Finally! Your life without blackheads!

Blog readers have repeatedly expressed the wish that we deal with the topic of "blackheads".Of course, the subject matter is very important when it comes to skincare—but it's also a bit unsavory.Now seriously: Who wants to know for sure that the black spots on the face are clogged pores and that the discoloration is caused by oxidation of the skin pigment melanin with oxygen.Okay, this cat is now out of the bag.But perhaps this information is also the best incentive to take care of your comedones, as they are correctly called in Latin.

No signs of poor hygiene

One thing first: "Blackheads" are not a sign of poor hygiene.Even if this fairy tale is happily passed on from mother to offspring."Child, wash your face more often" is not a bad suggestion in principle.The thought behind it is wrong.Because: The excessive production of sebum is hormonal.This means that those who suffer from it when they are young will also have the same problems as adults.The good news in the bad: Usually only the areas of the so-called T-zone are affected: there are a particularly large number of sebaceous glands on the forehead, nose and chin.But of all things, they are even larger than usual in other parts of the face.

Face without black dots

The most important question now is: How do we fight evil? Fortunately, there are many and extremely effective ways.And this is where mother's washing request is just right.If you gently cleanse your face in the morning and in the evening, you also wash the excess sebum out of the pores.This significantly reduces the risk of blockages.However, prior research is essential: What type of skin do you have – and which cleansing products are best suited for it.This is the first (and most important) step towards a beautiful face without black dots.

4 tips against blackheads

What follows are the most important tips to get rid of "Blackheads" (the newfangled and more appetizing name) completely:

1.Face Masks

Facial masks have several advantages - if they contain salicylic acid or activated charcoal.They are particularly gentle on impurities, soften excess sebum and then promote cell renewal.The nice side effect: users who complain about a particularly large-pored complexion will notice after regular mask use: their tissue has become smoother.

2.Scrub

A peeling is always a small risk - at least if the facial skin is not absolutely healthy.Since the peeling consists of a rather coarse texture, the tissue is stressed.In other words: If you don't want to do without it, you must first decide on a skin repair cream (with an extra portion of moisture).However: The effect on the blackheads is impressive.Products with salicylic acid in particular ensure that the mixture of dandruff and sebum is removed in the long term.

3.Blackhead Band-Aids

Anyone who feels committed to the saying "An Indian knows no pain" should rely on blackhead plasters.The so-called clear-up strips are quick and easy to use.Apply briefly, remove quickly - and the effect is visible - both in the fabric and on the then black dotted strip.However, we do not want to hide the following limitations: Firstly, the effect is mostly short-lived - because nothing is done to counteract the overproduction of sebum.And secondly, the patches often work better on the nose and forehead, the effect on the cheeks is rather small.

4.Blackhead Sucker

The remover - the name already gives it away - tackles the blackheads mechanically.It sucks the clogs out of the suffering pores.As with the strips, the restriction also applies here: It makes more sense to use the device on rather smooth surfaces, such as the nose and forehead, than on the car.

Why skin cleansing is important

Why is the removal of comedones so important - apart from the cosmetic issue? You have to know that the overproduction of sebum can trigger two forms of blackheads.There are the blackheads now discussed.Are they not treated orfight the cause, there is a risk of acne.And at any age.Nobody can really want that.But there is also a second variant, the whiteheads.These are plugs that do not allow the gland secretion to escape to the outside at all - but store it under the skin in the form of a milky-white plug.They trigger larger pimples or pustules, but can also encapsulate and become inflamed under the skin.

The unhealthy lifestyle

If we gave tips from the drugstore or the cosmetics department a few paragraphs earlier, then the possibility of home remedies must also be mentioned at this point.There are quite a few things that those affected have at home in the fight against blackheads.Nevertheless, it should first be said that a healthy lifestyle always has a positive effect on the tissue – especially in the face.If you drink little (or better no) alcohol, don't smoke, eat well, drink a lot of water and get enough sleep, you can actually save yourself a lot of beauty routines.

Home remedies for blackheads

As mentioned before, the formation of black dots is also dependent on one's genetics.So if you are unlucky enough to produce a lot of sebum, you can also rely on the following tips: Steam baths with chamomile are a natural helper.Simply boil a tea bag in hot water, place in a bowl and allow to cool briefly.Then hold your face over it.The steam opens or widens the pores and ensures that the sebum can drain out again.Additional benefit: The chamomile vapors have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.Other home remedies include tea tree oil (antibacterial; apply with a cotton ball), fresh lemon juice (4 drops on a tablespoon of sugar, massage in gently) and healing clay (apply like a face mask, draws out sebum and toxins).

Where does the term "comedo" come from?

Finally, let's come back to the history of "blackheads": If you search the Internet, you will quickly read the technical term "Komedo", which in turn can be traced back to the Latin "comedere", i.e. "to eat" or "to eat".It does not reveal what the black dots have to do with food intake.Only a bit more research persistence leads to the result: In earlier times, i.e. in the Middle Ages, people believed that diseases were only caused by parasites.Yes, that's a bit gross.And it doesn't get any better: the misconception would have it that the sebum plugs are tiny worms that feed on the host under the skin.Science later derived the term "comedo" from this - and the vernacular "blackhead".Promise, that's it with the ugly details... at least almost.Because there is still one piece of advice: It is always a bad idea to squeeze out the blackheads with your fingers.Why? There is a risk that the sebum will be pressed into the surrounding tissue.This usually results in inflammation that digs its mark on the face for a long time.Nobody can really want that.