subject: Five Simple Steps to Get Rid of Whiteheads and Blackheads [print this page] Five Simple Steps to Get Rid of Whiteheads and Blackheads
An otherwise smooth, clear face can be made rough or dull by the appearance of whiteheads and blackheads. Small as they may be, they can still be cause for irritation and embarrassment. What do you do with these blemishes? Here are five simple steps you can follow:
Step 1: Clean Your Face
To keep new whiteheads and blackheads from appearing, you have got to stick to a daily routine of washing your face first thing in the morning and before you go to sleep at night. Use a cleanser that fits your skin type - use mild ones for sensitive skin and stick to products without alcohol. This simple habit keeps new blemishes from appearing as it gets rid of all the accumulated dirt, dust, bacteria, and excess oil from your skin. Just make sure not to overdo it - washing your face too often or too roughly can give you dry, irritated skin.
Step 2: Exfoliate
When it comes to whiteheads and blackheads, your best ally is a good scrub. Exfoliating gets rid of deep-seated dirt and dead skin cells that make the skin look rough and give rise to blemishes. It also helps dislodge whiteheads and blackheads. Use a scrub that is medicated with salicyclic acid, alpha hyrdoxy acid, sulfur and/or resorcinol. These ingredients are extra good at unclogging pores and clearing up small bumps.
Step 3: Eat and Drink Healthy
What you eat shows on your skin, too. Studies have shown eating too much junk in the form of simple sugars, rich fats and pure carbohydrates can make you break out. To make your skin look more radiant and clear, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. These are rich in skin-nourishing vitamins and nutrients that help boost skin health, repair damage, and keep pimples at bay. Berries and green leafy vegetables are a good source of antioxidant vitamins C and E, while skin-enhancing vitamin A can be found in carrots, broccoli and spinach. Don't forget to hydrate - your skin needs water too. It also helps flush out toxins that give you uneven, dull skin.
Step 4: Relax
Too much stress can make your whiteheads and blackheads multiply. This is because stress hormones can make your skin produce extra oil which causes pimples and blemishes. To keep your stress levels in check, take the time out to relax and calm your body with soothing music, a good massage, or simply by hanging out with a good friend. Make sure you get enough sleep too. Lack of sleep is one of the body's major stressors that will make you break out.
Step 5: Don't Overdo It
Sometimes doing too much of a good thing can end up being bad. Take acne products, for example. While some products and medications work for pimples and zits, others can be too strong and make you break out even more. Whiteheads and blackheads are actually the mildest type of acne. They are the easiest to treat and do not require extra-strength medication or prescriptions. Check out these acne tips to learn more about the best products that work for whiteheads and blackheads.
There you have it - five easy steps to bid your whiteheads and blackheads goodbye. Follow these consistently and you'll have smoother, clearer, blemish-free skin in no time.
