How to Banish Blackheads to the Naughty List

No matter the time of year, blackheads always appear as an unwelcome guest that are determined to ruin your day. Just like fruitcakes or that ugly sweater your aunt knitted you, blackheads have a nasty habit of coming back no matter how hard you try to get rid of them. Simply squeezing them away offers the chance for more to appear, so what are you supposed to do to keep your skin looking and feeling its best?

Fortunately, our Wilsonville dermatologist at Valley View Dermatology have you covered. Here are a few helpful tips that will enable you to eradicate blackheads for the holidays and the rest of the year.

Know Your Enemy

So that you don’t do damage to the health of your skin by trying to scrub them away, it’s important to know what causes blackheads to develop. Blackheads form from a mixture of dead skin cells and oil that accumulate in your pores. When this mixture is exposed to air they begin to oxidize, which is what turns them black.

Blackheads don’t develop simply because your skin is dirty, so don’t try to fix the problem by over-cleaning or –scrubbing your face to remove dirt that isn’t there. Not only will this not prevent the problem, it can actually cause more damage by being especially rough with your skin by scrubbing too hard.

Use a Salicylic Acid Gel to Treat Your Blackheads

One of the best options for removing blackheads from your complexion is to use a skin care product that contains salicylic acid, a compound commonly found in many over-the-counter brands. Rather than looking for a scrub, try finding a gel or other type of leave-on product, since the longer the salicylic stays in contact with your skin the more effective it will be at preventing blackheads. After using this type of product for a few weeks, you start to see a noticeable improvement in the number of blackhead breakouts you experience.

Give a Retinoid a Try

Retinoids make a make a great treatment option for blackheads, but the potency of the compound make many patients with sensitive skin wary of giving it a try. Fortunately, you can now buy low-strength retinoid creams and lotions that can help clear up your complexion without irritating sensitive skin.

For a recommendation on which product to use, make sure to ask any of our Wilsonville skin care specialists during your next visit.

Think About Taking an Acne Medication

Certain types of prescription medications, such as spironolactone, can help to reduce oil production and prevent your pores from becoming blocked. By limiting oil production, not only can these type of medications help to get rid of blackheads, they can also prevent new ones from developing in the future.

Try talking to your Wilsonville dermatologist during your next appointment to see if an acne medication may be right for you. While these medications can help in eliminating the blackheads, they are usually reserved for patients who experience significant acne.

Make a Micro-Needling Treatment Appointment

Micro-needling (also known as collagen induction therapy) involves the use of fine needles to create hundreds of tiny, invisible puncture wounds in the top layer of skin. While this may not sound like the most appealing treatment option, micro-needling can help to dramatically improve the appearance of your skin and prevent the development of blackheads.

 

Don’t let blackheads ruin your holidays. Contact Valley View Dermatology to make an appointment is our Wilsonville dermatologist to bring in the New Year looking and feeling your best.