Your pores are little openings in the skin that release the waste from your system. Through your sweat, toxins are shed. In addition to that, this is where oil is released so the skin stays soft and supple while also protecting it.
The problem with pores is this sweat and oil collects dead skin and dirt and then it gets clogged up as everything gets trapped. When this happens it not only makes for less than ideal looking skin, it can lead to blemishes like pimples and blackheads.
The trick is to keep the pores clear so they can do their job and your skin stays looking great. In this article, I will give you some ideas on the best ways to keep your pores clear and unclogged.
Exfoliation
Exfoliating is something everybody should be doing at least a couple of times per week. It strips the skin of the dead skin cells that have accumulated in the pores. In addition to that, it also keeps you from getting painful ingrown hairs that get infected because of the bacteria present from clogged pores. With the addition of an ingrown hair removal cream, you can have clean pores and no ingrown hairs.
You can choose from a chemical exfoliator that uses synthetic ingredients, or you can use an abrasive one that has bits of walnut shell that scrubs the skin. It all depends on how sensitive your skin is.
Don’t overdo the exfoliating because you could damage the skin and actually lead to more acne in some cases. Use it according to your skin type and the recommendations on the label.
Charcoal mask
Charcoal is something of a wonder ingredient these days. It has been used for centuries for many treatments as it absorbs very well. This property allows it to pull dirt away from the skin when you use a charcoal mask.
Make sure to use a commercially available product as many DIY charcoal mask recipes will actually cause your pores to be even more clogged than before. Some of the commercial ones will harden and are then peeled off so you can enjoy the sensation of having it peel away all the dirt and toxins from your skin.
Extraction
You may have seen some viral videos on Youtube and Tiktok lately that show people using metal extractor tools to unclog pores. For some reason, people love to see this in action.
The way it works is that pressure is applied around the clogged pore with a metal tool. Then it presses out the bacteria and dirt from the pore and opens it back up. This is how to best deal with blackheads that form from clogged pores. It may not be recommended for pimples, however, so make sure you contact a dermatologist for this procedure as they know how best to do it.
After removing the contents from the pores, an antibacterial cream is applied to prevent the spread of the bacteria into other pores.