A few decades ago, skin issues were not so common (barring any diseases, obviously). One could argue that it was a better time compared to now. The food that we ate was without much adulteration and pesticides. Pollution levels were also very low. Overall, there was less stress compared to now.
Nowadays, to make things more profitable, a lot of shady stuff is done to our food. Everyone is either mixing something or using harmful chemicals. While this has helped increase production, there have also been drawbacks.
Then there’s the stress. Sure, with increased technology, and especially the internet, things have gotten easier. Despite that, the world has never been more fast-paced. It seems like despite having more facilities than our elders; we are always running away.
These factors have caused an increase in many health issues among us. Skin problems are one of the most prevalent problems now. One of the most common issues that I’ve come across is ”Strawberry Nose.”
While this may seem a cute problem to have. I can assure you it is nothing but cute. I am obviously referring to Japanese Blackheads. I’m sure most of us are aware of what blackheads are. For those who don’t, Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered.
What are Blackheads?
Blackheads are a kind of acne, and they generally appear on the nose and cheek. The word ”black” is associated with them as they make the affected area appear blackish in colour.
While they do not cause any medical issues, they are a big inconvenience and very hard to get rid of. The good thing is that there are many ways to get rid of them. Each region around the world has its own curbs to this problem.
However, one of the best and most recognized methods is the Japanese blackhead removal method. As many of you may already know, Japanese skincare is one of the best in the world. What makes them so good is how easy they are to use.
In my opinion, they should be called hacks rather than methods. In this article, I will guide you through the Japanese blackhead removal methods. So, without further ado, let’s go ahead and look at some of these methods.
How Are Blackheads Caused?
Before we begin to cover the methods, I think it is important to understand what causes blackheads. Knowing the root of the problem will help in avoiding them in the future as well.
Too Much Oil
The primary reason why blackheads occur is if too much oil is released into your skin. This can be due to hormonal factors as well. This leads to clogging of the pores, and slowly dirt gets stuck on the surface of the skin.
Dead Skin Cells
Another reason why you may be dealing with blackheads is that the dead skin cells are not getting removed regularly. Imagine dead skin over another dead skin, gross, right? This is exactly what makes the blackheads so stubborn.
Medicinal Side-effects
Most medicines have side effects. Taking some medicines can also cause blackheads. Now that I’ve gone through the most common methods why you may be dealing with blackheads, I will now cover the popular Japanese blackhead removal methods.
Traditional Remedies for Japanese Blackheads
Pore Strips
I’m sure many of you will already know or might have even tried these strips. But did you know that these were actually invented in Japan? Pore strips are one of the best methods to get rid of blackheads.
They are both easy to use and easily available. In fact, they can even be purchased from Amazon. Using them is pretty easy as well. You just need to wash your face thoroughly, apply the strip and let it work its magic for about 15 minutes.
Once the process is finished, the strips will remove Japanese blackheads while also taking care of excess oil. Although pore strips are not very expensive, I will anyways guide you through a few methods which are even cheaper.
Q-tips and Olive Oil Method
As you can see, this method only includes a couple of pantry staples. All you need are q-tips (earbuds) and olive oil. You can even substitute olive oil with coconut oil.
Using this method is as easy as it comes. You would just need to soak the tip in oil for a bit. Afterwards, you should apply this tip to the affected area in a circular motion. One thing that needs to be taken care of is that you should not apply much force.
Once this process is completed, all that needs to be done is to wipe off excess oil. When you’re done with this, I can assure you that your skin will feel rejuvenated and free of blackheads. Another piece of advice I would give you is to moisturize the area immediately.
Interestingly, this method came to light when a Japanese Manga artist posted this on Twitter.
Pore Brush and Steam
I must warn you beforehand this method would also require additional equipment. Despite that, I can assure you this is one of the best methods.
For this, you would need a pore brush (although you can also use any brush with small and firm bristles) and a steam pouch. Going ahead with the method is also very easy. First, you need to steam the affected area so that your pores are open. After this, you would need to cover the affected area with a cleanser.
The penultimate step is to use the brush and make tight spirals on the area. Finally, you can clean up the area and wipe off the excess cleanser. Once again, I would recommend moisturizing the area immediately after you’re done.
Food Wrap Method
I would say that this method is the best if you want to avoid a mess. Not to mention, it is very easy and cheap. All you would need for this method is an ordinary balm and some food wrap (cling wrap). This is basically a homemade mask for your skin.
To follow this method, you would need to apply a generous amount of balm on the affected area. Once you’re done, you would need to tightly apply a layer of wrap over that and wait approximately 15 minutes.
After this, you can take off your “mask” and rise off the excess balm. I would recommend using this method at least twice a week for the best results.
Final Words
There is always a priority list for a person. Surely, most of you keep your work or studies above your skincare. I understand that these things are also very important. But, at the same time, I think it’s only fair to give yourself some time as well.
It is not a bad thing to take care of yourself. By doing some simple steps and dedicating a bit of time, many skin problems, such as drooping cheeks, Japanese blackheads, and acne, can be avoided.
In your ever-moving and busy lives, it’s hard sometimes to put in the time to research how you can avoid these issues. For that, I hope that my blog helps you in finding the best possible solution for you.