How to Unclog Pores and Clear Acne

Are clogged pores turning your face into a strawberry?  Acne ruining your life?

This instructable will tell you how to unclog your pores and clear acne in just a few simple steps!

This is a very low-maintenance method that requires only a few items, patience, and a tiny bit of will.

This method involves four major steps:
Ridding your surface skin of oil and dirt
Opening your pores for proper exfoliation using steam
Exfoliating to remove oil and dirt trapped in your pores
Applying 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide to cleanse deep inside your pores and rejuvenate them.

The reason this works so well is because the steam opens your pores allowing you to clean them better, while the facewash removes surface dirt/oil, the exfoliant removes the dirt/oil in your pores, and the Benzoyl Peroxide deep cleans while rejuvenating your pores.

I used to have seriously bad acne that drove me crazy.  I felt like one giant zit and that's all people saw when they looked at me.  This method has worked wonders for my face so far, even after everything else I've tried has failed.  It's easy and leaves my face feeling clean, fresh, and rejuvenated. =)

Step 1: What You'll Need

Mild  facewash - Preferably Troclosan Medicated for antibacterial properties
Exfoliating facewash - Optionally containing salicylic acid for more benefits
2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide Cream
Small cooking pot
Water
Towel
Hot pot pad, trivet, or extra towel

Note:  Do not use Benzoyl Peroxide stronger than 2.5%.  Studies have shown that 2.5% BP is just as strong as 10%, but much less irritating to the skin.

Step 2: Preparing Your Face for Treatment

To prepare your face for the exfoliating treatment, you should first wash it with a mild, preferably antibacterial, facewash.  Read the instructions on the facewash and follow them carefully.  Be very gentle when applying and rinsing the wash.  Gently pat your face dry with a towel.  This will ensure that any oil, bacteria, and dirt on the surface of your skin is removed.

Note for guys:  You may want to consider shaving first, as it greatly helps the treatments in cleansing the pores.

Step 3: Opening Your Pores for Treatment

In a small cooking pot, boil some water.
Remove the pot from the stove and set it on a towel, hot pot pad, or trivet.
Drape the towel over your head and place your head above the pot.
Have a seat and allow the steam to unclog your pores for 5 minutes.  You may listen to music to pass the time, if you'd like.

Careful - Do not touch the pot as it is hot.  Do not put your head above the stove.  Do not set the pot on a surface unprotected from heat.

Step 4: Exfoliating

Now you are ready to exfoliate.  Follow the directions on your exfoliating facewash.  I recommend using a facewash that contains salicylic acid as it helps to remove the dead skin cells and rejuvenate the pores.  When rinsing your face, be sure to be as gentle as possible to avoid irritation.  Gently pat your face dry with a towel.

Step 5: Applying the Benzoyl Peroxide

This step is important.  Often times I've seen or heard about people incorrectly applying the Benzoyl Peroxide.  Just follow these steps and you'll be good to go =)

Apply a very small amount of 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide to your finger tip.  Very gently rub it on to the affected area (~1 in. around every blemish).  You may need to apply it to your entire face.
Rub it in a circular motion until it becomes tacky and your finger starts to stick to your skin.
Once this occurs, start applying once again to a different area.  This ensures proper absorption into the pores.
After you've applied it to all affected areas, you're done!

Step 6: For Best Results

For best results, use this method once a week at night, so your sleep can aid in healing the skin.

To aid in pore rejuvenation and cleansing, three to four days after performing this method you should exfoliate normally.

For example, if I perform this face cleanse on Saturday, then I would exfoliate normally on either Tuesday or Wednesday, and then perform this cleanse again the following Saturday.

Try not to touch your face as the oils from your fingers may assist in clogging your pores.

Poor diet also attributes to acne.  Lots of sugar and caffeine has been known to aid in the clogging of pores.  A poor functioning liver may also cause acne as it cannot properly process the hormones in your body leading to an overproduction of oil in the skin.  You may want to look into performing a liver/stomach cleanse.

Drink lots of water to help your skin stay healthy.  Zinc has been shown to help reduce acne.  You may want to consider taking a multi-vitamin containing zinc if you don't already.

Be sure to wash your face once a day with a mild, preferably triclosan medicated, facewash.  Washing more than once a day may irritate the skin, so if you must, try to only rinse your face and pat dry.

Comments

[econkid]

nice. my skin is pretty resistant. what works for other people often does not work. i've have trouble with scrubs because they are harsh and don't get down into the the pores. What i've found works for me is doing a 20% salicylic acid from skinlaboratory.com in place of the scrub. Its works really well as a spot treatment and can immediately help to shrink the bumps. I do the salicylic acid, in the morning and the BP 2.5% at night, and it works really well.

[pmilks]

I wish I had found out about Shielo's scrub sooner! I called the company and asked about it and then decided to give it a shot!!! Its called Shielo Complexion Scrub.

This product works very well unclogging pores, getting rid of of dead skin and making the skin smoother, no new pimples to leave MORE dark spots. All of which make the skin look and feel much better/fresher. Remember only the skin in contact with the product is helped. Heaping it on wastes your money and this hard to find product!

A few cautions... 1-keep drinking plenty of water to keep your body hydrated, it's natural repair function working well and your skin fresh, 2-This product dries the skin out, use a good moisturizer/moisturizing sunscreen.

For me it is essential to use the Shielo Scrub at night to kickstart the natural repair cycle. It's a little tingly, nothing really harsh though. Skip TWO nights and REPEAT which helps you get 2-3 treatments in a week as recommended.

[Izelver]

This is a lot like what I read from www.acne.org . I also have my own before/after pictures I am very proud to share, and would definitively recommend this site to anyone who has mild to moderate acne. I hate to sound corny, but it really changed the way I look at myself.

[shadowofblood]

This method is very successful, so I'm not surprised to hear it's similar to the methods on acne.org =) I'm glad you've had such great success with your skin and I hope others can see great results from my instructable, as well. =)

[j1n5t3r]

i did this and i broke out even more. should i keep doing this every week or should i just stop? cause i got 3 big pimples after.

[shadowofblood]

Sometimes you'll get pimples because your face is not used to the treatment. I would recommend trying it for a few more weeks. The problem should stop and you should see a big improvement. If not, it's possible that you are too sensitive to the materials you are using. In that case, try alternative ones. You won't know for sure until you try it for a few more weeks to give your face a chance to get used to it.

[j1n5t3r]

(removed by author or community request)

[shadowofblood]

You can use a mild face cleanser that is noncomedogenic. I recommend one that does not contain Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, or other ingredients that may irritate your face. I use a triclosan medicated facewash everyday in order to kill bacteria on my face. You may find that you need something weaker or stronger. Be sure to use each product for at least 2 weeks before deciding if it is too weak for your skin.

I also suggest using an exfoliating scrub 3 or 4 days after performing the steam facial cleanse.

[superMacaroni]

I use sprite.

[shadowofblood]

I like sprite =)
But I prefer root beer =D

[CaseyCase]

Nice. Where was this info when I was a teenager? Oh well, I got through it somehow. My old school acne treatment? Thirty-six grit sandpaper, muriatic acid and an industrial shop vac.

[shadowofblood]

Lol, when I was a teenager I pretty much tried everything but the muriatic acid. XD
I only recently stumbled upon this method and I wish I knew it when it mattered; high school. =D

[seamster]

You ought to use your last photo as your main. A smiling face is much more presentable... (Just a suggestion.)

[shadowofblood]

Thanks for the advice; I just edited it =)

[nickodemus]

...Good suggestion, nice 'ible.