How To Get Rid Of Nose Blackheads

Nose blackheads can be the ugliest thing! They seem to last forever, not clearing up the way that pimples do, and they can lead to permanently enlarged pores which just get worse as you get older. So what can you do?

Blackheads are caused by overproduction of oils (sebum and keratin) by the sebaceous glands in the skin. These substances solidify and darken on contact with air, blocking the pore and creating a plug that can be hard to remove.

People often think that the black color at the surface is dirt, but it is not. It is caused by oxidation. You cannot wash it away with soap. However, there are other treatments that you can try.

First, you can buy preparations from the drugstore that claim to get rid of blackheads. These vary in their active ingredients and how they work. Some dry out the skin, which can look alright in the short term but only leads to more oil production.

Other products contain salicylic acid which is believed to dissolve keratin. In fact, aspirin is mostly salicylic acid so if you are not allergic to aspirin you can make a home blackhead removal face mask by making a paste from a soluble aspirin tablet and a few drops of water. Mix with honey to help adhesion if you wish. Apply to the affected area and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with water. Then moisturize, otherwise the skin can become too dry.

Most people can use the aspirin face mask a couple of times per week, but test on a very small area first to make sure that your skin can take it. In most cases any redness associated with acne will improve after using this mask, so if your redness is worse after the aspirin, this is a sign that salicylic acid is too harsh for your skin and you should not use it.

Do not use any other type of painkiller, only 100% pure soluble aspirin.

Some people prefer to physically remove the blackhead. If you want to do this, please do it gently. The best way is to give the face a steam bath to open the pores, then take a tissue and use your fingers (not your nails) to press against the sides of the blackhead. Be sure to close the pores again afterward either with an astringent wash or cold water.

Another method is to use a blackhead removal strip which adheres to the blackheads and pulls them out. These seem to work for some people and not others, depending on the texture and oiliness of your skin generally.

We are all unique, so always consult a health professional or dermatologist before trying any treatments for acne and nose blackheads.

Acne During Pregnancy: What You Can Do

Acne during pregnancy can bring you back to earth with a crash! You are pregnant - you're probably delighted and excited, you expect to feel great and look blooming. Then wham - all of a sudden your skin breaks out. Why, and what can you do?

Acne in pregnancy is very common. In fact, some women say that they know they are pregnant right away by the pimples! Like many other conditions of early pregnancy such as mood swings, it is caused by fluctuating hormone levels.

As soon as you get pregnant, your hormone levels change. The body begins to produce a lot more of certain hormones - the same hormones that cause acne in many teenagers at puberty by producing an excess of sebum and oils in the face. This means that even if you never had pimples as an adolescent, you may develop them now.

In fact, this is also the reason for that 'glow' that many newly pregnant women are said to develop. It's simply the extra oil production moisturizing their skin.

You can be reassured that after the first trimester, hormone levels will change again and your acne will probably disappear or at least improve. But up until that time it can be distressing if it is severe. The appearance of acne can have a serious effect on the self-esteem of adults as well as teenagers, and you may be worried about scarring. So what are the treatment options?

Treatment

Regular exercise will help to control your breakouts as it increases circulation of blood to the skin, carrying away toxins and impurities from the inside. Drinking plenty of water can have a similar effect.

Cleansing your face can help but do not use harsh soaps. If you strip the skin of all its oils, the glands will simply produce more and more, increasing the problem.

When it comes to medication, you must be very careful. Unfortunately some of the most effective oral acne remedies are unsuitable for pregnant women because they are believed to cause deformities in many babies. So make sure that your dermatologist knows you are pregnant.

Do not use any creams or lotions that contain Tretinoin for the same reason. Always read the label and consult a health professional if you are unsure about whether something is safe for you to use. Do not assume that something you may have used as a teenager will be effective or safe now that you are expecting a baby.

If you are already taking acne medication and then you find that you are pregnant, contact your doctor right away. There could be serious consequences if you continue to take certain medications for acne during pregnancy.

Best Scalp Acne Treatment

Scalp acne treatment is a little different from other acne treatments. This is not only because the location of the pimples in among hair makes the use of most creams and lotions difficult, but also because these pimples are usually a different form of acne to that found on the face.

Often known as scalp folliculitis, pimples on the scalp are caused by inflammation of the hair follicles. Another technical name for it is acne necrotica miliaris. The problem is often worst around the hairline, especially on the forehead but sometimes also behind the ears and at the back of the neck.

This type of acne itches worse than most other kinds so it is hard to leave it alone. Scratching and squeezing at the pimples usually makes them worse and prevents healing. Unless your hair is very short the marks are often hidden, so the problem is not as visible as facial acne, but it can be very annoying all the same.

The cause of scalp folliculitis is not known for sure, but it is believed that the follicles become inflamed as a reaction to micro-organisms that get into them. These micro-organisms can be bacteria, mites, or yeast-type fungal organisms similar to those that cause dandruff.

Where yeast is the cause, anti dandruff shampoos can be helpful. In other cases, there are some topical creams that can be applied directly to the pimples. If the problem is severe you may be prescribed antibiotics or other oral acne medications.

The most severe form of scalp folliculitis is a rare condition that mainly affects dark-skinned adult men, though there are a very small number of women and white-skinned people who suffer from it. In this case large cysts or nodules form in the scalp along with smaller pimples. They often contain pus. There will be hair loss in the area forming bald patches which can be permanent. If you think that you may have this type of scalp condition you should see a dermatologist.

More commonly, if you have oily hair along with pimples that are not concentrated at the hairline but appear around the crown and over the scalp generally, then you may have seborrheic dermatitis. This is caused by excessive sebum being released into the hair follicle by the sebaceous glands, which are found on the scalp, face and chest.

With seborrheic dermatitis you are likely to have oily skin and acne-like pimples on your face plus possibly on your chest too. There are some effective treatments available, including shampoos that can help to control the oiliness of the hair as well as the scalp pimples. See a dermatologist to confirm whether seborrheic dermatitis is the correct diagnosis and find the best scalp acne treatment for you.

Should I Worry About Baby Acne?

Many parents are horrified to find that a baby can be born with acne, or develop it in the first few weeks of life.

In fact, most babies have some kind of rash as newborns. This may be baby acne, seborrhea (also known as seborrheic dermatitis), or eczema. Of these three possible rashes, acne is generally regarded as the least serious because it is the quickest to clear up. It is believed to be caused by hormonal changes occurring at birth.

Acne occurs in about 20% of babies, more commonly in boys than girls. It manifests as a red lumpy rash over the forehead and cheeks, sometimes with whitehead pimples. It is thought to be caused by transfer of hormones from the mother to the baby during the birth.

It looks a lot like the pimples that teenagers get but of course a baby does not know or care how it looks and the pimples do not cause any discomfort so you do not have to worry about it having any effect on your baby. In fact, the only way a baby might be affected by it is if the unattractive look of the rash makes you as parents treat the baby differently or show him or her less affection than you would if he or she had perfect skin.

Acne in babies will disappear by itself within a few weeks of birth. Most cases do not require any treatment. Definitely do not use any acne products designed for teenagers, these are much too harsh for a baby's skin and could cause scarring. Also do not use lotions or oils as these can increase the problem. Simply wash once a day with baby soap.

Seborrhea looks a lot like acne except that in addition to a red bumpy rash, the skin will often form yellow crusty scales or flakes in places that have hair follicles, e.g. the scalp, eyebrows and even eyelashes. This skin condition starts within the first few weeks of life and again will clear up by itself without treatment, although usually not as quickly as acne. There are steroid treatments available if the condition is serious.

Eczema is a well known skin condition that can affect babies, usually starting before they are 5 months old but sometimes appearing for the first time in older children. Eczema causes itching and discomfort to the baby so treatment is often required. It usually starts on the face or head but often appears on other parts of the body too, sometimes all over. It can be caused by milk allergies but that is not the only possible cause.

If you think that your baby may have eczema, it is a good idea to speak to your pediatrician about it quickly. You will need to use a moisturizing cream for management and there may be some measures you can take in regard to the baby's food or environment.

Many babies and children grow out of their eczema as they get older but it does persist into adulthood in some cases, with more or less severity. However, if your infant has a simple case of baby acne, there is no need to worry.

Steam For Acne Treatment - A Waste Of Time?

One of the simplest and most popular natural treatments is steam for acne removal. But does it work, and how? Read on for the pros and cons of steam treatment for acne.

There are two ways to take a steam bath for your acne. One is to use a sauna or steam room. The other, for facial acne only, is to steam at home. Let's take the second one first.

Steam At Home Acne Treatment

This is a very simple treatment where you take a bowl of hot water and a sheet or large cloth. Never use plastic - this is very important - you could suffocate if you put plastic over your head. Only use fabric that you can breathe through.

Fill the bowl with hot water and put your head over it, facing the water. Put the cloth over your head to hold in the steam.

Don't have the water too hot. This means do not use boiling water from the kettle. Only use hot water from the tap.

You can stay for about 10 minutes (but just 5 minutes the first time to check for any adverse reaction). Then wipe your face with an astringent such as witch hazel or apple cider vinegar to clean off any oils that have been drawn out of the pores by the steam and close the pores. Test for any allergy to these products by applying them to a small area first. Cold water can also act as an astringent.

Steam Room Acne Treatment

If you want a more controlled way of treating acne with steam, you can either take a sauna that will treat the whole body, or you can take a facial steam treatment from a specialist.

If you like to use a sauna, be sure to wash or rinse away all the impurities from the skin and then close the pores with cold water.

Professional treatments are available from some dermatologists, beauty parlors or commercial saunas. These will have you lie on your back with the eyes and hair protected, and steam will be directed at your face. The advantage of this is that the temperature is controlled at the best level for acne.

The professional steam session will usually be followed by cleansing and perhaps a face mask whose properties will be selected to suit your skin type.

How Does It Work?

Steam treatment can help cases of acne in two ways:

First, it opens the pores and hair follicles and causes sweating that can wash away any dirt and bacteria in the pores.

Second, it stimulates blood circulation to the skin. This brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin which helps it to resist infection.

Are There Any Bad Effects?

A few people with very sensitive skin may find they have a bad reaction to the steam, especially if it is too hot. In a very small number of cases it can even aggravate the acne. Consult a dermatologist to check if steam is recommended for your own acne.

It is normal for the skin to be red straight after. The redness should disappear within about a half hour, but this can vary from person to person. So do not plan any social events immediately after your steam for acne treatment.


To Your Skin Success!

David & Radical All Natural Team