As is similar with a lot skin issues, one of the best treatment of how to get rid of blackheads is prevention. By preventing them forming, there is less need for blackhead removal care. To know how to prevent blackheads, it helps to know what causes them to form.
Blackheads occur when an open hair follicle becomes clogged with dead skin cells. Once the follicle is clogged, a bump called a comedo is formed. When the skin over the bump remains closed a whitehead forms and when the skin over the bump is open a blackhead forms as exposure to air darkens the colour.
5 things that can cause blackheads to form include:
- Excess Sebum
Sebum is perfectly natural and is our body's natural mechanism of keeping skin hydrated and protected. Without sebum we would have very dry skin, but too much of it can cause our pores & hair follicles to become clogged - leading to skin issues such as acne and blackheads.
- Fluctuations in Hormones
Fluctuations in our hormone levels can cause our skin to produce excess oil which can clog pores and lead to blackheads. This is common in adolescent teenagers, during menstruation or when taking birth control pills.
- Not Regularly Exfoliating Your Face
Exfoliating your face serves a different purpose to just washing. The purpose of washing your face is to remove day-to-day dirt to keep skin clean whereas exfoliating helps to clear away dead skin cells that clog pores. To help with blackhead removal and prevention, make sure you are exfoliating every 2-3 days.
- A Poor Diet
Although no strong connection has been proven that a poor diet can increase the likelihood of blackheads, research does suggest that certain food products that increase blood sugar levels can play a part in worsening the condition of our skin. Eating a well balanced diet of fruit and veg that contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants can help to keep skin clear.
- Leaving Makeup on Overnight
This is a big skincare no no as it can cause all sorts of skin issues, one of which is clogged pores than can result in blackheads. Make sure you thoroughly remove makeup each night before bed, to learn how, follow our in-depth guide on how to remove makeup.