FAB OR FAD: SKIN GRITTING TREATMENTS FOR BLACKHEAD REMOVAL
Cleansing craze put to the test
SKIN gritting is the stomachchurning new blackhead removal trend that the internet is going crazy about.
The technique involves three steps: washing the face with an oil-based cleanser, wearing a mud mask and then repeating the oil-based cleansing process.
The end result is touted to be nothing less than a miracle – blackheads and sebaceous filament slip from the pores leaving skin smooth and blemish-free.
People around the globe have been sharing their pictures of what appears to be removed blackheads across the back of their hands.
Despite the world wide web singing this method’s praises, Cairns Clear Skin Centre director Liz Franz said skin gritting was nothing but a fad.
She road tested the technique for Well & Good and found the craze yielded few results.
“Blackheads are stubborn and even with strong microdermabrasion and peels and steaming they are difficult to remove,” she said.
After using the skin gritting technique on her client, she said the skin looked no different than it did after any other simple skin care routine.
“The nose looks fresher and cleaner, which is to be expected, but blackheads are still there. We even dried with a white tissue and no black bits on it,” she said.
“The pics online aren’t how blackheads look in real life. The tip is black but underneath is creamy white. The black you see is just the oxidised part.
“I think those photos are rolled up bits of dead skin.”
Ms Franz also warned against the treatment as it could leave long-lasting damage on the skin.
“Too much scrubbing on the nose is not good as it can cause pigmentation or broken small capillaries which are hard to remove,” she said.
“The pores will just continue to fill up if people have an oily skin type.”
Her advice to anyone wanting to clear up their skin is to use an exfoliating clay mask followed by a good moisturiser to balance the skin.