Sebum build up - a good mask?

[Guest guest]

Hi all

Lately it seems my pores have become larger. I read that one cause of

large pores (other than it being purely hereditary) is a build up of

sebum in your pores. This sebum in turn hardens and causes the pores

to become distended or expanded. I'm not sure in what way this

differs to the formation of a blackhead, but I do know this hardened

sebum and the subsequent enlarged pores is different in appearance to

a blackhead. Anyway, I figured finding a way of removing the hardened

sebum would reduce the occurrence of enlarged pores. I started using

a mask once a week and I noticed an improvement - smoother pore

texture and less enlarged, irregular shaped pores. The only problem

is that all the masks I've applied really sting my skin and seem to

exacerbate (if only for a few days) fine telangiectasias I have on my

face. I even think that after a few weeks of applying the masks

they've shown some permanent negative effects on prevailing

telangiectasias, i.e. the thread veins have worsened for more than

just a temporary basis. I believe the ingredient(s) in most masks

responsible for " dissolving " the hardened sebum is the very

ingredient that burns or stings my skin. Even masks with no " alcohol "

ingredient in them normally burn my skin. There're probably other

compounds in the masks which are essentially alcohols but just go by

different names and its these which cause the burning. My dilemma is:

I would like the positive effects of using a mask without the

accompanying burning/stinging and exacerbation of my rosacea. Does

anyone out there know of a mild mask, perhaps one with strictly

natural ingredients for example?

Regards

Barry