EEEEEEEW. Those are not tiny facial hairs that I harvested from the sides of my nose, but BLACKHEADS! I consider myself blessed with normal skin, never having to conquer any form of acne during puberty. Until... I noticed that in the last few months, the skin on my face started to produce a little more oil that it used to. After 3 kids and more than 3 decades of acne-free skin, a few pimples started making their debut on my forehead, and some tiny black dots started occupying the sides of my nose. Is this late onset of puberty?! Though I suspect it is the heightened stress of being a full-time mom without a caregiver, partnered with a home construction. I'm surprised it hasn't gone any worse than having blackheads. :-)
My personal methodology in finding a solution is to always to research to understand the problem. Here are some interesting things I discovered:
- COMEDONES: The plural of comedo, the primary sign of acne, consisting of a dilated (widened) hair follicle filled with keratin squamae (skin debris), bacteria, and sebum (oil). Comedones may be closed or open. -Medicinet.com >>> Light bulb moment! Finally understood why some skin care products and make-up are classified as NON-COMEDOGENIC! It means it's designed not to cause blockage of pores! Ta-da!
- WHITEHEADS are considered as a "closed comedo" where the opening of the pore is obstructed, the trapped sebum appearing white.
- BLACKHEADS are not dirtier than whiteheads! It is referred to as an "open comedo" where the pore lets air in causing the sebum and dead skin/keratin to get OXIDIZED resulting to a BLACKENED DISCOLORATION. Myth-busted! I always thought blackheads were dirt trapped with oil! Sheesh.
- According to the American Association of Dermatology, ACNE includes the following:
- Blackheads.
- Whiteheads.
- Papules.
- Pustules (what many people call pimples).
- Cysts.
- Nodules.
Now, that I understand what these things on my face are, I decided to try a highly-recommended U.S.-brand face mask designed to tighten pores and improve fine lines and wrinkles, with egg white as the active ingredient. I tried doing a spot application on my nose, with just one ply of bathroom tissue as the pore-strip. I left it on for 10 minutes to dry and harden. Once I peeled it off, I harvested the yucky blackheads with it. I even got a bonus benefit of a shallower laugh line! WOW!
The appearance of "comedones" was greatly reduced, especially the blackheads at the sides of my nose. And this is just after 1 application! I'm so glad I don't have to undergo the scary videos that show blackheads being pushed and squeezed by the comedone extractor. It seems that the surrounding areas of the pores are bruised by the instrument. Ouch!
Here are my key takeaways:
- To achieve clearer skin and smaller pores, skin care experts recommend proper cleansing to remove excess oil and regular removal of skin debris, which are the primary cause of clogged pores.
- Proper exfoliation at the right frequency (doing it too often can cause irritation and counterproductively cause your skin to produce more sebum) will help keep acne at bay.
- Toning and moisturizing the skin using healthy ingredients will reduce pore size and prevent formation of dry skin.
- I also need to manage my stress better. :-D
#DomesticGoddessMNL