How to get rid of blackheads & large pores: It’s not a pore strip or harsh scrub!

WHAT CAUSES BLACKHEADS & LARGE PORES

Everyone has pores throughout their skin. Oil and sweat leave our skin through pores, which is how they can get clogged. Makes sense, right? It’s our body’s natural process to expel the very things that cause our pores to clog. Hang tight and throughout this article we will review how to get rid of blackheads and large pores. Even in the weirdest places.. Like your ear. Yep, I said it, it’s super common to get blackheads in your ear.

Common questions I get from patient’s in my chair:

“How do I get rid of blackheads on my nose and chin!?” 

“My pores are so big, can I make them smaller?”

As I mentioned earlier, it’s the body’s natural process to use pores as a pathway to rid the skin of toxins and expel oils to protect it. 

The things that are clogging the pore are vital to the health of your skin. When your skin becomes too bogged down with oils and dead skin cells is when the problems arise.

Reasons for over or under production are many. Commonly teens see a surge in sebum (oil) due to hormonal changes.Sebum clogs the pore. As we age cell renewal decreases which means the skin becomes dull, losing luster, and accumulating dead skin cells within the pore.

BLACKHEADS VS WHITEHEADS

Believe it or not, blackheads fall under the category of acne in the grand scheme of dermatology. Accumulation of anything in the pore will cause a type of acne. Blackheads exhibit when the pore is still open and becomes filled with dead skin cells, oils and dirt. Technically blackheads are considered to be a type of acne called comedone. Comedones appear black or skin-colored. There is no inflammation involved, unless, that is, if they are manipulated. 

I know, it is so hard not to mechanically try to rid your face of the pesky lesions. Fair warning: if you pick at these bumps they will get angry and they will become pustules. 

That brings us to the second type of acne which is inflammatory and needs topical anti inflammatories and antibiotics. To read my entire post on acne CLICK HERE.

BLACKHEAD & LARGE PORE TREATMENT 

If inflammatory and pustular acne needs anti inflammatory and antibiotic medications, what do plain ‘ole clogged pores need?

In order to get rid of the blackhead, you need to apply something that will bring the grime out. I’m sure you are already thinking, “Oh, one of those strips you stick on, right!?” or “Oh, yeah I have a really good and gritty scrub!” 

No and no. 

An adhesive strip will adhere to the skin cells and pull them out but this won’t prevent the pores from filling right back up. 

I am not a fan of mechanical exfoliation at home.

From my own practice and the advisory of fellow providers, I see mechanical exfoliation do way more damage than good. With this being said, I do have a population of patients that are veterans with skincare and prefer to use mechanical exfoliation every 1-2 weeks. 

I do not recommend incorporation of mechanical exfoliation at home unless a patient is insistent and demonstrates knowledge of safe practice.

I maintain mechanical exfoliation through an aesthetician with the dermaplane procedure.  

When you exfoliate with a form of scrub at home you run the risk of damaging your skin unknowingly. There is such a fine line between the amount of pressure to apply, grit of the product, etc. 

WHAT PRODUCT WILL GET RID OF BLACKHEADS

A vitamin A at night is the only way to get rid of blackheads and keep them away (it can take up to 90 days to see optimal results). HERE is my favorite and most affordable.

Vitamin A = Retinoid = Retinol 

Derivatives are not all the same in strength and formulation but they are all in the same drug class. 

I recommend starting with Differin (Adapalene) over the counter which is the mildest form of retinoid at a prescription strength. Before 2017, individuals could only obtain this topical through prescription. 

A vitamin A (retinoid) is going to increase cell turnover. 

What does that mean? Basically, it chemically exfoliates the skin cells and keeps the pores cleaned out. 

It helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles as well (WIN, WIN!)

Due to chemical exfoliation, your skin will peel within the first few weeks of application.

To lessen the intensity of peeling or allow more sensitive skin to acclimate, I instruct patients to apply every 2-3 nights, working up to nightly. Application of moisturizer prior to the retinoid will serve as a buffer and decrease possible irritation.

I recommend retinoid application indefinitely. It will keep pores cleaned out, eliminating blackheads, decreasing the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles and pores.

I frequently get asked how to decrease pore size. 

The pore size will not decrease or go away although using a retinoid will make the pore appear smaller or even gone. Constant exfoliation will eliminate dead skin cells built up around the pore. 

Hydration is imperative to decreasing appearance of large pores. A good measure is to drink half your weight in ounces daily in water. Ensure supplementation with adequate hydration, not only orally, but with a good skincare routine!

It is IMPERATIVE you have a well balanced skincare routine. I see, more often than not, a patient will come to me with prescriptions or trying to use active ingredients such as vitamin c, and they are so irritated. Their faces are a mess. They weren’t guided through a skincare routine to balance the skin out. I cannot stress enough the importance of every single step of a skincare routine to keep the face in harmony.

CLICK HERE for my post on how to create the right skincare routine for you!