Any tips on getting rid of blackheads and/or dry skin?

Answer 1

A clogged pore happens because oil becomed impacted in a follicle. Usually the oil flows freely out of the follicle, helping to moisturize skin and also create a protective barrier against the elements and water-loss. A blackhead is a follicle that has become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. It appears black because the oil/skin cell mixture has been exposed to oxygen.

The best option for blackhead removal is to get a facial and let the aesthetican remove them for you. She/he is properly trained to do so. Self-extraction can cause bruising and bursting of capillaries. Habitual self-squeezers often develop broken capilllaries later in life (these look like unsightly little red lines on your skin, usually in the creases of the nose).
If you must self-extract, first use an exfoliating scrub. Look for one with micronized beads, aha or bha if you can find one. Then boil a pot of water on your stove and steam over it for 10 min after exfoliating. The exfoliater will help to shed a layer of dead skin off the effected area while the steam will open your pores. Then wrap a tissue around each of your pointer fingers. When you squeeze, don't pinch inward with your fingers as this will cause bruising. Instead keep your fingers parallel to each other when applying pressure.

To prevent blackheads, wash your face once in the morning and once at night. Avoid overwashing or scrubbing your face as this can actually trick your skin in to producing excess oil instead of maintaining an oil balance. Don't sleep with your makeup on. Also, use an exfoliater once a week (using it more may cause irritation). Avoid apricot scrub or other exfoliants that use nut shells as these irregular shaped shells are extremely harsh on the skin. Make sure that all your products say non-comedogenic, this means they won't clog your pores.

As for dry skin... first you have to determine if your skin is dehydrated or dry. If it is dehydrated, your skin lacks water. If it is dry, your skin lacks oil. Seeing as though you are having clogged pores, your skin probably does not lack oil. If you see flaking on your skin, it may not necessarily mean dry. Flaking can be a sign that oil and dead skin cells are piling up on the surface (especially if you see this around your nose, forehead or chin). You can tell if your skin is deydrated by slightly pinching the skin together and looking in the mirror, especially easy to see on the forehead or cheek. Does the skin have tiny little wrinkles and a plastic looking shine? Then it is dehyrdated. To fix this, after cleansing spray with a rosewater spray, then use a humectant (sodium pca, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid) to bind in the water, next top with am emollient (bot not to heavy and non-comedogenic). Weekly exfoliation will also promote cell turnover and lipid (oil) production. Lipids (oils) help to keep water in your skin.

Don't forget your SPF!

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Dry and/or greasy skin due to poor oil composition of the skin. Thick greasy oils clog pores, lack of oil leads to dryness and irritation. You need thin oils to moisturize while dissolving and clearing gunk in your poors. Try fish oil or seafood. 2 tsp fish oil a day or 4 servings of seafood a week. Stick it out for at least 2 months; it will take a long time to replace all your oil. Any effect after 1-2 days is temporary or random; so even if it makes you break out a little at first, you haven't given it a full try yet.

In the short term you can wash and moisturize well, but that will only go so far. Plus excessive washing can be drying and excessive moisturizing can be clogging. Use a small amount of a light moisturizer, made with oil not jelly or grease. Often that means soybean oil or mineral oil. Mineral oil means mined from the ground. So soybean oil is usually better, though mineral oil won't cause too much harm. Clean with soap and water, not a harsh acne cleanser. Even then they only work so well. So you really need the seafood.

Antibiotics aren't really good for bacteria long term, they'll come back in force after. Short term they may help. After you get off them find some kefir with acidophilus listed first or 2nd to replace the friendly bacteria they destroyed. Studies show less illness when you have these bacteria, even outside the stomach in places such as the lungs and elsewhere. You want friendly bacteria to fill the void when the antibiotics stop, not harmful ones.

In the short term you might also try 100,000+ iu retinol vitamin A (a megadose, and too much for normal use) or one of the acne drugs that is similar to retinol vitamin A. It's some minor harm to your organs, but it helps against bacteria on your skin. At least it doesn't have the other long term drawbacks to your skin that antibiotics and many scrubs do.

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Answer 3

I can definately help you with both problems since i've been there. If you have a little bit of money to spend I suggest you get Artistry's Moisture Rich Skin Care System. This will completely help with the dry skin. you will start noticing a difference quickly and your skin will feel sooooo soft like it never has. Also to get rid of the black heads try their Pore Cleansing Mask. It is about $20 but it will last you a while because all of their products are concentrated so you don't need to use a lot each time. U only need to use the mask 1-3 times a week. The skin care system is about $62. Like I said Artistry is the best of the best but you are going to pay more than what you're probably used too. Something you might also like to know is that they have a 100% money back guarentee on all of their products if you aren't completely satisfied which is so cool because it's a win win situation. Artistry isn't available in stores but you can get it from http://www.adrennan.qhealthbeauty.com you will not believe what it can do for your skin. hey if you try it and don't like it just get your money back.

Answer 4

You need to stop using cheap cleansers with mineral oil and other irritants in them. Many drug store brands of cleansers contain petroleum derivatives ---not good for the skin. And use a moisturizer that doesn't contain mineral oil, such as aloe vera. I use Aveda's hydrating lotion.

For a soap you can use a good glycerine soap. If you want to go high society check out some of the products that Aveda makes for skin care. Their stuff is great.

www.aveda.com

I know it's fun, but don't burst your blackheads or pimples. This can cause scarring. Clean and moisturize your face the way I mentioned above and you should see results.

If you're a junk food junkie, quit that nonsense. It's not good for your skin. Drink plenty of water and eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Answer 5

if you have time, try to get them out yourself.

take a wash cloth and soak it into really hot water.
then you squeeze out the water leaving it dry but still prety warm
apply it onto ur face and just keep it there until you feel that the heat is all gone.

repeat it 2 or 3 times.
this is to help your pores to open up.
then it will be easier for you to try to push those lil suckers out.

goto walmart or some drug store to purchase the stick that actually has a purpose which is to help you get rid of blackheads.

hope this helps!

o and for dry skin, i use this moisturlizer called, Vitamin E Cream. It pretty much helps take away dryness and after some use, it helps smooth of your skin :]

Answer 6

For the blackheads I would go see the dermatologist. They have a special appartus that they use that takes them of easily. For very dry skin use aquaphor. For normal dry skin I would use aveeno mosturizer.

Answer 7

www.paulaschoice.com
There is an abundance of skin info on this site, plus awesome products.
Your battleplan would be to exfoliate with a gentle BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) or Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA)

Here's an article on blackheads...
http://paulaschoice.com/learn/art.asp?ID=202

Here's one on Mineral Oil for the comment below...
http://paulaschoice.com/learn/art.asp?ID=178

Answer 8

Neutrogena Acne Stress Relief &Clean and Clear advantage spot treatment. Works great.

Answer 9

Use equal amounts of arm and hammer baking soda( the stuff you put in your refridgerator) and water mixed into a paste and rub into your face for 2 to 3 minutes...the wash with hot-warm water and then cold water to close pores...also...clean ur face evryday

Answer 10

to get rid of black heads and dry skin, make sureyou cleanse,tone and moisturise your face at least once every week. I had very dry skin, and so i started cleansing etc and its worked, i have softer skin, and hardly any black heads