Most derms are also against using gadgets like like pore vaccums, facial cleansing brushes, and pore strips to unclog your pores either. “I don't usually recommend instrumenting the face in order to unclog pores,” Dr. Rubin says. “They will just fill up again, and instrumentation can lead to inflammation or scarring.”
The pores on our face, just like our ear canals, are designed to clean themselves. So for most people, leaving them to their own devices is fine, and just cleansing the face is enough.
Cosmetic products, environmental factors, and your skin type can cause pores to become clogged and inflamed. One way to clear clogged pores is through extractions. During a facial, a licensed esthetician will usually perform extractions to help clarify the pores and to make skin look smoother and healthier.
You should avoid squeezing your sebaceous filaments. Sebaceous filaments are natural, and if you manage to squeeze out sebum, your pores will fill up again within 30 days. Your skin is sensitive, and your nails are much stronger than your skin.
Some people find it tempting to scratch, pick, or rub clogged pores and acne. The AAD state that this will not clear up skin concerns. In fact, it may make them worse by causing damage to the skin.
Nodules and cysts: A very clogged pore can cause swelling, pain and irritation deep in the skin. If a nodule contains pus, it's called a cyst. Cystic acne can lead to acne scars.
Use a mild, non-abrasive cleanser to remove any residue from the extraction process. Avoid exfoliating products, as they may irritate your already sensitive skin. Follow up with a soothing and hydrating moisturizer to replenish lost moisture and promote healing.
Use an exfoliant with salicylic acid (BHA) or glycolic acid (AHA) 2-3 times a week. When I say exfoliate, use common sense and be gentle; in the end, it's your face. Use a Clay Mask: Clay masks absorb excess oil and impurities, drawing them out from deep within pores. Apply one once a week for a thorough cleanse.
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.
Skin purging is a phenomenon that some people with breakout-prone skin experience after using a leave-on exfoliant or certain other active ingredients for the first time. The theory is that such products “purge” the skin from clogs that form and get stuck deep in the pore, pushing them quickly to the surface.
Pimples: If you leave blackheads be, they can get all irritated and turn into pimples. Bacteria can build up in those clogged pores, making them red and swollen. Acne and Acne Scars: Stubborn blackheads can actually pave the way for acne to step in.
Despite the horror stories many of us may have heard, facial extractions are actually good for the skin! For one, they specifically target clogged pores, which are the root cause for many common skin problems, from rough skin and a dull complexion to more serious conditions like acne and hyperpigmentation.
Prolonged exposure to the air causes the blockage to oxidize and darken. Because the pore gets stretched out of shape, it will fill back up again even after it is emptied. These stubborn pores are most likely to occur on the face, chest and back. However, they can also emerge on the ears, neck and scalp.
It's not possible to close up pores completely but there are ways to reduce their size or make them less visible. This includes: washing the face twice a day to wash away oil and dirt from the pores. using an oil-free moisturizer to prevent the pores from becoming clogged with oil.
When your pores are blocked up, they can appear larger or look like small black dots on your face. Although clogged pores lead to acne, these black dots are not the same thing as blackheads.
"At-home pore vacuuming devices have only shown to help with blackheads that are already loosened in the skin,” says Dana Rice, master esthetician in the Department of Dermatology at University of Utah Health. “They can cause damage to the skin with excessive exfoliation and suction."
The Extraction Process
Your esthetician will always wear gloves to ensure bacteria does not enter the skin. Then, with a gauze-wrapped finger or facial extraction tool, they will apply gentle pressure to the skin to remove blackheads and any other congestion. The extraction process will take roughly 10 minutes.
How well your skin is hydrated, how recently you've had extractions, how long the dirt and debris in your pores have been chilling there, plus our own sensitivities for a little squeezing and nudging – those all can affect how much you 'feel.