People are unclear (including me) how to fight against blackheads and whiteheads. Every product claims they eliminate blackheads and whiteheads. The truth is blackheads and whiteheads are hard to accept they are hard to get rid of. It is hard to win the battle against our clogged pores.

Normal working pores produce a normal amount of oil (sebum) that is easily distributed through the pore to the surface of the skin forming a protective barrier. When a regular amount of oil is produced, it effortlessly moves through the pore and out onto the surface of skin, where it melts into a film that forms a protective barrier over the face.

Teens really should only use a water-based moisture lotion labeled 'non-comedogenic' which means it does not clog pores, says Dr. Barry Leshin, M.D., associate professor of dermatology at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Heavier oil-based moisturizers can cause an acne-like skin condition directly attributed to the use of cosmetics; (www.fda.gov).When dead skin cells block the path of the oil, you can get blackheads or whiteheads.

Cosmetics, creams and lotions can build up in the pore, along with dead skin cells that can get trapped in the sticky oil. When oil and skin cells are sitting in a pore that is open and exposed to the air, the cells turn black. When the oil and skin cells are sitting in a pore that is covered by skin, they are not exposed to air and therefore stay clear, but form a slight white bump under the skin. AHA exfoliants can both remove the excess dead skin cells on the face and exfoliate inside the pore (to improve the shape of the pore, allowing a more even flow of oil through it).

Keep in mind that the pore itself is lined with skin cells that can build up, creating a narrowed shape that does not allow for natural oil flow. But don't get carried away with this step. Overdoing it (removing too many skin cells)can cause problems and hurt skin. Exfoliation is essential for both dry and oily skin to eliminate blackheads or whiteheads