blackheads!
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free skin care · Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:16 am

When i look closely in the mirror I see tons of blackheads all over my nose and some on my cheeks. I have large pores. I am wondering what products are good for blackheads....my skin is quite dry so i don't want anything to dry out my skin even more . What about treatments?? lasers? peels?

free skin care · Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:28 am

What is your current routine? Have you considered the Oil Cleansing Method? Dehydration can cause large pores, are you hydrating your body from the inside with plenty of essential fatty acids, fruit and veg?

free skin care · Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:14 pm

I used to have a lot of stubborn blackheads, and I still do, but much fewer. I stick to a well-formulated BHA product, which has helped to reduce them over time. I also use Retin-A which has also helped and even shrunk my pores a bit. However, it took almost 6-7 months of consistent usage before I noticed any remarkable improvement, so you have to be patient, but keep in mind that everyone is different, so you might have a more rapid/slower response.

free skin care · Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:35 pm

I just read that a layer of Elmer's glue applied, allowed to dry (don't know how much) and then peeled off helps remove blackheads.

I haven't looked, but there is supposed to be a youtube video. By now there are probably more than one!

I am going to look; and try!

Idea

free skin care · Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:24 pm

OCM. I had blackheads on my nose, very noticeable. I'd been doing OCM for about a month now, and the improvement has to be seen to be believed.

First off, gunk does still get trapped in my pores, and I do still get a few blackheads (I'm guessing my makeup ain't doing me any favours) but after I apply a steaming cloth to my face, they're easy to squeeze out. And over time, the pores have gotten smaller. I've noticed that the pores on the right side of my nose are much smaller than the ones on the left side, because I find the right side easier to maneuver and tend to concentrate on it. Keep in mind, though, you HAVE to squeeze them out (after steaming your face). The oil does draw them out and makes them easier to extract but they won't go away with just OCM. At least, that's been my experience.

free skin care · Sun Jan 15, 2012 5:16 pm

I used to have a lot of blackheads and I still do, but a lot less. I get them when I slack off on my routine and that is usually when I am up in the Northern part of Canada, doing some camping.

I use Clarisonic brush, do peels and use microdermabrasion treatments.

free skin care · Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:25 pm

I confess -- I don't know how to do OCM.

free skin care · Sun Jan 15, 2012 10:18 pm

http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/
There is a long thread on the DIY board that is very motivational too. Smile

free skin care · Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:27 am

I don't do OCM, but I do believe in this theory. I think this is why I loved Cellcosmet cream cleanser. It has some oils and it left no residue.

free skin care · Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:19 pm

I clean mine out with a tool with a loop on the end. Now I do it every other week because they stay clear and the pores are smaller than ever before.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:31 pm

I do have blackheads-VERY STUBBORN blackheads on my cheeks, chin, nose, general t zone area. I've tried it all, strips, acids, peels, benzoyl peroxide, etc. no matter what they came back, most of the time worse with side effects-
My sister started OCM-oil cleansing method, since she has the same skin issues, and had rapid results! She was so excited, I decided to try it out too. WOW! My skin is finally releasing the "gunk" in my pores, AND my skin is softer, healthier, I'm not having to damage it in the process, In fact-the opposite. Actually feeding my skin what it needs to naturally heal!
I use about 25% castor oil, 50% olive oil, and 25% grapeseed oil, and that's what I wash with. I now use grapeseed oil as a moisturizer which is AMAZING!! And have started regularly taking fish oil (good for your skin) Keep reading this forum-there's a lot of smart people here & it's helped me a ton! Also-I wasn't drinking nearly enough water which I knew wasn't good for me, but I never REALLY knew how that affected my skin-turns out when your skin is CONSTANTLY dehydrated it basically hardens/hangs on to blackheads, so any extractions/process your doing to expel them won't be effective,and you will damage your skin.
Hope this helps!

free skin care · Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:39 pm

^^ Well said!
I feel like such a skincare nerd Laughing

All these ocm/eds success stories are making me happy!

I think I need that tool with a loop on the end and can't believe I've never gotten one.
My skin's been pretty good but I still get some congestion around my nostrils & that part between my chin & lips. Not blackheads, or even whiteheads, but still.. congestion.

free skin care · Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:27 pm

Would the extraction tool work well on the nose? I find that area to be most difficult when it comes to getting blackheads out.

free skin care · Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:56 am

Not going to lie, it sucks to use on the nose. i have a hard time with the sides, but if I'm gentle, the top of it works well. The topography of my face is pretty obvious where the tool has trouble going, my nose is the only place left that has any visible pores. The fatty parts of my cheek is hard to get too, but thankfully I don't have issues there. Forehead, chin, and jawline are a snap. Nose takes some work.

I'm one of the people that OCM didn't work that well for, my skin always felt rather icky. It was surprising to me because I'm not a soap user so I wasn't missing suds, OCM did nothing good for me. No horror stories here, just massively underwhelmed. Plus it made the shower surfaces very dangerous... Laughing

free skin care · Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:24 am

Ava with wings wrote:

Not going to lie, it sucks to use on the nose. i have a hard time with the sides, but if I'm gentle, the top of it works well. The topography of my face is pretty obvious where the tool has trouble going, my nose is the only place left that has any visible pores. The fatty parts of my cheek is hard to get too, but thankfully I don't have issues there. Forehead, chin, and jawline are a snap. Nose takes some work.

I'm one of the people that OCM didn't work that well for, my skin always felt rather icky. It was surprising to me because I'm not a soap user so I wasn't missing suds, OCM did nothing good for me. No horror stories here, just massively underwhelmed. Plus it made the shower surfaces very dangerous... Laughing

Oh wow! I think that is great that it works and maybe I should buy that tool. I normally allow it to come out on it's own (without squeezing)

Fri Jan 20, 2012 10:31 am

I have blackheads too. but last night I tried the new mask - valmont purifying pack and found that my nose is becoming a lot better. the pores are still there but the black color are gone. will try a few time and have updates.

free skin care · Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:55 pm

onmyboat wrote:

Would the extraction tool work well on the nose? I find that area to be most difficult when it comes to getting blackheads out.

I find different skin zones respond to different methods. The tool is good for some areas, fingers well covered with a damp cloth or tissue, or a couple of cotton swabs works best on other sections. Are you steaming to soften the clogs first?

Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:02 pm

Try to apply a good toner to reduce the size of blackheads and to tighten the skin.

Use medicated soaps and any good scrubbing soaps are available in the marker which are pretty good for blackheads skin.

free skin care · Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:38 pm

I do steam my face first when I have time, but not always. If it is properly hydrated (I religiously use a misting spray throughout the day) then there is no need. When my skin was more dehydrated I needed to steam to get the plugs out.

free skin care · Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:08 am

stalina wrote:

Honey
Warm some honey and place it on trouble areas for 10 – 15 minutes. Wash off. Honey is a well known and effective method of removing blackheads from the skin.
Baking Soda & Water

Combine 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 3 tablespoons of water. Rub this solution on your skin for a few minutes, and rinse with warm water for effective blackhead extraction.

Lemon Juice

Use lemon juice directly from the lemon on areas affected with blackheads two to three times a day. The juice will help tighten your pores and make the environment of the face less prone to blackheads. Limes will work just as well if no lemons are available.

Rose & Oatmeal Mask

This treatment is great to get rid of the blackheads you already have and prevent future break outs. Mix oatmeal powder with rose water to make a paste. Spread the paste on your face with fingertips and allow it to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing. Focus on the T-zone and other problems areas like the chin. Rinse this blackhead removing mask off with cold water. The cold water closes the newly cleaned pores, protecting against future blackheads.

Potatoes

Grated raw potatoes can be used to treat all kinds of skin problems including pimples, wrinkles, whiteheads and blackheads. Pack potatoes directly on problem areas to extract blackheads.

Radish Seeds

A paste made out of ground radish seeds and water applied to the face right on the site of a blackhead is an effective blemish remover. Leave the paste on for about 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

I had no idea honey can help remove blackheads!

free skin care · Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:25 am

Firefox7275 wrote:

Are you steaming to soften the clogs first?

Yes, I extract after removing my oil cleanser with a hot towel. The nose is just a really awkward spot. It's nearly impossible to remove blackheads from the sides. I'll look into an extractor because the squeezing method + OCM has left the skin in that area peeling.

And I would be careful using some of the methods stalina posted. Baking soda is an alkali, so applying it on the face will raise your skin's pH, impairing the acid mantle. And lemon juice (especially applied straight) is a serious irritant.

free skin care · Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:40 am

onmyboat wrote:

Yes, I extract after removing my oil cleanser with a hot towel. The nose is just a really awkward spot. It's nearly impossible to remove blackheads from the sides. I'll look into an extractor because the squeezing method + OCM has left the skin in that area peeling.

Agree 100% the nose is awkward!

A hot towel is not the same as steaming over a bowl IMO, my most stubborn blackheads need more softening that that. Agree the nose is awkward, I find it best not to concentrate on individual clogs, but to trap a section of flesh between two (covered) fingers and run my (padded) nail along to meet the other finger IYSWIM.

If you are peeling you may need to be gentler with the extractions OR reduce the amount of castor/ grapeseed in your OCM recipe. You probably already know that tho ... Embarassed

I also found light lactic acid peels help loosen clogs and deal with flakies without drying or overly-irritating skin. I obviously don't exfoliate and steam/ extract on the same day.

free skin care · Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:16 am

I'll give steaming a try. I extract once a week for maintenance. I don't have the obvious blackheads I had before starting OCM but they still return to a degree.

It's odd - I've really cut back on the castor oil and my nose hasn't peeled this bad during extractions before.

This is sort of related to blackheads - do you have advice for reducing pores? I've got large ones all over my forehead and on my cheeks around the nose. There's no blackheads. Do you think needling would help at all? I sort of doubt there's anything effective as far as topicals are concerned.

free skin care · Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:00 am

onmyboat wrote:

I'll give steaming a try. I extract once a week for maintenance. I don't have the obvious blackheads I had before starting OCM but they still return to a degree.

It's odd - I've really cut back on the castor oil and my nose hasn't peeled this bad during extractions before.

This is sort of related to blackheads - do you have advice for reducing pores? I've got large ones all over my forehead and on my cheeks around the nose. There's no blackheads. Do you think needling would help at all? I sort of doubt there's anything effective as far as topicals are concerned.

The combination of flaking and enlarged pores could indicate dehydration or perhaps irritation. What have you replaced the castor oil with, perhaps that does not suit your skin? Has anything else in your skincare routine or lifestyle changed? Maybe you are unconsciously being more rough with the extractions because you are down to the stubborn clogs? Or maybe you are not leaving the flaky area alone to completely heal, not just pink baby skin but a new stratus corneum?

I gave a brief answer as to what worked for me with minimising pores here, I would note some of the clogs and visible pores returned over Xmas and new year ... definitely lifestyle! Laughing

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=44626

free skin care · Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:21 pm

Sorry to shut down those lovely sounding home remedies, but honey, does NOT remove blackheads and I would never put baking soda on my face.

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