Because dead skin is the only thing standing between you and popping out that blackhead, it makes sense to exfoliate every day, right? Wrong. Resist the siren song of those "invigorating granules" and Clarisonic-type scrubbing devices -- Dr. Bellman says she's seen far too many patients do more harm than good by over-exfoliating and irritating their skin more -- which only leads to more pore blockage.
Picking also counts as irritating your blackheads. It's not as bad as popping a pimple ("[A picked pimple] will stay red for two to three weeks instead of two to three days," warns Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas) it can still lead to infection and scarring.
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You Must Avoid These Ingredients at All Costs
Want to cure your breakouts? Put down the sunscreen. All three dermatologists warn that sunscreen is a huge acne trigger because many of the ingredients are oil-based. Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas recommends minimizing your sun exposure and only wearing an oil-free sunscreen if you're spending extended periods outside.
Keep an eye on the ingredient labels on your makeup and skin care products, too. Ingredients like vitamin E, avocado oil, algae extract and sodium lauryl sulfate are highly comedogenic, which is a big fancy word for "muck up your pores."
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A Facial Oil Can Cure Your Acne
Facial oils may be your saviour in battling the oil build-up that causes acne. "When you use natural facial oils, your skin is less dehydrated and sebum is less likely to cornify -- making little plugs for your pores," says Kristen Ma, a certified ayurvedic practitioner. But not all oils are created equally. Mineral oils, like petroleum, can cause acne because they sit on top of the skin and clog pores instead of sinking in, says Ma. And Ma recommends skipping circulation-stimulating ingredients (think: rose hip oil and sesame oil) because they can force toxins to the surface and trigger breakouts.
Oils that won't cause your acne to flare up? Ma recommends coconut oil for it's anti-inflammatory properties, as well as jojoba oil, which has the same consistency as the oils on our faces. But just like the oils you cook with, make sure the ones you put on your face are high quality. Meaning: generally you get what you pay for. This doesn't mean you have to throw down hundreds of dollars, just look for oils that are minimally processed and have few-to-no additives.
