For the smooth skin, it is important to keep the pores clean. Clean pores come from proper sebum care, and if you neglect this, you may have blackheads and whiteheads on you skin. Let’s find out how to manage blackheads and whiteheads, which are troublesome because they do not cover well with makeup and do not disappear easily with nose mask (blackhead remover) etc.

In normal status, sebum is discharged out of the skin through the pores, but the sebum suddenly increases, they clog each other and block the pores. It is like a traffic jam, when a large amount of sebum tries to get out of the narrow pores at once, it can not pass, and then the sebum accumulates and hardens in the pores, which is the basis of acne, comedone. Blackheads and whiteheads are a type of comedone.

Blackheads are clogged sebum coming out of pores and oxidized when they contact with air and turn black. Whiteheads are filled in the pores and protrudes to the surface of the skin. Also, blackheads are called open comedones and whiteheads are called non-open comedones. They are located on the nose and forehead, because a lot of sebaceous glands are developed near the nose and forehead, which is called the T-zone.

Blackheads and whitehead are not just cosmetic issue. Like previous explanation, they are the comedone can develop to acne. The condition of clogging sebum is an environment favored by bacteria; it can develop to inflammation. Inflammation means that inflammatory acne has developed, and when it swells and the surrounding skin weakens and starts to burst, it becomes inflammatory acnes.

Mostly, care of blackheads and whiteheads are treated at home, but it is easy to make a mistake. If there is not a proper treatment, the symptoms may get worse. There are many methods that are known to good remover of blackheads and whiteheads, but you should be aware of the details and application.

Dr. Sangjae Jang, the founder of Lames dermatology clinic, said “The particles of scrub are very sharp when I observe it with a microscope. Be aware of scratches by rubbing the scrub on the skin.”, and “There are ways to remove blackheads with nose mask that can remove sebum. It is okay to gently remove blackheads often, but it is not recommended to use those products that can overstimulate the skin or damage the skin barrier.”

For the blackheads and whiteheads, makeup itself is a problem, but cleansing tools such as a cleanser or brush used to remove makeup can be a problem, too.

Blackheads and whiteheads are caused by stimulation the secretion of sebum that is from the oil ingredient of cosmetic and cleanser breaks the skin barrier and loses its protective function. Dr. Jang insisted, “There are reports that the combination of cosmetics can break the skin barrier, and the oil cleanser used to remove makeup also destroys the skin barrier, further damaging the skin. First, it is recommended to refrain from makeup as much as possible, and if you do, it is better to use a cleansing milk, etc. to wipe off the makeup, and then wash it off again with secondary cleansing.”

Cleansing brush is the one of the dirtiest things we use often. Cleansing brush is kept watery after use, bacteria can easily grow. It may be no problem at first, but if you use it for a long time, your skin may be irritated by the bacteria that have already been. Thus, there are many products made of silicone that can be sterilized recently and replacing them may be a good choice.

Blackheads and whiteheads are better to treat but in fact, it is not easy to remove them by yourself. Blackheads are exposed to the outside of the skin, so they are easy to squeeze out, and if you squeeze the clogged pores sufficiently with a steam towel, etc., they can come out. However, whiteheads are very difficult to treat because they are not exposed.

Nevertheless, if you try to squeeze it out, sebum and pus can burst from the inside, leading to secondary infection and a dent-sharped scar. If you need to remove the whiteheads by yourself, it is better to squeeze it after making a hole for the sebum to come out with a needle but need to be careful because touching the pores with a needle incorrectly can enlarge the pores and cause scar. Once a scar is formed, it is difficult to completely return to its original condition.

There is the way to remove blackheads and whiteheads simply, or to reduce the possibility of blackheads and whiteheads in the future by suppressing the function of the sebaceous gland itself.

Dr. Jang explained, “Blackhead can be directly burned with CO2 laser or can be squeezed out by making pore widening. Whiteheads can be treated after making a hole with laser and widening the entrance.”

He continued, “It may be easy to occur comedones if you try to tighten the pores enlarged with blackheads and whiteheads. In that case, it is good to proceed with treatment to reduce sebum secretion itself, and to create collagen fibers and elastic fibers that support pores. Then, when the pores are tightened, sebum secretion is reduced, reducing the chance of comedones.”

Attention to cleansing and moisturizing is enough to prevent blackheads and whiteheads.

Dr. Sangjae Jang adviced, “It is good to wash your face twice a day Alkaline cleanser is often used because there is a lot of sebum, but the skin barrier is destroyed, and the skin tends to become dry. When the skin is dry, the secretion of sebum is accelerated, creating a vicious cycle. Thus, it is recommended to use a ‘weak acidic cleanser’. People’s skin is naturally weak acidic, so keeping a weak acidic environment can help your skin find the optimal condition.”

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