Lifestyle Choices

Blackheads—the Cause

A blackhead—in medical terms, an open comedo—consists of a solid plug of oil that clogs the pore and then blackens due to oxidation on exposure to the air. If it is left alone it will simply stay there in the skin. Blackheads do not cure themselves.

Prevention and Cure

Blackheads on oily areas of the face (such as around the nose and chin) that are not inflamed can be removed easily by steaming the skin first or by applying hot compresses using flannel dipped in hot water and wrung out—hot water to which bicarbonate of soda has been added at a ratio of 1. tablespoon to each pint. This opens the pores and loosens the oily material. Then gently, with scrupulously clean hands and the tips of your fingers wrapped in facial tissue, you can ease out the plugs. Never use your nails. Finish off the treatment with the application of an antiseptic cream.

The occasional appearance of a blackhead or two is nothing to worry about. If, however, you have large quantities, read the advice for the care of skin that is too oily.

Whiteheads—the Cause

A whitehead is exactly the same as a blackhead except that, where the blackhead is open to the air, in the case of a whitehead the comedo remains closed because an accumulation of dead skin cells covers the opening of the duct, making it impossible for the oil blocked up in the follicle to move out of the pore. The oil that is blocked up irritates the cells of the follicle wall so they slough off rapidly and seal up its contents. A whitehead looks like a tiny white lump on the skin. Once formed, it will remain_; that is, unless the oil follicle changes the chemistry of the oil-forming free fatty acids, which further stimulates both the increase in sebum production and also the sloughing off of cells, in which case the whitehead turns into a pimple.

Prevention and Cure

It is best to follow nutritional and treatment advice for oily skin if you have many whiteheads. The elimination of a dormant whitehead can be done only by a professional, for the closed comedo has to be opened with a very fine stylet, which leaves no scar. You should never squeeze a whitehead, or you risk forcing its fatty content into the dermis itself, where it can cause inflammation and the formation of raised spots that will take a long time to disappear. Once the whitehead is lanced by a professional, he will carefully remove the entire contents. In such cases of both open and closed comedones, the vitamin-A derivative retinoic acid in a strength of 50 milligrams to each 100 grams of cream is effective applied to the skin.

Pimples—the Cause

When the follicle wall breaks down enough to allow the oil to leak into the surrounding dermis tissue, this irritates the area and inflames it, and a pimple is formed. White blood cells, which are mobilized and sent to the area to fight the inflammation, create pus. When this pus comes to the surface and the skin covering it breaks so that the contents of the pimple are released to the air, it usually heals rapidly—provided, that is, that a secondary infection doesn’t take place from the outside. If, however, the follicle break takes place deep in the skin instead, the pimple is more severe and can turn into an acne cyst.

Prevention and Treatment

Besides care in keeping the skin clean and nutritional prevention of excessively oily skin, little should be done with a pimple other than to allow it to take its course. Naturally, it is important that the elimination of waste from the body be efficient and complete, for wastes not eliminated bythe bowels can be released through the skin. If you are prone to pimples, it is often a good idea to avoid the use of antiperspirants, as in some cases even this simple discouragement from waste elimination on parts of the body can encourage the formation of pimples on the face.

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