Pores 101
Do you sometimes get an unattractive breakout of blackheads on your nose or your complexion seems to be uneven and rough? If the answer is YES, you could be suffering from clogged pores. There are several factors that can cause this unsightly skin issue including dead skin cells, excess oil, wrong skincare products, incorrect cleansing and hormones.
Dead skin: When dead skin cells accumulate on the epidermis (top layer of the skin) they can block pores. Keeping skin gently exfoliated is important to prevent this.
*Note: If you exfoliate your skin too often or use aggressive products, you can get adverse effect and end up with irritated skin or no skin barrier, rather than healthy skin free of dead skin cells. Excessive exfoliation can irritate and dry out the skin and cause it to produce even more oil to compensate.
Excess oil: The dermis (middle layer of skin) contains sebaceous glands which produce the skin’s natural oils, known as sebum. While these oils help to keep the skin soft and smooth, the sebaceous glands can sometimes produce too much sebum, causing dead skin cells to stick together and congest pores. Using products containing salicylic acid can help, as salicylic acid is oil soluble and can penetrate deep into the pores to clear the blockages.
Wrong skincare: There is many skincare products on the market, and with this mind, one specific product that your best friend loves, doesn't have to suit your skin. Always pick products, that are made for your skin. Especially owners of combination to oily skin should always use lightweight, oil-free moisturizers rather than thick moisturizers based on oils as those tend to clog pores.
Incorrect cleansing: A build-up of makeup and other skincare products can also clog your pores. Even exfoliating, which is often touted as the best way to clear up pores, can aggravate the problem if it is done too often or too aggressively. And remember, the easiest thing you can do is to never go to bed with your makeup on, and always double cleanse your face at night.
Hormones: Hormonal changes due to puberty or pregnancy can increase your skin’s oil production and lead to blocked pores and breakouts.
Below are some products we recommend to treat clogged pores.
