CLOGGED pores are a common skin concern that may lead to acne.
A build-up of dirt, oil or dead skin cells can cause clogged pores.
The condition is most common in people with very oily skin.
A gentle skin care routine can help resolve clogged pores.
How to get rid of clogged pores
Find yourself analysing your skin and wondering what all those little dots are?
Avoid squeezing and picking at your face.
This article has everything you need to make you an expert in clogged pores.
By the end, you will know what they are, how to prevent them, and how to get rid of clogged pores.
What are pores?
Grab a mirror and take a little look.
You will notice that your skin is not paper-smooth.
Instead, it is dotted with tiny openings.
These are pores.
They exist all over your body, and help your skin to release sweat and sebum through the surface of your skin.
What causes clogged pores
Keeping your skin nice and clean is essential, and helps you avoid irritation, breakouts, and inflammation.
Pores help release excess sebum and sweat onto the surface of the skin.
This can create a sticky mixture that clings to dirt and debris.
If you do not clean your skin and remove dirt and debris regularly, you will notice the build-up can cause clogged pores.
And those clogged pores can easily turn into spots.
Four things that cause clogged pores
Ultimately, pores get clogged by dead skin cells, dirt, and oil.
These can be impacted by:
Overly dry skin
Comedogenic products, like cleansers, lotions or cosmetics
Medications can sometimes impact the amount of oil your sebaceous glands produce
Fluctuations in hormones, genetics, and growing older can impact how much oil your skin produces
Eight things that make clogged pores worse
There are everyday habits and things in your surroundings that can inflame already clogged pores on your face.
These include:
Pollution and toxins in the air
Changes in the weather, or excessively humid conditions
Excess oil and bacteria transferred from your hands to your face
Dietary issues
Clothing or equipment rubbing against your skin
Skin picking, or habitually squeezing spots
Increased stress and anxiety can impact your skin
Excessive skin washing and scrubbing
As mentioned, your body is covered in pores!
But some areas are more prone to clogged pores than others.
Remember, our faces are covered in pores and sebaceous glands.
Why does this matter?
Well, sebaceous glands produce sebum that rises to the skin’s surface, exiting through your pores.
When these glands are working properly, your skin will look healthy and glowy (but not shiny). If they do not produce enough sebum, you will notice dry and cracked skin.
And if there is too much sebum, you are likely to experience oily skin and – you guessed it – clogged pores.
Clogged pores on your face- especially clogged pores on the nose
A lot of people experience clogged pores on their faces and clogged pores on their noses.
You might notice this around puberty or if you start taking a new medication as these can sometimes cause your skin to get more oily.
Due to the prevalence of pores on your nose and chin, these areas tend to be very oily.
And with that increased oil production comes more dirt.
The clogged pores and hard sebum in them can lead to an acne-related issue called sebum plugs (also referred to as keratin plugs).
These look like blackheads, and while they do not hurt, they can annoy some people.
Clogged pores on your body
As mentioned, your body is also covered in pores.
After your face, the pores on your neck, shoulders, and chest are the other hotspots where you might find clogged pores due to the number of sebaceous glands under the skin in these areas.
If you find yourself with clogged pores in these areas, it might be a good idea to look into a new shower routine to ensure your skin is as clean as possible.
All of this knowledge is essential as we work towards our key point: how to get rid of clogged pores.
Why should you care about clogged pores?
Sometimes, clogged pores won’t cause any sort of issue.
But if a clogged pore or a collection of clogged pores becomes inflamed, it can lead to uncomfortable bouts of acne.
It is a good idea to treat them, care for them, and keep them as clean as possible so you can avoid all that.
Why should you care about clogged pores
Clogged pores can be irritating, but the first thing to remember is to never squeeze or pick them.
This only irritates, adds more bacteria to the area, and has the potential to increase breakouts.
Remember, you won’t remove all of the dirt in your pores, but the following solutions will help you minimise the build-up of sebum and dirt, leaving you with refreshing, glowing skin.
Things to avoid
Some people swear by natural treatments like baking soda and lemon to unclog their pores.
However, some people have found that these just make clogged pores worse.
If your skin is already inflamed or irritated, it is best to avoid baking soda as it can really dry out your face.
Similarly, the acid in lemons can cause even more damage to inflamed and irritated skin – so proceed with caution.
Why should you care about clogged pores?
And there you have it – the ins and outs of clogged pores, and most importantly, how to get rid of clogged pores!
While you cannot ‘empty’ your pores or keep them 100 percent clear, adopting a new skincare routine focused on removing dirt and debris should keep excessive dirt and build-up away.
If you are really concerned about how oily your skin is, contact your doctor or dermatologist for expert advice and treatments. — Online.
