Blackheads Skin Care - Acne

Blackheads Skin Care For That Fresh Feeling

An acne lesion starts as a microcomedo, which is an enlarged or plugged hair follicle. A blackhead is a type of lesion which reaches the surface of the skin and eventually opens. It is called a blackhead because it has a black discoloration caused by exposure to oxygen. The blackhead does not contain active bacteria. The best treatment is specialized blackhead skin care treatments - as this condition is different to acne and requires different care routine. Although it may be tempting to pick out the black core, this can lead to scarring.

Blackheads are blocked hair follicles in the pores. Regular washing can help reduce the future incidence of them; however, once you have a blackhead regular surface cleaning will not remove them. In fact, over washing the face can actually have negative effects on acne. Typical blackheads can last anywhere from a week to several weeks or more.

Treating Blackheads
Topical treatments are available that in most cases will help get rid of blackheads. There are many different types of topical treatments so you may need to experiment until you find the one that works best for you. Topical formulas are available in creams, gels, ointments and lotions. In general, if your skin feels oily then gels will work much better than lotions or creams. For dry skin, try creams or ointments. Products that are very drying can be too harsh on the skin. The best products are those that have a balance between moisture and dryness.

The most common topical treatments for acne are benzoyl peroxide and hydroxy acids. Both treatments are available in a wide variety of formulations. Once you begin using the product you should see your blackheads start to dry up. It may take a month or more to get rid of the pimples you have. Make sure to follow the directions carefully as too much or too little of the product may result in inadequate results.

When the blackheads go away you may be left with small red spots. These are a normal result of the blackhead being removed and will not be affected by acne treatments. This is soft, new skin that is trying to heal itself. You should take care to leave these areas alone as much as possible so they can heal more quickly.

Avoiding Blackheads
Many things can contribute to an outbreak of blackheads including stress and diet. However, your skin care regime does play an important role in keeping blackheads at bay. In order to keep new blackheads from coming you need to adopt a regimented skin care program and you will need to be diligent in following the guidelines daily.

Start by keeping the skin clean. Wash your face twice daily, in the morning and in the evening before bed. You can use a specially prepared acne wash if you prefer, however, if your blackheads are under control this action may be too drying for the skin. Apply topical acne treatment to the clean face and allow it to soak in. Don't over-apply the product or put it on places that don't need it because these products are also very drying. Continue conscientious upkeep on the face and any other areas that may be affected. Don't stop the daily routine when your face looks better because that may cause your acne to break out again, thus putting all your hard work to waste.