From now on, the first of my beauty columns each month will take us back to beauty basics, looking at a fundamental question or problem from the ground up. According to aesthetic doctor Dr Ana Mansouri, blackheads are “a collection of debris and sebum blocking the sebaceous duct and hair follicle”. For most people with congested skin in the form of blackheads, Dr Mansouri says, it’s more a “case of controlling [rather than completely eradicating] the sebum production with topical treatments. It’s best to avoid drying, alcohol-heavy products and sulphate-rich foaming cleansers, as stripping the skin just encourages excess sebum production. According to Dr Mansouri, retinoids are also great for controlling blackheads as they resurface the skin and diminish excess oil production.

Source: The Irish Times February 06, 2021 06:00 UTC