Comedone Extractor
Hen to someone becomes stubborn and just won’t go away, it is time to extract it. extracting is a professional way in which you can remove the white head without making it worse. It is mostly done by a dermatologist, but you also can do it yourself
Yes, using a simple tool called comedone extractor, you can remove your persistence comedones. It is difficult to sue it at fast, but with a little practice, you will come to know how easy it is to use the comedone extractor.
The tool is two-sided. It can either have two loops of different sizes to extract different sizes of comedones or it can have one side with a scalpel and the other with a loop. The one with the scalpel is used to remove closed comedones since you need to open the comedone before you extract it
It is important to note that if it is your first time to use the extractor on the open comedones, it is wise to look for an expert to open the comedone for you. that is because if you open the wrong way, you will end up with a wound or an infection.
Steps on ho to use the comedone extractor
- First, you need to cleanse your face with warm water.
- Hold a warm towel to the area you want to extract for a few minutes. This is to loosen up the skin and open the pores. alternatively, you can steam your face prior to removing the comedones.
- Take the loop and depending on the size of the comedone, place the end with the right size over the blackhead that you want to be extracted.
- You need to press down the comedone extractor on the comedone. You should be able to feel the pressure on your skin. The oil in the pore should be seen raising on the surface of the skin.
- Once you see the oil rising, it is time to remove it. you will do this by moving the tool across the top removing the content of the pores.
- Once you are done, it is time to wash your tools and disinfect your face.
Did you know all that? now you know. If you love yourself, you will take care of how you look. Comedones don’t have to ruin your day. Hen you have the right information, you will be able to take good care of your skin by getting rid of them and have a good looking clear skin.