Blackhead Myths Debunked
There are many common blackhead myths. People do not know what blackheads really are. Blackheads are a very common skin problem. People with oily skin have them most. We need to know what they actually are in order to properly treat them.
Are they hair follicles on our skin?
Are these leftovers of acne?
Let’s find out…
What are Blackheads?
Blackheads are called open comedone in dermatology, meaning a pore that is open. They are caused by oily skin and open pores. Our skin has trillions of pores and they are a very important part of our skin.
We cannot simply get rid of the pores; to be honest, we can’t even open and shut our pores like windows. These pores are important to keep our skin soft and hydrated.
These pores secrete sebum which is a healthy oil that helps in keeping our skin naturally hydrated. Sebaceous glands produce sebum. Due to issues like hormonal imbalances, bad eating habits, and bad skincare practices, the natural process of sebaceous glands is imbalanced which leads to increased production of sebum(oil) and can lead to further skin problems.
Basically, blackheads are actually an accumulation of sebum(oil), dirt, and debris (dead skin cells) that has been oxidized by the oxygen in the air and turned black.
Our face is most prone to blackheads because it is the most exposed part of our body. Also, we put a lot of topical products on our faces without knowing the ingredients. These products can then cause the pores to clog and eventually become blackheads.
Common Blackheads Myths:
There are so many commonly misunderstood concepts about blackheads. I call them blackhead myths.
Most of the time we are doing something as a solution to get rid of blackheads, but we might be actually harming our skin even more.
This is why it is important to clear up any misunderstanding that you might already have and are already doing to get rid of blackheads, but, it’s actually making the problem worse.
Here are some common myths about blackheads:
Blackhead Myth #1: All those dots on my T-Zone are blackheads.
You might think you have blackheads but they might be just your pores. If they are flat and evenly spread they are just open pores. If you are inspecting your face in the mirror, being too close to the mirror can make you feel like you have blackheads but actually might be just pores that are normal and everybody has them.
So don’t be too harsh on yourself and take a step back from the mirror.
Blackhead Myth #2: Washing my face more will get rid of blackheads
A very common blackhead myth. Yes, blackheads are a mixture of dirt buildup but over-washing your face will do more (inflammation-inducing) harm than good. We need to treat them as gently as possible.
Blackhead Myth #3: If I just scrub harder, they’ll clear themselves out
Scrubbing your skin or even just applying undue pressure can cause trauma that will make things look and feel a lot worse as well as increase inflammation leading to more pimples.
Gentle is the name of the game when it comes to handling your skin. Always.
Blackhead Myth #4: Blackheads are caused by oil, therefore only form in oily skin
People with oily skin have more blackheads, that’s true. But no matter what your skin type is, your hair follicles still have oil glands.
It’s true that people with dry skin might experience fewer blackheads, but all the rules of how blackheads form still apply, and you still have all the required ingredients: oil, dirt, and dead skin, especially around the nose where oil glands are most heavily concentrated.
Blackhead Myth #5: Makeup clogs pores and that’s why women have blackheads
Blackheads are gender-neutral. The universal and transgender cause of blackheads is the combination of sebum overproduction mixing with dead skin cells. Not makeup.
Then again, if you leave your makeup sitting on your face for days without washing it properly, you’re probably helping in the formation of blackheads.
Blackhead Myth #6: I’ll just shrink my pores to get rid of blackheads
Pores aren’t muscles that contract or expand. But you can reduce their appearance by regular cleansing to reduce the buildup of dead skin cells that are plugging your pores.
If you are facing the problem of large pores then here is a good read for you: Large Pores? Here Are 5 Best Solutions You Need To Know
To Conclude:
- Blackheads are more common in people with oily skin but they can happen on any skin type.
- knowing about the blackhead myths is going to help you focus on the actual problem. So you can treat blackheads efficiently.
- Keeping your skin clean and following a good skincare routine will help you prevent problems like blackheads.
Learn more about blackhead myths HERE
