Blackheads

CAUSES OF BLACKHEAD

• Hormonal activity, such as menstural cycles and puberty
• Stress
• Overproduction of sebum (oil), people with oily skin or combination skin are more prone to blackheads
• Acne
• Accumulation of dead skin cells
• Build up of bacteria in the pores

DIET TIPS FOR BLACKHEADS

• Decrease saturated fats in your diet to help lighten the load on the liver and lymphatic system and to cleanse the blood. This may help to reduce the amount of sebum production and further reduce the incidence and appearance of blackheads
• Ensure adequate hydration to cleanse the skin and promote vitality

LIFESTYLE FACTORS FOR BLACKHEADS

• One of the most important things about blackheads is to not squeeze them. This is because the bacteria present under the nails, on the skin and in the blackhead itself may cause further congestion and spreading of bacteria. Squeezing them can also cause scarring
• Cleanse the skin and use gentle exfoliation on the area, do not cause further deep abrasion as this may exacerbate the problem
• A deep gentle deep cleanse can be done weekly by using pure essential oils such as Lavender, Lemon, Rose, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Neroli, Sandalwood or Myrhh. Add the oil to a bowl of steaming water and placing your face into the steam with a towel over your head. The heat from the steam helps to open the pores and the essential oils may help to cleanse and break down the oils contributing to dirty pores and blackheads. Ensure that you cleanse and tone your face afterwards with a toner such as Witch Hazel

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR BLACKHEADS

• Use topical applications such as tea tree oil to reduce the spread of bacteria and help reduce sebum production in the pore. Always use tea tree oil as a spot topical application on the problematic area
• The herb Vitex may help to reduce blackheads over time by helping to balance the hormones (prolactin) which contribute to the overproduction of oils from the sebaceous glands