How To Treat clogged pores
There are few things that are more frustrating than using a million products and still not being able to have clear skin or pores. Despite your best efforts, clogged pores can be a difficult issue to resolve.
The pores in your face are greatly impacted by genetics and hormones, but there are effective steps you can take at home to remedy clogged pores. We’ll walk you through it step-by-step.
Let’s dive in and find out what clogged pores are, what products clear pores, and how to prevent clogged pores in the future.
What are clogged pores?
We have thousands of pores on our faces alone. Pores a channel for oil and sweat to leave your body. The open structure allows for build-up of dirt, dead skin, or oil that leads to clogged pores.
Clogged pores can manifest in a variety of ways on your skin, such as blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples.
How to treat clogged pores at home
Step 1: Wash face with a gentle exfoliating cleanser
Washing your face with a gentle exfoliating cleanser removes dirt, oil, and dead skin cells that might contribute to clogged pores. We recommend looking for a cleanser with AHAs like glycolic acid or lactic acid.
The gentle formula of the cleanser will ensure your skin is not stripped of all natural oils and the exfoliating properties will help decongest pores and make them less noticeable.
Step 2: Use a mild toner
After cleansing, it's important to replenish your skin with a mild toner. Look for a pore refining toner to act as a balancing treatment for oily skin. This type of toner works to minimize enlarged pores and reduce excess oil on the skin.
Step 3: Do a deep-pore weekly cleanup treatment
Once in a while, your skin can have flare-ups that need a little TLC. Using a deep pore treatment weekly can help control sebum production and draw out debris and impurities from your pores. A great option to try is a purifying clay mask once a week. This can absorb excess oil and clear out your pores.
Step 4: Apply a lightweight moisturizer
The worst thing you can do to treat congested skin is to deprive it of moisture. Dehydration of your skin will cause an overproduction of oil to counteract the dehydration. Excess oil production will eventually lead to clogged pores. So, instead of skipping moisturizer, use a non-comedogenic one with a lightweight formula.
Step 5: Use a sunscreen
Sunscreens are something you don't want to skip over, regardless of your skin concerns. There are steps we’ve suggested earlier that can cause your skin to become sensitive to sun exposure. Therefore, it is imperative to protect your skin from UV damage that can make pores more visible.
A non-comedogenic spf between 40 and 50 will protect you from harmful environmental factors, but won’t leave your skin feeling greasy.
Treatments to look for when dealing with clogged pores
Professional Extraction
This is an advanced treatment that is a great step if you are not seeing results at home with your current routine. A professional extraction is performed by a licensed esthetician or dermatologist using a physician modality that removes debris from pores and minimizes the appearance of pores.
Professional Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are another office treatment that can be done by a licensed esthetician or a board certified dermatologist. Although you can perform chemical peels at home with products like glycolic acid or retinol, we recommend getting a professional peel to mitigate adverse side effects.
A chemical peel removes the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal fresher and healthier skin. There are chemical peels with ingredient profiles best suited for your goals, so ask your skin care professional what peel is best for you.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a treatment performed in spas or clinics by skincare professionals. It uses a manual exfoliation tool to slough away dead skin cells from the surface of the skin.
While you can perform this treatment at home with similar tools available, it is highly recommended to avoid doing it yourself to ensure that the procedure is done correctly and safely.
Negative side effects can occur when the procedure is done incorrectly, such as scarring or irritation from being too aggressive with the device.
What to expect when treating clogged pores
Clogged pores aren’t the end of the world. They usually clear up with time and the right regimen. When you are using products to clear your pores it will take a few weeks to see visible changes.
A big factor that affects this timeline is consistency and avoiding anything that will congest your skin. There are some side effects like dryness or irritation you may see when using certain products like exfoliators too frequently.
It will take some trial and error to find the perfect combination of products that work for your skin, but it will be well worth it!
When to make an appointment?
Contact your provider if you have acne that has the following symptoms: painful to the touch, inflamed, infected or filled with pus. You should also reach out to your provider if you notice any abnormal skin growths or lesions.
Clogged pores are common and very treatable with the right products and routine. If clogged pores are left untreated, it can lead to acne and uneven skin texture.
Clear skin and pores are possible with regular cleansing with non-comedogenic products and treatments as needed.
Remember to be patient with your skin, going overboard will not get faster results and may cause more harm than good.
To help build your clogged pores routine or if you have questions for an esthetician, please create or update your Dermava profile.
