Don't use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on wounds or to control oily skin or acne breakouts. They're not effective and they can damage your skin, making the problem worse. Just use soap and water to clean a wound, and for acne, use an over-the-counter product with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Rubbing alcohol may make your acne worse. When your skin is dried out from these types of substances, your sebaceous glands respond by making even more oil. This excessive amount of oil, or sebum, can create unintentional acne breakouts. Redness, peeling, and flaking also tends to make acne breakouts more noticeable.
Its mild antimicrobial effect makes it suitable for cleaning and disinfecting minor wounds. However, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that rubbing alcohol, or isopropyl alcohol, helps treat acne. Experts warn that applying rubbing alcohol to acne may make the acne worse.
“Gently press on each side of the blackhead until it begins to release,” she says. “Apply slow and even pressure, and once you are able, lightly pinch the tweezers and pull the blacked out material from the skin to extract it. If the blackhead does not release easily, do not continue to attempt the extraction.”
Bacteria contributes to acne, however, so reducing its levels could mean fewer breakouts or ones that clear up more quickly. Finally, rubbing alcohol has a reputation for shrinking pores. The truth is, though, nothing can make your pores smaller.
Even when used to heal a popped pimple, rubbing alcohol can leave the skin tight, dry, and flaky, as well as make redness worse. If used with topical acne medication like benzoyl peroxide, rubbing alcohol can irritate and dry your skin out even faster. Worse yet, it may even promote scarring.
There isn't anything out there that's going to shrink pores instantly, but you can cleanse your pores to remove any dirt that can be making them more noticeable. You can cover your face with makeup to get a temporary impact, but oftentimes this will only clog your pores even more.
Salicylic acid is the preferred ingredient for treating blackheads and whiteheads because it breaks down the materials that clog pores: excess oil. dead skin cells.
How do you get rid of deep blackheads? Deep blackheads should be removed by a medical professional — usually a dermatologist or medical aesthetician. They use a small tool with rigid metal loops on the ends (blackhead or comedo extractor) to apply even pressure to your blackheads.
For mild blackheads, try a salicylic acid scrub
"This beta hydroxy acid helps remove excess oil and exfoliate the cells from the surface of the skin."
Via Refinery29, Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., agrees that after the clay mask brings all the junk to the surface, physical massage can "indeed dislodge clogged pores and whatever's inside them."
Don't: Treat with Hydrogen Peroxide
Regardless of whether you have sensitive skin or not, it's a safe bet to treat blackheads with gentle products that are free of fragrances and irritants. Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly misused solution and is neither a gentle nor a valid long-term treatment.
Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol is irritating to the mucus membranes of the nose, its vapor is irritating, and it is modestly toxic if swallowed.
You can use toothbrushes to scrub away blackheads around your nose—it really works. Really, really well, according to Gretchen Frieling, MD, a board-certified dermatopathologist.
Do cleansing brushes remove blackheads? Cleansing brushes feature bristles that gently exfoliate skin, helping to remove dead skin, dirt and excess sebum, which contribute to blackheads forming. This deeper clean helps prevent pores from clogging, so you should see less pesky black dots.
A key component for home care is salicylic acid, which can help exfoliate the skin and reduce blemish-causing bacteria. It is also important to choose skincare products with noncomedogenic ingredients that will not clog pores and to avoid greasy products that can worsen blackheads and other types of blemishes.
Exfoliate. Use an exfoliating scrub on the skin once a week to help remove the dead skin cells that contribute to blackheads. A scrub may also improve the overall appearance of the skin. Avoid exfoliating if it irritates the skin, and stop using a scrub if it makes the skin feel dry or sore.
Unfortunately, however, there are no permanent and comprehensive fixes to said issue of blackhead pores/holes. But you can minimize the appearance of these pesky pits by tightening your pores and using techniques to prevent the holes from clogging again.
Clogged pores can look enlarged, bumpy, or, in the case of blackheads, dark in color. The more oil that a person's skin produces, the more likely it is that their pores will become blocked. A person can use skin care techniques and products to manage or clear clogged pores.
Vaseline itself won't shrink your pores or treat wrinkles, but keeping your skin moisturized is an essential preventative measure to slow the signs of aging on your skin.
For normal skin types, alcohol is unlikely to cause a problem with your skin. Yet if your skin is sensitive for any reason, scan the ingredients label. “If your skin barrier is not intact due to irritation or a rash, then alcohol has the potential to be irritating.
In summary, wiping or rubbing the skin with small amounts of isopropyl alcohol is safe. Prolonged soaking in large amounts increases the risk of absorption and toxic effects.