Acne Myths Revealed
Frequently Asked Acne Questions
- Blackhead: When a clogged pore is exposed to air, oxidization occurs turning the spot brown or black.
- Whitehead: The clogged pore bulges against the follicle wall, creating a white bump.
- Papules: This type of inflammatory acne is usually pink or red with no visible signs of pus. It is a result of dead skin cells collecting to plug excess oil and bacteria in the follicle.
- Pustules: These have a yellow or white pus with a red base. Pustules are formed by the collection of dead white blood cells that were attempting to fight the infection.
- Cysts/Nodules: When a pore becomes further infected it can push bacteria and oil deeper into the follicle creating a large painful lump. These are more difficult to treat than blackheads or whiteheads and are first filled with blood, then pus. This is the most severe type of acne and can result in scarring when left untreated.
Pore Clogging Ingredients
It might be hard to believe, but many professional, organic, and natural products can contain pore clogging ingredients. The natural coconut oils and even prescription strength products that are advertised as ‘anti-clogging’ or ‘noncomedogenic’ can actually be made up of some of the worst culprits for clogged pores. Because there is little government regulation over skincare labels, it is essential that you check a product’s list of ingredients yourself before buying. Now that you’ve uncovered the most common acne myths, get familiar with the ingredients that can clog your pores.