What Causes Clogged Pores?

Do you get breakouts that don’t ever seem to go away? Have you tried everything and for some reason you can’t get rid of a few blackheads or whiteheads? Clogged pores might be the reason your skin hasn’t been able to breathe.

But what are the pores clogged with? And how does one unclog them? Continue reading to discover what causes congested pores, and effective treatment methods for blocked pores.

What Are Pores?

The middle layer of your skin, the dermis, contains sweat glands. These glands have necessary functions and help regulate body temperature and remove waste by omitting salt and water from your body onto the surface of your skin. Once you sweat, it needs to be released and does so through your pores and onto your skin.

What Causes Clogged Pores?

Dead skin cells and dirt mix with sebum (skin oils) and clog your pores. It turns into a blackhead when the keratin or dead skin cell plug oxidizes by exposure to oxygen, or a whitehead if it does not get exposed to oxygen.

Another contributing factor is slow cellular turnover. Increased stress, a bad diet, and a lack of a proper skincare routine can cause dead skin cells to pile up and clog pores.

How to Unclog Pores

Using a chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid or salicylic acid and extractions regularly will help tremendously. Regular acne facials combined with mechanical exfoliation or microdermabrasion by a licensed esthetician also help to relieve pore congestion.

Chemical exfoliation includes the use of exfoliators with ingredients such as AHAs (glycolic and lactic acids) and BHAs (salicylic acid). Pneuma Nitric Oxide carries an exfoliator called the Pneuma Age-Defiance Exfoliating Gel Cleanser.

Our cleanser contains an age-defying blend of fruit, flower, and plant extracts that cleanse the skin. Meanwhile, a blend of glycolic, lactic, citric, malic, and tartaric acids derived from passionflower, lemon, grape, and pineapple extracts encourages cell turnover and oxygenates the skin. The gel is finished off with vitamin C and green tea antioxidants to brighten and protect while aloe vera, algae extract, and kola nut extract soothes the skin.

The Pneuma Age-Defiance Exfoliating Gel Cleanser is part of our N1O1 Age-Defiance System which is a 2-step process designed to keep your skin looking fresh, youthful, and blemish-free.

Got questions? Need help identifying your skin type or how to keep pores clear? Explore our blog, browse our products, or contact us to speak to a skincare professional today. We’re here to help you discover what’s possible for your skin!