Horace shares the secrets to keeping your face acne and black head free
Sorry to have to break the news to you, but you aren’t a teenager anymore. Your mother has all but stopped calling you, and you haven’t listened to Blink 182 in ages. Strangely though, two of the symbols of the more awkward years of a man’s life - blackheads and acne - tend to stick around. In theory, they should become a problem of the past once you move into adulthood, but somehow they keep on troubling you as you grow older. Time for some drastic action.
What causes blackheads and acne?
There are many myths and legends on the subject. Some say excessive chocolate consumption is to blame, others say it is charcuterie. Stress is also often pointed out as the root of this evil. While chocolate and charcuterie can’t be directly blamed, it is true that a sugar- and fat-heavy diet will make your skin prone to acne.
Spots are caused by three elements: obstructed hair follicles (hair roots), excessive sebum secretion within these follicles, followed by bacteria development. Blackheads are caused by excess sebum in the skin’s pores, leading to the formation of a comedo. When exposed to air, the comedo oxidises and turns black.
Unfortunately, it’s a proven scientific fact, when it comes to acne, being a man sucks. Male skin has a natural tendency to produce more sebum than female skin, and is also thicker. In other words, the ideal base for acne.
When was the last time you washed your pillowcases? While the question might seem silly or even irrelevant, it is actually quite important: dirty pillowcases are covered in bacteria. Rubbing your face against these bacteria is obviously a bad idea. On the other hand, changing your bedding on a weekly basis is a good one. Remember to also do it after bringing someone home. You never quite know what the day has in store.
How to get rid of acne and blackheads
On popping your spots
First, let’s get an important issue out of the way. Should or shouldn’t you pop your spots? Regardless of the answer we give you, it’s probably too tempting for you to abstain from butchering your face anyway. Is it really that bad? Put it this way: not only are you running the risk of leaving a nasty scar on your face, but you’re also exposing the follicle to other bacteria.
But if you have to do it, at least do it well: use some rubbing alcohol to sterilise your skin and thereby avoid infecting your follicle with further bacteria, and gently press on each side of the spot with cotton buds, which we guarantee will always be cleaner than your hands. If the spot doesn’t pop, it isn’t ready yet. Leave it be. And don’t forget to disinfect your skin again after you’re done.
First step: cleanse
If your skin is prone to blackheads and spots, cleansing shouldn’t be considered as optional. Cleaning your face with a suitable cleansing gel is crucial to control the excessive sebum production that causes spots. Contrary to popular belief, traditional hard soap isn’t the best solution: it will dry your skin, which will then react naturally by releasing more sebum.
Second step: exfoliate
Exfoliation unclogs the skin’s pores and is therefore essential to avoid blackheads. However, face scrubs are to be used sparingly in cases of severe acne. An overly aggressive treatment can make acne-suffering skin worse. Use a gentle one, such as ours.
Third step: moisturise
Use of a moisturising and mattifying cream will help improve the overall state of your skin. Properly moisturising your face will ensure it is better protected against environmental pollutants integral to city life. Indeed, some creams strengthen the immune system and the epidermis while also reducing the risk of outbreaks. This is the case for the Horace moisturiser, for example.
You have no more excuses to keep acting like a child. Time to put away the Smirnoff Ice in favour of more grown-up beverages.