Blocked pores can be a real nightmare. They stop the skin from breathing, help to harbor infection, and can lead to annoying breakouts that ruin your confidence. But the good news is that you don’t have to live with your blocked pores forever. There are things you can do.
In general, there are two types of blocked pores. The first is called comedones. These are primarily small raised bumps on the surface of your skin. Often, they’re not inflamed or red at all, and you can only usually see them if light is shining on them at just the right angle. But one of their defining features is that they never seem to come to a head and the pus underneath never gets to escape. They become a kind of permanent part of your facial landscape and something you can often become unconsciously accustomed to over time.
The other type of blocked pores is blackheads. Most people think that blackheads are caused by dirt getting into the pores and causing them to go black. But what’s actually happening is that the body’s own sebum is becoming hardened within the pore itself, leading to a darker color. If you’ve ever squeezed out a blackhead, you’ll have seen this waxy stuff on the tips of your fingers.
Reduce Inflammation In Your Body
Most regular people don’t know this, but it’s something practically every celebrity knows: what you eat directly determines the quality of your skin. If you eat great, your skin looks great: if you eat lousily, your skin looks lousy. Most people know that if they eat plants high in phytochemicals – like broccoli, sweet potatoes, kale, carrots and so on – then these phytochemicals get incorporated into their skin, giving them a natural glow. But few people know that other foods, especially processed foods and animal products, actually increase inflammation under the skin, leading to higher white blood cell counts and more pus production. Pus under the skin leads to whiteheads, blackheads, blocked pores and closed comedones.
Chamomile and Willow Bark Sugar Scrub
Exfoliate Twice A Week
Exfoliation helps to stop the process that leads to the formation of waxy residues inside the pores themselves and is especially effective for people who have large, open pores. There is a list of best exfoliators at Exfoliate.com which catalogs their strengths and weaknesses. Some exfoliators are great and what they do and gentle on your skin, but they can often smell bad or cost a lot of money. Finding the perfect balance for your skin is essential so that you end up benefiting, not losing out, from using exfoliators.
Floral Facial Steam
Use Herbal Topical Treatments
Stylecaster.com says that herbs, like parsley and thyme, can be used to help your skin exfoliate. Just as these herbs help to scrub cholesterol and fat from your stomach when you eat, they also contribute to remove oily, potentially pore-clogging substances from your face too. To make yourself a parsley and thyme face wash, leave the herbs to steep in water overnight to release all their natural goodness. Then apply the water to your face gently with a cloth.
Check out what I'm loving right now on Amazon!
Completely agree about processed foods and animal products. They’re SOO bad for your body and skin!