The presence of pimples and blackheads, especially on the face, can give rise to a series of complaints. Everyone has had some for one reason or another, and there is nothing to be ashamed of because they are natural manifestations of the skin. However, their presence can cause an uncomfortable burning sensation and painful inflammation and, although it is not possible to eliminate them completely and permanently, there are remedies to counteract their appearance and help treat them.
None of us have perfect skin, and no one is obliged to have it, but in the case of pimples and blackheads, in addition to the aesthetic and psychological aspect, they can cause pain and inflammation. That is why we look for solutions to minimize their appearance. This article is dedicated to those who have skin with pimples and blackheads, but before we find out what solutions can be used to treat them, let's first understand what they are and what causes them. In particular, we will analyze:
- Pimples/Spots: What are they?
- Why do people get pimples?
- Blackheads: what are they?
- Why do blackheads appear?
- How to combat the appearance of pimples and blackheads?
- The complete beauty routine for skin with spots and blackheads
- Conclusions
Pimples: what are they?
Pimples are a very common dermatological manifestation characterized by the formation of small red bumps on the skin containing pus, serum or sebum. They appear where most of the sebaceous glands are located and where hair grows, and are therefore usually found on the face, neck, back, shoulders and chest. Regardless of the area where they appear, pimples often cause aesthetic and psychological discomfort, namely the discomfort we feel when we see them and the fear that others will only notice our imperfections. In addition to the temptation to squeeze them so they disappear, which in any case does not happen, pimples often also cause burning and inflammation, taking longer to heal.
Pimples can be inflammatory or non-inflammatory: in the first case, they appear as more or less soft, red, pustule-shaped bumps, containing sebum and with a white tip caused by the presence of pus. It is very easy for them to burst, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
In the case of non-inflammatory pimples, also known as closed comedones, that is, small bumps that form in the pores of the skin, they are small black or dark brown pimples that contain sebum, dead skin cells and, sometimes, bacteria. In this case, these are blackheads, which we will discuss later.
Why do pimples appear?
There are many causes of pimples: hormonal imbalances, psychological stress, prolonged use of certain medications or covering cosmetics, or even excess sebum production or accumulation of bacteria under the skin. Genetic factors can also cause pimples to appear: individuals who have had acne can pass it on to future generations.
Generally speaking, the appearance of pimples during puberty, characterized by strong hormonal imbalances, often results in more or less severe forms of acne.
However, pimples can also appear at an older age, in both men and women: in this case, it is psychological stress that plays an important role, especially if the period of stress is accompanied by the use of medications that can cause imbalances in the epidermis as a side effect.
Stress pimples are more recognizable than inflammatory pimples because they are smaller. Stress pimples appear in areas other than those where most of the sebaceous glands are located: they can appear suddenly and within a few hours in the middle of the forehead, in the area under the cheekbones and also on the chin. They can appear sporadically and disappear on their own, but they can also appear continuously and in large numbers.
Although there are cures and remedies that help reduce the appearance of pimples, to date, there is still no remedy that is effective enough to ensure that they stop appearing. In fact, generally, a hypersensitivity of the follicles to various stimuli that lead to inflammation and bacterial proliferation is the main cause of the appearance of pimples.
Blackheads: what are they?
Although we previously discussed closed comedones in the case of non-inflammatory pimples, blackheads are called open comedones. Blackheads are made up of accumulations of sebum and bacteria. As with pimples, blackheads also appear in areas where most of the sebaceous glands are located, that is, on the face, particularly the nose and chin, neck, back, shoulders and chest.
Let's be clear: when excess sebum and bacteria build up on the skin and clog pores, closed comedones (also called non-inflammatory pimples) or open blackheads can form. Blackheads are so called because when their substances come into contact with air, they oxidize and turn a dark, black or brownish color.
Why do blackheads appear?
Now that we have clarified the difference between pimples and blackheads, let's look at the main causes of the latter. The main factor that causes the appearance of blackheads is the overactivity of the sebaceous glands, which in turn is caused, in many cases, by hormonal imbalances. Like pimples, blackheads can also appear in adolescence and post-adolescence.
Among other causes of blackheads, the use of cosmetic products, such as face creams and makeup that contain petrolatum, can lead to the formation of blackheads, due to the obstruction of the pores that prevents sebum from leaving the follicles.
Excessive consumption of fatty and high-calorie foods and poor facial cleansing or using products that are unsuitable for this skin type should also be considered as causes that favor the appearance of blackheads.
How to combat the appearance of pimples and blackheads?
Let’s face it: DIY removal is definitely not the way to go when it comes to getting rid of pimples and blackheads. Despite the temptation to pop pimples and the satisfaction you get from squeezing blackheads, you shouldn’t resort to this method to prevent them from appearing. While there’s still no magic remedy that will make pimples and blackheads disappear forever, there are specific solutions that can prevent their appearance and possible reappearance.
Let's see what they are:
- Daily cleaning : cleaning your face, or other affected areas, daily and with specific products, is certainly one of the best ways to reduce the occurrence of pimples and blackheads.
- Specific products : use products with specific formulas to combat spots and blackheads. You can choose from facial cleansers, toners, serums, creams and masks. For cleansing, we recommend the Deep Pure Cleansing Gel ; for the toner, you can try our Pure Glow Facial Lotion or Rosemary Hydrolate ; for the serum phase, we suggest our Anti-imperfection and Niacinamide Serum; for face creams, you can try our Stay Matte and Stay Pure, while for masks we recommend Bye Bye Impuritá .
- Correct diet : by choosing a healthy diet low in fat, the appearance of spots and blackheads can be reduced. Drinking enough water and keeping the skin on your face and body hydrated can also counteract the appearance of spots and blackheads.
- Consult a dermatologist or endocrinologist : if your skin condition worsens or persists, consult a specialist who will give you specific pharmacological treatment.
The beauty routine for skin with pimples and blackheads
If you are looking for a complete beauty routine to combat the appearance of spots and blackheads, we suggest our skincare routine for spots and blackheads.
Cleaning
For the first step in your skincare routine, we suggest Deep Pure Cleansing Gel : a fresh cleansing gel specifically formulated for combination and impure skin. Deep Pure regulates sebum production, rebalances the skin's microbiome, gently purifies the skin and leaves your face feeling fresh and clean.
Deep Pure Cleansing Gel is formulated with a rich blend of purifying and rebalancing active ingredients, such as succinic acid, nettle, green tea and burdock. Orange and tea tree essential oils give Deep Pure a fresh and energizing scent.
Tonic
After cleansing, it is recommended to apply a toner or moisturizer once a day. Our skincare routine offers two alternatives: Pure Glow Facial Lotion or Rosemary Hydrosol . In the case of Pure Glow, it is a perfecting and exfoliating face lotion that contains 4% shikimic and succinic acid and green tea. It is enriched with burdock, nettle and witch hazel to purify and rebalance the skin, while red grapes and aloe leave the face hydrated and soothed.
If you decide to use Rosemary Hydrolate, it is a refreshing, toning, antiseptic, astringent and re-epithelializing floral water, perfect for combination and impure skin.
Actives/Serums
To choose a facial serum for combination skin with spots and blackheads, we recommend the Bioactive Anti-blemish Serum , which eliminates blemishes and soothes the skin. It contains purifying and soothing lemon balm constitutional water, a blend of moisturizing and sebum-regulating active ingredients and azelaic acid, the number one enemy of blackheads and spots.
The action of the Bioactive Anti-imperfection Serum can be combined with the Pure Active Niacinamide + Zinc with sebum-balancing and anti-imperfection action.
Creams
For day cream, our beauty routine for skin with spots and blackheads includes Stay Matte , a mattifying and smoothing face cream with rice powder and hyaluronic acid, which can also be used as a makeup base thanks to its primer effect. Thanks to the ingredients present, Stay Matte helps to even out the texture of the face, minimize the appearance of enlarged pores and imperfections and neutralize shine for skin with a dry and silky touch.
For your night cream, we recommend Stay Pure , a purifying and anti-blemish face cream based on azelaic and shikimic acid to regulate sebum production, prevent the formation of spots and blackheads and reduce redness due to blemishes.
Eye contour
As for the product to apply to the eye contour area, you can opt for Wow 3-in-1 Eye Contour Cream for Puffiness, Dark Circles and Wrinkles, which contains a powerful blend of natural active ingredients to give an energy boost to every look!
Weekly and monthly treatments
To increase the effectiveness of skincare products for combination and impure skin, you can adopt weekly and monthly treatments to combat the appearance of pimples and blackheads.
For weekly treatment, we recommend the Bye Bye Impuritá Mask , ideal for combination and oily skin.
Its special formula, rich in purifying and decongesting active ingredients, combats excess sebum and will make you say goodbye to blemishes and shiny skin, leaving your skin purified and velvety.
As for the exfoliating treatment to be carried out once a month, you can use our AHA Peeling with fruit acids, which has an exfoliating, regenerating and softening effect. For people with impure skin, it is essential to exfoliate the skin with gentle products, as impure skin is often also very sensitive. It is therefore preferable to avoid overly aggressive treatments, such as exfoliants, and opt for gentler treatments, such as exfoliating peels, which gently unclog blocked pores without damaging the skin.
Conclusions
To conclude this article, we would like to reiterate that there is nothing wrong or to be ashamed of if your skin has spots or blackheads. These are natural manifestations of the skin that can appear, as we have seen, for various reasons. We have all gone through periods of psychological stress or had to take medication that altered the balance of our skin. All of this is part of the natural functioning of our body and there is no reason to be ashamed of a few spots here and there!
However, we have seen that there are solutions that can help you take care of your skin and reduce the discomfort that pimples and blackheads can cause. So, don’t be afraid: by following the right tips, you can reduce their appearance and the associated pain!
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