All You Need To Know About Clogged Pores And How To Treat Them
My Cozy Room aims to provide you with professional advice and guidance as you embark on your journey towards acne-free and flawless skin. We have received many questions about clogged pores over the past years, hence we have consolidated a main FAQ about clogged pores to answer your queries!
If you have any enquiries, you can reach out to us via email or our social media accounts and we will try our best to answer any questions.
What are clogged pores and how are they formed?
We have sebaceous glands in our skin, producing sebum that moisturises our skin, protects the skin and keeps it healthy. However, when your oil glands become overactive, the excess sebum produced can combine with dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria, clogging your pores. Breakouts occur when your clogged pores become inflamed.
What’s the difference between blackheads, whiteheads, acne, pimples?
Blackheads: Open comedones that form when excess oil, dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria become trapped in a hair follicle. The exposure to air causes the plug in your pores to become black, forming blackheads.
Whiteheads: Closed comedones that form when pores become clogged and the head of the pore closes.
Pimples: Not to be confused with acne, pimples are a symptom of acne and can refer to blackheads, whiteheads or singular inflamed pus-filled bumps.
Acne: This refers to a long-term skin condition where clogged pores become clogged. There are two types of acne, non-inflammatory and inflammatory. Non-inflammatory acne, like blackheads and whiteheads, are easier to treat compared to inflammatory acne, like pustules, nodules and cysts.
Why am I getting clogged pores?
We have sebaceous glands in our skin, producing sebum that moisturises our skin and keeps it healthy. However, when your oil glands become overactive, the excess sebum produced can combine dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria, clogging your pores. There are many lifestyle reasons why you are getting clogged pores, like wearing makeup while exercising, touching your face or sleeping on bed sheets that have not been changed regularly. If you have an oily skin type, you are more likely to experience clogged pores.
Will extraction help to remove clogged pores?
When done professionally, therapists can safely extract the gunk in your pores before they grow into blackheads or whiteheads. However, you should not attempt to perform an extraction on yourself, as failure to clear your pores entirely would cause it to become inflamed and lead to breakouts, worsening your skin condition. Furthermore, extracting whiteheads by yourself is very damaging to your skin as they are closed comedones and requires the skin to be ‘broken’ carefully with professional tools and techniques before the contents can be extracted.
What happens when my pores are clogged?
If you do not unclog your pores regularly, they may lead to the formation of mild blemishes like blackheads and whiteheads, and in more serious cases, inflammatory acne. Clogged pores will also cause your pores to look larger and bumpy.
How can I get rid of clogged pores quickly?
The fastest way to get rid of clogged pores quickly is to go for an extraction facial done by a qualified therapist. My Cozy Room offers professional extraction facial treatments done by skilled therapists who have gone through intensive training and quality checks. This will clear your current clogged pores and prevent future flareups or inflammation. However, you should not attempt to perform an extraction by yourself. You may drop us an enquiry if you have certain concerns or skin goals and our trained therapists will advise you on the recommended treatment.
For at-home care, we recommend BeKind’s Hydro Renewal Peel, a natural and gentle peeling gel that exfoliates your skin by removing dead skin cells, clearing clogged pores and improving congested skin.
BeKind Hydro Renewal Peel (50ml)
Hydro Renewal Peel is a gentle yet deep-cleansing exfoliating gel with ingredients rich in vitamins (Sea Kelp), anti-ageing agents that boost cell turnover and renewal (Swiss Apple Stem Cell), and hydration (Deep Sea Water). As a natural exfoliator, it is incredibly gentle, packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, and suitable even for sensitive skin.
We also recommend BeKind’s Hydra Soothing Toner, an alcohol-free formula that clarifies the skin and refines pores.
BeKind Hydra Soothing Toner (100ml)
Naturally scented, our Hydra Soothing Toner is an alcohol-free and antioxidant-rich toner enriched with botanical ingredients (Aloe Vera, Rosehip, Cucumber) to nourish and soothe all skin types while tightening open pores, especially after a warm cleanse.
Rich in rosehip, which is essential for collagen production, our Hydra Soothing Toner keeps your skin healthy, plump, and properly moisturised. Together with aloe vera and cucumber, which contain antioxidants and calming properties, they reduce overall inflammation and irritation, especially as a result of external pollutants or maskne.
Can I squeeze my blackheads and whiteheads by myself?
Never attempt to squeeze your blackheads or whiteheads by yourself! The pressure from squeezing your skin can cause hyperpigmentation, inflammation and even scarring. Furthermore, using your bare hands for squeezing can cause bacteria from your hands to spread to your pores and potentially cause more pimples.
Does squeezing pores make them bigger?
Squeezing your pores may result in your skin looking less congested temporarily, but the pressure may damage the elasticity around the pores and enlarge your pores in the long term. Leave the pimple popping to the professionals! At My Cozy Room, our therapists are trained to perform extractions safely and thoroughly without scarring and enlarging your pores permanently.
Can I use pore strips to remove my blackheads?
Pore strips use a strong adhesive strip off the top layer of dead skin cells. However, these are only a temporary fix and they may cause your skin more damage than you expect. The adhesive on the strips may contain some ingredients that may cause skin irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Improper use of pore strips may run the risk of enlarging your pores permanently.
How can I achieve poreless skin?
The key to having a “poreless” look is having clear pores. After the gunk in your pores is removed, the appearance of your pores become minimised. Hence, we highly recommend going for an extraction facial once a month to maintain the results. However, as different skin types require different frequencies of visits, you may drop us an enquiry and our therapists will assess your skin and give you adequate advice.
Can I reverse enlarged pores?
Unfortunately, there is no way to shrink your pore size after it has been enlarged. However, there are ways for you to minimise their appearance. Unclogging your pores is key to managing enlarged pores. My Cozy Room’s extraction facial treatments effectively clear clogged pores with our signature manual extraction as well as our deep cleansing and exfoliation process. We only use professional-grade skincare products from BABOR, an internationally-acclaimed German skincare brand and BeKind, a luxurious local skincare brand – to optimise the efficacy of the facial.
Known for the Best Extraction Facial in Singapore, My Cozy Room has attained several prestigious awards, including the latest Women’s Weekly Spa Awards Winner 2020 and Daily Vanity Spa & Hair Awards 2020. We have also been featured on Best in Singapore for being one of the Best Spas to Check Out in Singapore.
My Cozy Room @ Cairnhill
Contact: 6732 0030
WhatsApp: 8666 0030
My Cozy Room @ Devonshire
Contact: 6753 0030
WhatsApp: 8811 0030
