Can You Unclog Your Nose Pores? And Why You Should
Porcelain skin may be the dream, but everyone has pesky pores that stand in the way. Some people's nose pores are more noticeable than others. It all depends on your skin type. However, no matter what skincare routine you follow, your pores can become clogged.
Clogged pores can lead to blackheads, whiteheads, and acne. These are all things most people want to prevent from happening, but it's easier said than done. Is it even possible to rid your skin of impurities?
We are going to go over how your pores end up clogged and how you can unclog them. You will also find out why it's essential to take care of your skin and what you can do to keep your face clear.
Clogged Pores 101
There are many reasons your pores may be clogging up, and your skin type plays a role. There are dry, combination, oily, and normal skin types, and usually, people with oilier skin end up with more clogged nose pores. However, people with dry or combination skin are not immune to a breakout. Let's go over the different ways that pores end up clogged so you can identify a potential issue.
Dead Skin Cells
Your skin is the largest organ of your body, and it is made up of several layers. It constantly generates new skin cells and sheds the old ones. If these dead skin cells are left on the skin's surface, they can clog your pores.
High Oil Production
The skin's middle layer (dermis layer) is under the layer of skin shedding dead skin cells. The dermis is home to glands that create natural oils that keep your skin moisturized. These oils are called sebum and are essential for soft skin. However, if your sebaceous glands begin producing too much oil, it will mix with the dead skin cells and become clogged in your pores.
Hormone Changes
Everyone's body can experience hormone changes, and if you are experiencing a fluctuation, it may affect your skin. Your sebum production can go up or down, leading to clogged pores. The main culprits of hormone changes are puberty, pregnancy, and menstrual cycles. During these times, you can be at a higher risk of higher oil production that may cause acne.
Exfoliating Too Much
Your immediate reaction to built-up dead skin cells, and higher oil production may be to exfoliate. You aren't wrong, but you can easily end up overdoing it. Exfoliating too much can make the problem even worse. It can dry out your skin and send your sebum glands into overdrive, trying to rehydrate, leading to more clogged pores.
Beauty Products
You may have your favorite beauty products for your skin and hair, but they may be doing more harm than good. Many products contain ingredients that don't mix well with your skin and even have pore-clogging ingredients in them.
You should try to look for oil-free products, like HIDE Premium Foundation, that won't obstruct your pores. HIDE foundation is excellent for all skin types and is formulated to feel lightweight and not clog your pores.
How To Unclog Your Pores
There are several things you can do to unclog your pores if they do become backed up. You can implement a skincare routine with products with ingredients that help your pores stay clear. You can also get helpful tools to remove those pesky blackheads.
Salicylic Acid
You want to exfoliate your skin, but that doesn't mean scrubbing off your top layer of skin. Since overdoing it can make the problem worse, you want to look for gentle ways to exfoliate. Salicylic acid is a great product to look for in cleansers because it can penetrate through sebum and break it down. Leave the cleanser on your face for a minute or two before washing it off so it can work its magic.
Add a Retinol
Whether you are prone to breakouts or not, adding retinol into your routine can be beneficial. Prescription retinol can help with collagen, which will help make your pores appear smaller over time. Plus, the added collagen can reduce fine lines and wrinkles on your face. You may not see results overnight. It can take three to six months of regular use before seeing improvements, and the best results take six to 12 months.
Charcoal Mask
Invest in a clay or charcoal mask because they can help to pull impurities like bacteria and dead skin cells out of your pores. While a mask is only a temporary fix, it can give you noticeable results in a shorter period of time. You should use the mask once a week to reduce the appearance of your pores.
Comedone Extractor
If you have dealt with breakouts before, you've probably squeezed and picked at your skin at some point. However, using your hands can make things worse and even lead to scarring.
To avoid skin damage, try using a comedone extractor instead. Dermatologists frequently use this tool, and it can effectively unclog your pores. You will want to clean the tool after using it thoroughly, so you don't spread bacteria and germs.
Professional Treatments
You can see a professional if nothing seems to be working for you or if you just want to go the extra mile. You can get several different treatments that will help clear out your nose pores and make them look smaller. Here are a few you can consider.
Extraction Facial
You can get a facial where an esthetician will safely remove impurities from your pores. They use sterile instruments to clean out your pores. This process does take time and can be an expensive treatment.
For aggressive acne, they can inject the blemish with a corticosteroid that accelerates the healing process. The shot can only be used to treat one area and not several blemishes.
Chemical Peels
An esthetician can use a chemical solution to remove the top layer of skin on your face. This treatment exposes new fresh skin and has many benefits, including:
- Even skin color
- Smaller pores
- Brighter complexion
- Smoother skin
There are many different types of chemical peels, and some are more intense than others. For concerns regarding clogged pores, you can get just a light chemical peel.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion involves a special device that exfoliates the skin using a diamond or crystal-tipped tool. While it is buffing the skin, it is also suctioning out the impurities in your pores. After the treatment, your pores can look smaller. However, you can't get microdermabrasion if you have a lot of inflamed acne. It's best to go after your blemishes have mostly healed.
Hyaluronic Acid
A hyaluronic acid treatment involves injecting it into your skin. It attracts water and hydrates the skin. Hyaluronic acid is generally used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but a study in 2017 found that these injections reduced the size of pores.
In Summary
If you have clogged pores, you're not alone. This issue is a very common problem for many people. Thankfully there are a number of things you can do to help clear out your pores.
There are several professional treatments you can have done, like chemical peels. There are also several products you can use that will help keep your pores unclogged. One helpful tip is to use oil-free cosmetics, like HIDE products, which will never clog your pores!
Sources:
What is the Dermis? | News Medical
How to Unclog Pores: Safe Methods, What to Avoid, and More | Healthline