Writer: Dr. Elli Reyes Blackheads
Do you see those Blackheads that you can’t seem to get rid of no matter how hard you try to squeeze them out?
Uh-huh, those are blackheads.
Please do not feel so hopeless because there is a way to root them out. All you need is (1) the suitable ingredient and (2) patience.
Blackheads are formed in the holes where your hair follicles grow. And when excess oil, dead skin, and dirt collect in these pits, the air from the environment oxidizes these contents giving its black color.
It is pretty tempting to grab a pore strip from the convenience store. These strips can only “strip off” the dirt on top of the skin, leaving everything else behind.
So what happens to the oil and dead skin stuck underneath? They accumulate and resurface.
To root out all that filth more effectively, fruit acids are your best bet for long-term relief.
One is a beta-hydroxy acid, called salicylic acid, which can break down the oil. Another is an alpha hydroxy acid, such as glycolic acid, which can snap the bonds between your dead skin cells, promoting exfoliation.
If your blackheads are so stubborn and firmly planted, retinoids come to play. They increase the turnover of your skin cells– replacing the old skin cells faster than usual.
You can start by alternating a low-dose acid and a low-dose retinoid at night. Just remember not to apply all of these simultaneously, for they can be a bit irritating on the skin.
Also Read: Is Bakuchiol an excellent alternative to Retinol?
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About the Writer: Dr. Elli Reyes is a specialist in Aesthetic Medicine from the Philippines. With over four years of specialized training, her aesthetic practice has involved a variety of skin treatments involving Botox, fillers, and the like. As a licensed physician, she has been engaged by multiple clinics and is regularly interviewed by the local media as an expert in the science of the skin. Her research and writings to date have centered on nutrition, functional health, and general beauty.
