5 Home Remedies For Congested Skin | Symptoms And Treatment

Congested skin refers to textured skin that feels rough and bumpy instead of smooth and soft. This is a common skin concern in oily and acne-prone skin; however, anyone may experience it. Your skin appears congested because of dead skin cells, sweat, and dirt buildup that congests the skin pores. Lack of exfoliation and using wrong skin care products may add to it. If not addressed early, congested skin may lead to acne breakouts. Several other reasons may cause congested skin. Keep reading to learn in detail and know more about the symptoms, home remedies, treatment options, and prevention tips.

What Is Congested Skin?

Congested skin occurs when your pores get blocked with dead skin, sebum, or toxins making your skin look dull and bumpy to the touch. Even allergic reactions to certain makeup products or certain chemicals can make your skin more prone to developing acne and pimples. Now that you know what congested skin is, let us read about the different symptoms that develop due to clogged pores.

Symptoms Of Congested Skin

If you feel that you are the only one who struggles with bumpy, congested skin, don’t worry, you’re not alone! Congested skin is something that all of us have experienced at some point in our lives and it surely makes us feel irritated and anxious. You can read about the symptoms of congested pores in the next section.

•  Blackheads – Blackheads are tiny bumps hat develop due to oxidation of keratin and sebum. A type of mild acne, blackheads might appear on your face, back, shoulders, or arms.
•  Whiteheads – Similar in appearance to blackheads, the only difference between the two is that whiteheads develop due to the accumulation of keratin, sebum, dirt, or bacteria in closed pores.
•  Cystic acne – A more serious type of acne, cystic acne develops due to pores being blocked with bacteria. This leads to the skin becoming inflamed and filled with pus.
•  Papules – These are red or skin-colored bumps that grow on your skin and are sore to the touch.
•  Appearance of rough and dull skin.

Having learned about the symptoms of congested skin listed above, let us now move on to the factors that can lead to clogged skin pores.

Congested Skin – Major Causes

•  Skin elasticity – In a review conducted to see the causes of enlarged skin pores, it was found that a decrease in collagen in the skin can lead to large facial pores (1). Enlarged pores are more likely to become clogged with dead skin or oil.
•  Sebum production – Sebum is an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands. It protects your skin from pathogens while keeping it moisturized. Research suggests that too much sebum production can lead to acne. This in turn can lead to skin congestion (2).
•  Comedogenic products – There are a few products that contain ingredients that tend to clog up your pores more. These products include makeup that can fill up the pores and lead to bumpy, congested skin. Cosmetics have been seen to cause acne known as acne cosmetica, which can lead to breakouts on your skin (3).
•  Stress – Stress is an unavoidable part of our lives. But too much stress can be harmful to your health in various ways. A study was conducted to examine the effect of stress on sebum production and acne in adolescents. The researchers selected 94 students in Singapore and checked their sebum levels before and after exams. The researchers found that there was a significant association between acne and psychological stress (4).

More research needs to be done to further examine other factors that may play a role in skin congestion. Let’s look into some of the best home remedies you can try out for congested pores.

Best Home Remedies For Congested Skin

Before you go for medications or expert opinion, you can try a couple of these simple home remedies to help you reduce the congestion in your face.

•  Steaming – While research needs to be done to see the effect of steaming in unclogging your pores, enthusiasts swear by it. You can take a towel and dip it in lukewarm water with your favorite herb and you might see some surprising results. However, this method is not suggested for acne-prone skin as it may irritate it and cause pigmentation.
•  Apply aloe vera gel or cream – Aloe vera has been used by ayurvedic healers for their medicinal properties (5). A study was conducted to see the effectiveness of aloe vera gel on patients with mild to moderate acne. The patients reported a significant reduction in their inflammatory lesions (6). You can apply aloe vera gel or cream after cleaning your face to keep your skin shiny and smooth. Do a patch test before application.

Pro Tip

You can also add a few drops of vitamin E serum to aloe vera gel before applying it to your face. Vitamin E has anti-photoaging, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit skin health (7).

•  At home face masks – Face masks containing honey might help you get rid of dead skin cells to keep your face clean and smooth. Honey has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Studies have shown that honey may help heal acne and contain antimicrobial properties (8). Do a patch test as honey may cause irritation.
• Tea Tree Oil – This oil may be ideal for oily and acne-prone skin as it possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help combat mild to moderate acne (9). You can dilute it with a carrier oil like coconut oil and apply it to your face to help combat congested skin.
• Baking Soda – Research suggests that baking soda may help remove dead skin cells and debris and absorb excess oil that contribute to clogged pores (10). You can add it to a facial scrub to help reap its benefits. However, It is important to note that baking soda should be used sparingly as it can dry and irritate the skin.

If your home care remedies don’t reduce the frequency of breakouts, you will need medical attention. Let’s see when the right time to visit your doctor is.

When To See A Doctor

If the home remedies and over-the-counter medications don’t seem to be helping in improving your rough and bumpy skin, then you should get it checked by a dermatologist. Your dermatologist can help diagnose your skin type and prescribe you suitable treatment options. It can range from medications to ointments and solutions that can help unclog your skin and reduce the frequency of breakouts. If your skin is causing you distress and anxiety, then it is time you see a doctor.

Let’s see what are the common treatment options suggested by dermatologists.

Treatment Options Available For Congested Skin

•  Hyaluronic Acid Treatment – Hyaluronic acid is a sugar found in the body that is responsible for keeping your skin moist (11). A study was conducted to see the effect of hyaluronic acid injections on enlarged pores. The researchers saw that the 42 subjects who underwent this treatment saw a significant reduction in pore size and an improvement in their skin texture (12). However, this is not recommended for oily and acne-prone skin.
•  Chemical Skin Peels – If natural exfoliating masks at home don’t work for you, you can always opt for chemical skin peels. In this procedure, your doctor uses salicylic acid to help unclog your pores and remove dead cells from your skin (13).
•  Extractions – Even when you are tempted to pop your blackhead or acne, it is strongly advisable that you don’t do so. Acne extraction is a method that should be professionally done by certified dermatologists to clean out your pores with sterilized equipment.
•  Microdermabrasion – This is a non-invasive surgery where the specialist rubs crystals on your skin with an applicator with an abrasive surface which helps in exfoliating dead cells from the skin. Microdermabrasion is a highly popular method that has been used to treat uneven skin texture, acne, and enlarged pores.

As per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ data for cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures in 2020, microdermabrasion ranked as the fifth most sought-after minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure among males, with 96,853 cases recorded. It emerged with an average national surgeon/physician fee of $167, resulting in a total expenditure of $87,305,334. Microdermabrasion showed a relatively lower average cost than other procedures listed, making it a more cost-effective option within this category.

•  Retinoids – Retinoids are recommended by dermatologists to help reduce enlarged pores and clean your pores. They are used for the treatment of acne (14). It is highly recommended that you consult your doctor before purchasing and using the product.

Did You Know?

You can also try HydraFacials to care for congested skin. They deliver a triple-action effect by combining cleansing, exfoliation, and serum infusion in a singular session to give your skin enhanced rejuvenation.

The next section will explore a few preventive tips to avoid skin congestion.

Safety Tips To Prevent Congested Skin

Congested pores affect us all at some point or the other. But as they say, prevention is better than treatment. Here are a few tips you can practice to prevent your skin from developing clogged pores.

•  Do not touch your face constantly.
•  Do not scratch, itch, or fiddle with your acne as it can leave permanent scars on your face.
•  Use sunscreen lotion to keep your skin from becoming tanned and affected by UV-rays from the sun.
•  Use non-comedogenic products that will not block your pores and increase the chances of a breakout.
•  Do not scrub your face and use products that are gentle on your skin.
•  Wash your face regularly – Washing your face and removing your makeup before going to sleep can go a long way in keeping your skin healthy and your pores clear.
•  Diet – Research suggests that eating a high protein diet may be instrumental in reducing breakouts associated with acne (15). If you are eating a diet that is high in sugar and processed foods, then it is time you switch to a healthier alternative.
•  Keep yourself hydrated – Drinking plenty of water every day can help your skin stay hydrated and smoothen the bumpy and dry texture (16).

Frequently Asked Questions

What do congested pores look like?

Congested pores, or comedonal acne, is characterized by small, flesh-colored bumps that look like whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples.

What foods cause congested skin?

Foods like chips, cheese, and chocolate contain fat and can cause congested skin.

Is skin congestion the same as acne?

Congested skin refers to any skin that becomes irritated or bumpy, or skin that develops acne, blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples.

Which fruit is good for congested skin?

Pomegranate is good for congested skin. It contains antioxidants that may help keep the pores from clogging and offer clear skin.

Is it good to squeeze out sebum?

No. Squeezing out sebum may cause scars and bacteria to spread, leading to a breakout.

To treat congested skin, you need to find out the real cause behind it. The following video explains what congested skin actually is and how you can treat it. Check it out!

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Madhuri AgarwalMBBS, MD

   

Dr. Madhuri Agarwal is an aesthetic dermatologist with over 16 years of experience and the Medical Director & CEO of Yavana Aesthetics Clinic. She caters to a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds, including top names from the television and fashion fraternity, CEOs, and entrepreneurs, and delivers injectables and advanced technologies to her clients.

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Eshna DasAssociate Editor

 

Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru.

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Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

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Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over three years of experience in writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach.

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