Blackheads and Blocked Pores

Blackheads are usually caused by partially blocked pores. The “black” appearance of them is not caused by dirt, but by the oxidising effect of air on the sebum (oil) in a blocked pore and from melanin, a pigment from the dead skin cells.

The best way to get rid of blackheads is to remove the cause of them, thats the excessive sebum (oil) and dead skin cells from the outer surface of the skin . Use only products made with natural ingredients that are not too astringent. Harsh products can strip the skin of oil, causing it to produce more sebum which leads to more blocked pores. Don’t be afraid of using cleansing products containing natural oils, such as jojoba or coconut oil to cleanse the skin. These oils are close to our natural oils, so they don’t block the pores. Use a gentle exfoliating mask such as Zenmed’s AHA/BHA Complex every day to remove dead skin cells so they don’t block pores. Just remember to be very gentle, over exfoliation can exacerbate the problem. Avoid products containing the following: alcohol, isopropyl mystate, lanolin, sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate, propylene glycol, mineral oil and parabens.

Do not to try and extract them forcibly, either using your fingers, fingernails or a comedone (blackhead) remover. This can cause permanent damage to the pores and stop them working properly for ever. You may squeeze some of the blackhead out, but you could also force some of it even deeper into the skin, which may lead to infection (large spots, pimples or even cysts) or permanent damage. Touching your skin should generally be avoided to prevent cross infection.

Your Diet

You can help reduce the occurrence of blackheads by eating the right kinds of foods will reduce sebum production, increase good moisture in the skin and help the production of new skin cells. Avoid cooked carbohydrates and fats, replace these with fresh fruits, vegetables and raw fats (avocadoes, olives, olive oil etc).

If You Use Make up

If you do wear make up, make sure any foundations and concealers are non-comedogenic and oil free so they won’t block the pores. Try not to apply make up if your face is sweating. Always remove your make up with a cleanser at the end of the day. Keep all your make up brushes and sponges clean. Wash them in mild shampoo once a month and let dry completely before using.

Reducing the appearance of blackheads

The best method to reduce the appearance of blackheads is to do the following, altleast twice a week:

1. Wash the skin using a gentle, natural exfoliating product and pat the skin dry
2. Fill a bowl/basin with boiling water, and a few drops of tea tree oil
3. Steam your face for about 5 minutes to open the pores and soften the skin
4. Apply a botanical mask, These masks will attract and absorb the oil in the blocked pore.
5. Let the mask work for the allocated time (10 minutes to an hour)
6. Rinse off with warm water and pat the skin dry
7. If you have scars or red marks from previous acne, this is a good time to apply a good scar treatment

Acne during pregnancy is most often caused by hormonal changes. As your body grows to accommodate your child, your hormones kick into action. This can cause not only acne, but also rashes, bumps and melasma.

Melasma is the darkening of skin caused by excess estrogen and is also known as the “pregnancy mask”.

Many acne treatments available today are not safe to use while pregnant and these include any product with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. It is always best to check with your doctor or pharmacist before changing your skin care regime while pregnant just to make sure the the products you choose while pregnant are safe for the baby. Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic acid are the two most common treatments for acne and if they aren’t safe - what is?

Most dermatologists and pharmacists recommend using a product with sulphur in it - a safe alternative that can be as effective as salicylic acid in controlling acne. Another option is an over-the-counter microdermabrasion treatment which would keep the skin clean and renewed, which is important when treating a condition that results from the skin’s inability to renew itself.

Another recommendation is to switch to an oil-free foundation or to use a mineral powder. These products are designed to be non-comedogenic (won’t cause pimples) and are gentler on the skin. You could also try a mattefying layer on the skin before applying make up (I like Smashbox©’s silicone based product). As always, it’s a good idea not to touch or rub your face to prevent acne from forming. If you must touch your face though, be sure to wash your hands beforehand (pun intended ;))

Pregnancy can truly be one of life’s greatest times for a woman and having to deal with acne can be frustrating and annoying. If you are dealing with acne right now, I hope that the tips in this article can help make your skin a little clearer.

Here’s to healthy, happy babies and moms!

Related Websites

• Webpages on Acne during pregnancy

• Webpages on hormonal changes

• Webpages on salicylic acid in controlling acne
• Acne Scar Treatment
• Salicylic Acid 20% Gel Peel, 30ml (Professional)

Many of us will know by now about Accutane, Isotretinoin, or any of the other names given to the synthetic drugs prescribed for severe acne sufferers. However, if you have not researched it or taken it yourself, chances are that you may not be aware that this drug is simply a synthetic, pre-formed vitamin A replacement and nothing else.

Many of us will also know that synthetic drugs and vitamins do not have a negative or any side-effect on the human body that comes with their benefits. Accutane is no different. Now, Accutane is a proven treatment for acne and no doubt that it works but the fact that a prescription is needed to buy it and a liability waiver must be signed, gives enough proof that it is dangerous. Prescription acne treatments in general are similarly unsafe, and medical supervision and advice is always required for these treatments. That is not to say that all of them will cause you harm. But if a safer, natural and equally effective alternative is available then isn’t that always the better option for treating acne?

Vitamin A has been proven to maintain healthy eyes and skin. This is the primary reason for the development of isotretinoin, the active chemical form of vitamin A used in Accutane. However, the natural forms, or more specifically the carotene forms of it (e.g. beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, etc), found in dietary sources are not toxic. In this way, the natural alternative (or some of you might call it the “home remedy”) is far superior.

Organic, natural Vitamin A supplements are available from most chemists and health stores and are easily purchased over the counter. The bonus of this is that you can purchase 100 Vitamin A or beta-carotene capsules in a small bottle for less than $10. However, supplements, while massively safer than Accutane, still have a smaller risk of Vitamin A toxicity if taken in excess. Therefore, for the highest benefit, you should review the dietary sources listed below for an increased intake without danger and compare it to the risk of toxicity based on the suggestions below.

Generally, vitamin A capsules will contain approximately 5000IU (international units). For the majority of sufferers, this will be a sufficient acne treatment and they will notice results almost immediately. At this level of intake there is almost zero risk for the first 12 months of use, which should not even be required. For more severe cases or in cases where other medications are in use (e.g. anti-inflammatory medicines) which can increase the severity of acne, 2-3 of these capsules may be needed each day. Preferably, no more than 10-15 000IU, depending on weight and body mass, should be taken daily as recommended on the label and throughout available research sources. This should not be an issue as 15000 IU should show dramatic results in even the most severe sufferer.

That said, a study was done recently which indicated that beta-carotene supplements help to prevent cognitive decline (the decrease in mental capabilities).

As mentioned previously though, the dietary forms of vitamin A and beta-carotene have no risk whatsoever! Therefore, I would suggest considering adding a large amount of the below items to your diet, rather than taking Accutane, or even supplements. Now that’s not to say that other vegetables should be disregarded, as they all have benefits to your pH balance, but all of the below sources are also high in beta-carotene / vitamin A content and since it is a dietary source there is no risk of toxicity.

• sweet potatoes
• carrots
• goji berries
• cantaloupe melon
• mango
• apricots
• spinach
• kale
• chard
• turnip greens
• dandelion greens
• beet greens
• mustard greens
• collard greens
• watercress
• cilantro
• fresh thyme
• broccoli
• parsley
• romaine lettuce
• ivy gourd
• rose hips
• winter squash
• pumpkin
• cassava

It would be unreasonable to speak about acne treatments without discussing the Derma Cleanse Acne System. It is without a doubt the most widespread and most commonly used acne treatment on the market today. However, with all the marketing, referrals and sales pitches found in a search there aren’t many informative reviews available for this product. So I have decided to remedy this for those who need it the most.

Let’s start with a history about the product: Derma Cleanse Acne System was developed by dermatologists and skin specialists at Zenmed research and development labs in the early months of 1999 and released as an acne treatment the same year.. The acne treatment system comprises of 3 separate products; a gentle facial cleanser, an acne gel, and easy to swallow derma cleanse capsules. All of them being made from pure botanical highest-grade ingredients that come from certified organic farms right here in the USA.

The facial cleanser helps to clean the outer surface of the skin from dirt, oil and bacteria. The acne gel is used to clear the skin of acne quickly, Derma Cleanse Acne Gel helps heal acne by unclogging pores and eliminating bacteria from the innermost layer of the skin to the surface. This amazing treatment will also reduce the redness, swelling and scarring that often accompanies acne and maintain this level of cleanliness and to continue to prevent the build-up of sebum and bacteria for a prolonged period of time.

Derma Cleanse Acne System has generally had positive result against mild as well as severe acne for the majority of people that have used it, including me (I had moderate acne). For mild or light sufferers who are not against the use of non-natural products or cosmetics, Derma Cleanse Acne System is probably a good choice of treatment. But, if you are looking for a holistic acne treatment, Derma Cleanse Acne System is not the product for you.

In general, the cleanser works much like an exfoliator, in a way that it clears away the dirt, oil and dead cells on the surface of the skin. It is fairly effective in doing this and your skin usually feels quite soft and supple after a wash with this gentle facial cleanser.

The acne gel is applied after the skin is washed and is allowed to dry. The purpose of the gel is to apply a layer of Salicylic acid to the skin to continue the actions of the cleanser for a longer period of time. It works to keep pores unclogged and to prevent the secretion of excess sebum (oil). The acne gel, I have found, is the most beneficial solution of the Derma Cleanse Acne System System. The acne gel is quite effective in minimizing the inflammation of a pimple and healing the damaged skin after a breakout. You can usually see an improvement in a day or 2 of using the gel.

The Derma Cleanse capsules are easy to swallow and begin working right away. The Derma Cleanse Capsule is one good internal treatment for acne prone skin. This is one of the key components in the Derma Cleanse® System. The capsules attacks the root cause of acne working to cleanse, detoxify and relax the body. This not only helps heal current acne, it also helps to prevent future breakouts.

The Active Ingredients:

The active ingredient in Derma Cleanse Acne System, as in many other herbal based acne treatment creams, is Salicylic acid. This chemical is absorbed by the skin and a chemical reaction occurs creating free radicals. It works by reducing the amount of sebum released and causing the skin surface to become dry, although a tolerance is usually built after 3 to 4 days of using it.

That being said, the Salicylic acid concentration in Derma Cleanse Acne System is only 2.0%. Research has shown that this concentration is far better tolerable by the skin. So, it plays an active role in clearing acne. This substance will generally reduce the severity of your acne while it is in use.

The Derma Cleanse Acne System System is an effective treatment for acne, even if it is just a small improvement. Being a herbal product, it doesn’t have individually varying results, most people experience the same results when they follow a common regime. But in general you should see better results after using the system for a few weeks. And if you have only a few blemishes and are not opposed to a non-natural treatment, Derma Cleanse Acne System is probably your best bet.