It's tempting to squeeze clogged pores, but that can result in blocked pores, scar tissue and infections. It just makes the problem worse. You can open and clean your clogged pores the way an esthetician would, with tools you have at home. Comedones, whiteheads and blackheads, are forms of acne. Blackheads are pores that have plugs of sebum and sloughed-off cells. The surface oxidizes, causing the surface to look black. Whiteheads are closed comedones, that have the same sebum and dead skin cell plugs. However whiteheads have a very small opening, so that the material inside does not oxidize.
Step 1
Cleanse with a mild facial soap. Rinse well and pat dry with a soft towel.
Step 2
Steam your face to open your pores and soften the comedones. Bring a pint of water to a simmer, in a wide pan. Open the tea bag and dump the chamomile tea into the water. Remove the pot from the stove. Hold your face over the water, covering your head with a towel, and steam your face gently for about five minutes. Save the chamomile tea to rinse your face later on.
Step 3
Exfoliate, use a gentle facial scrub with jojoba beads or other gentle particles to scrub off dead skin cells and sebum. Don't rub hard enough to irritate your skin. Rinse well. Splash your face with your chamomile tea as a toner, pat dry with a towel.
Step 4
Extract any blocked pores by very gently pressing on one side. Wipe off any plugs that you remove, using tissue. Finish this step by dabbing on hydrogen peroxide with a cotton ball.
Step 5
Treat your skin to prevent development of blackheads and whiteheads. Apply over the counter alpha-hydroxy acid cream or lotion to your skin. Finish by applying a moisturizer with SPF 30.
Tips and Warnings
- Use gentle products to avoid irritating your skin. Look for products that say they are safe for sensitive skin. You can add 2 or 3 drops of essential oil to the steaming water, to add a pleasant fragrance. Exfoliating with a scrub removes the tops of the blackheads and whiteheads, and the peroxide whitens the plugs so that they look nearly invisible. Avoid oily make-up if you have problems with your pores; look for make-up that says it is non-comedogenic.
- A home facial is a pretty safe procedure. However, it is possible to irritate your skin by scrubbing too hard or using harsh products. If you aren't certain about any of the products you are going to use, do a patch test 24 hours before you use the product or products. Apply a little to the inside of your elbow and see if any irritation develops over the next 24 hours.
Things You'll Need
- Mild facial soap
- Hand towel and small bath towel
- A pot of steaming water
- Chamomile tea bag
- Facial scrub with jojoba beads or other gentle beads
- Facial tissue
- Cotton balls
- Hydrogen
- Alpha-Hydroxy acid cream or lotion
- Moisturizer with SPF 30
References
- "The Acne Cure: The Nonprescription Plan That Shows Dramatic Results in as Little as 24 Hours"; Dubrow T, Adderly B;
- "Milady's Standard Cosmetology"; Arlene Alpert ; 2007
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