Fighting Blackheads

What causes black heads?

Sebum oils (the same oils in whiteheads or pimples) build up in your skin’s pores and when that oil is exposed to air, the top of the oily plug turns dark brown or black.

If you have blackheads, whether many or just a few, you may have tried squeezing them out of your pores, and probably had success with that, but it’s not very good for your skin.

There’s a better way to get rid of those ugly blackheads - for now and for ever!

Start at the source of the blackhead problem:

Blackheads are caused by the same process where all acne begins - too much oil being produced by your skin. The problem is compounded by a lack of effective exfoliation of the dead skin cells - which causes the blockage and the cause for enlarged pores that appear dirty.

Getting rid of blackheads is actually not hard, but requires some re-training of our skin care. Even though blackheads are not caused by dust or dirt, gently cleaning your skin on a regular basis - to remove excess oils and dead skin cells - is the best way to minimize blackhead problems. Use a gentle soap or acne specific wash as these don?t dry out skin cells. If you dry out your skin with harsh cleansers and drying agents your skin will work double-time to produce more oils. More oils mean - you guessed it - more acne!

And of course don’t forget that your cleansing routine must also tackle the removal of the dead skin cells that blocked the oil’s release to begin with. I recommend getting a few newborn baby washcloths, gently rub in small circular motions (gently!) and never use a facecloth more than once between laundry days. Wet facecloths breed bacteria and bacteria is a known cause of acne pustules or cysts.

Herbal and Holistic Acne Treatments

Zinc and Acne

Zinc is one of the most recommended natural cures to control acne flare-ups and is available in creams and lotions.

Red Clover and Acne

Red Clover is an herbal supplement that is reported as effective in reducing the severity of acne breakouts. You can find it in your health food or vitamin store in a powder or in a tablet form.

Agnus Castus and Acne

Agnus castus is a homeopathic remedy that may help regulate hormones - one of the leading causes of acne. This remedy is available as a tincture that is normally taken 1 to 2 times daily for 1 to 2 months.

The Problems With Acne

Acne is a skin condition that shows up as bumps and lumps anywhere on the body. These bumps include blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts.

Teenagers get acne because of their raging hormonal changes that come with puberty, and unfortunately if your parents had acne as teenagers it’s possible you will be more prone to developing acne as well. The good news is that, for many people acne disappears almost completely by the time they hit their twenties.

The type of acne most teenagers get is called acne vulgaris, and it usually shows up on the face, neck, shoulders, upper back, and chest.

The hair follicles, or pores, in human skin contains sebaceous glands (also called oil glands). They make sebum which is an oil that lubricates hair and skin. Most of the time, sebaceous glands make the right amount of sebum, but as a teenagers body begins to mature and develop, hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to make more and more sebum, and the glands become overactive.

The pores of the skin become clogged if there is too much sebum and too many dead skin cells and bacteria (especially a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes) get’s trapped inside the pores and multiply, thus causing swelling and redness - the start of acne.

Reports show over 90 percent of all adolescents and almost 25 percent of all adults are acne sufferers. And though acne affects about 50 percent of all adult women, acne affects males and females worldwide, regardless of nationality.

Acne has a significant impact on a person’s outlook on life, and recent studies have detected the following as common among people with acne:

• Social withdrawal
• Decreased self-esteem
• Reduced self-confidence
• Poor body image
• Embarrassment
• Feelings of depression
• Anger
• Preoccupation
• Frustration
• Higher rate of unemployment

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About the Author…
Kim Standerline is a Registered Nurse working for a large Hospital Trust in the UK. She can be found at http://www.acne-and-you.com and http://www.nursing-hints.com

This isn’t on the jar, nor have I seen it anywhere else, but it worked for me after a week of testing…

Give this a shot every day, even a few times per day for the next week.

Using Noxzema for Acne Control

Last month the humidity here was at an all time high. And my skin paid the price. I have neither oily, dry, or combination skin so acne treatment over the years has been a constant struggle to put it mildly.

For years I’ve tried any and everything, but I still get all types of acne - blackheads, whiteheads, even cysts at time. Ugh.

A few months ago I said “I’m going back to the basics of skin care.” I bought an age-old wash that I’ve seen both my mother and grandmother use for years - Noxzema - you know it, it comes in a blue tub.

The one I picked up was pretty new I think, it’s specially formulated for sensitive skin. I bought the sensitive one because we have a pre-teen in the house and I didn’t want to introduce her young and perfect complexion to any harsh chemicals….

I washed my face gently with Noxzema all week and saw a little improvement, but nothing to write about. Then, something triggered in my mind. I remember reading years ago about someone who used Noxzema as a ‘facial mask’ - put it on, let it soak in for an hour or so, then rinse it off.

Well I’ve been doing it all week and you’d never believe the results!

This cheaper than average facial wash has diminished the blackheads and I’ve had no of those ugly angry looking nasties appear since I started!

I’ll let you know in a month or so any other results I find, but if you’re game for an experiment pick yourself up a less than $5 jar and give it a whirl! It works for me so far for acne flareup control!