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Treating Blackheads and Enlarged Pores
Blackheads and enlarged pores are one of the most common complaints we receive from patients at Pure Dermatology. These conditions concern all ages, skin types, and all skin colors. Our team has a passion for treating acne and rosacea and this naturally leads us to blackheads and large pores since these conditions are very closely associated to blackheads and large pores.
What is a blackhead?
Blackheads are considered a feature of mild acne. Also known as an open comedone, a blackhead is a small, dark spot that often appears on the face, shoulders, chest and back. Blackheads are NOT trapped dirt. They form when the opening of a hair follicle becomes clogged or plugged with dead skin cells and oil. The keratin in the dead skin cells becomes oxidized when it is exposed to the air and turns dark.
What causes blackheads?
- Hormones: Blackheads are more common during puberty due to hormonal changes. Increasing hormonal levels cause an increase in oil, which can causes more clogging of the hair follicle. After puberty, hormonal changes related to menstruation, pregnancy, and the use of birth control pills can also bring on blackheads in women.
- Heavy cosmetics – Oil based cosmetics or simply too much make up can cause increasing clogging of the hair follicles, thus increasing blackheads. Make sure your makeup is ‘non-comedogenic’ which means not blackhead forming.
- Tight or Heavy Clothing – this can cause increase friction and rubbing which can clog the hair follicle, thus forming a blackhead.
- Sun damage – UV radiation damages the collagen and elastin of our skin which worsens the appearance blackheads appear more prominent. Extreme and excessive long term sun exposure can also cause solar comedones or Favre-Racouchot syndrome.
- Medications – some steroid based drugs can make blackheads.
- Genetics – some people are genetically programmed to have more blackheads and acne than others. This likely has to do with the way their hair follicles are made and how much oil their oil glands make.
How do you get rid of blackheads?
Squeezing or over-manipulating blackheads at home can leave scarring and make them worse. At Pure Dermatology, we have lots of methods to reduce blackheads. Regular cleansing is important for decreasing blackhead formation. Some of our favorite ingredients in products are below: The keratin in the dead skin cells becomes oxidized when it is exposed to the air and turns dark.
- Benzol peroxide is a keratolytic agent. This means that it can break up the keratin, or dead skin cells, which can help reduce blackheads
- Salicylic acid is an exfoliating agent, which can help shed the top layer of the skin and decrease blackheads.
- Topical retinoids can also help unclog the hair follicle and shed the top layer of skin, this decreasing blackheads and other stubborn acne.
- Clay masks can draw out impurities and loosen dirt and blackheads.
- Skin Cleansing Brush, such as a Clarisonic can be helpful in removing buildup and preventing blackheads.
How we treat blackheads?
What is the difference between a Blackhead and an Enlarged/Clogged pore?
Enlarged Pores or Clogged Pores often appear on the nose. Unlike a blackhead, Enlarged or Clogged Pores are caused when either oil in the pore or something around the pore causes the pore to look large. This can be because:
- The oil gland is producing a lot of oil, which fills the pore and causes it to look large.
- Sun damage causing loss of elasticity of the skin around the pore can cause an enlarged pore.
- Inflammation around the pore from a skin condition, such as Rosacea, can cause swelling in the surrounding skin causing the pore to look larger.
- Extractions, which are carefully performed to extra individual blackheads with specialized tools.
Generally squeezing a large or clog pored is not helpful – no material will come out. Squeezing these areas can actually damage the skin and make the area look worse and cause scarring.
How do I improve the appearance of Enlarged/Clogged Pores?
It is not likely that any ONE thing will make your large pores completely go away. But there are lots of different things to do for maintenance that can improve the appearance of large or clogged pores.
If your enlarged pores are due to a medical condition such as Rosacea, treating the underlying medical condition will decrease the appearance of large pores. Dr. Haseltine and Dr. Holcomb will make customized recommendations for your skin type.
- Washing the face both morning and evening to remove excess oil and dirt from pores. Some patients with oiler skin types prefer a gel cleanser. Avoiding oil based products
- Light exfoliation can remove the excess debris from pores and make them appear smaller.
- Topical retinoids can exfoliate the upper layers of the skin, or the largest portion of the pore. The pore is “cone shaped” so as the outer layer of skin is exfoliated, the inner layers appear smaller.
- Clay masks can draw out impurities and temporarily tighten skin.
- Daily sunscreen is crucial to prevent sun damage, which can decrease elasticity, or tightness, of the skin and allow the pore to open wider.
How do we treat Enlarged Pores?
If your enlarged pores are due to a medical condition such as Rosacea, treating the underlying medical condition will decrease the appearance of large pores. Drs. Haseltine and Dr. Holcomb will make customized recommendations for your skin type.
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