Blackheads are clogged hair follicles that appear on the surface of the skin. You are most likely to get blackheads on the high points of your face including your nose, forehead and chin.
If you see a clan of blackheads appearing on the tip of your nose or chin, we feel your pain! We know they never stop coming back. But how to get rid of blackheads?
Stick around, we have listed some of the best home remedies to remove blackheads.
First, let’s have a brief look at the causes of blackheads.
What Causes Blackheads on Your Face?
Blackheads are caused when a hair follicle is clogged between dead skin cells and the sebaceous gland. These clogged pores come in contact with dirt or environmental exposure and get oxidised to black in colour. They are scientifically known as open comedones that form as a result of
- Increased sebum levels
- Hormonal imbalance (androgen)
- Excessive exposure to the environment and pollutants
- Abnormal Keratin production (a protein that makes skin)
How to Get Rid of Blackheads – 7 Home Remedies for Blackheads
Get rid of blackheads with the help of natural ingredients available right in your kitchen. Yes, you got it right. Here are the top homemade remedies for blackhead removal:
Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the best home remedies for blackheads. It is great as an exfoliating ingredient to clear the pores and shed dead skin cells. Using it as a face scrub with water helps in blackhead removal.
- How to Apply: Take 1 tbsp of baking soda and add 2 tbsp of water to form a thick paste. Use your fingertips to scrub your face for 2 minutes. Rinse your face with cool water. Repeat the process once a week for desired results.
Honey and Salt
Salt is a wonderful natural exfoliator and honey is rich in antioxidants and hydrating compounds that moisturise your skin. Both of these ingredients act as a natural face scrub for your skin to remove blackheads and rejuvenate.
- How to Apply: Take 1 tbsp of honey and add ½ tbsp of salt in it. Stir it well to form a mixture. Apply it using your fingertips and gently scrub your face in small circular motions. Wash off with lukewarm water and pat dry your face.
Sugar and Lemon Juice
Whipping sugar and lemon into a mask is one of the best home remedies for blackheads treatment. Sugar helps remove stubborn dirt and impurities. Lemon contains vitamin c and deep cleansing properties to break the oil build-up. The mixture of these two magical ingredients work their way up to clean blackheads visibly.
- How to Apply: Add 1 tbsp of lemon juice into ½ tbsp of sugar. Stir and make a face scrub. Use your fingertips to scrub your face for about 5 minutes. Wash it off with cool water.
Egg White Mask
Egg white mask is an effective remedy for blackheads. Enriched with nutrients, egg whites remove the excess oil from the skin and eliminate the dirt settled in the pores. Lemon sloughs off dead skin cells and purifies clogged pores, making your skin look clean and clear.
- How to Apply: Add one egg white into a bowl and add 1 tbsp of lemon juice. Whisk the mixture until it becomes frothy. Apply a thin layer of this egg white mask on a clean face for blackhead removal. Leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse it off with cool water.
Tomato Pulp
Tomato is rich in vitamin C and has oil-absorbing properties to control excess oil secretion in the pores and wards off bacteria. It also has mild exfoliating properties and helps to minimise large open pores.
- How to Apply: Extract the tomato pulp in a bowl. Massage it gently on the skin and then wash it off with cool water. Repeat the process once a week. Avoid this method, if you have extra sensitive skin.
Green Tea Mask
Green tea benefits the face due to its purifying and antioxidant compounds. It helps remove excess oil and dirt from your face. The antioxidants help shrink pore size and improve the bumpy skin texture. This is a double duty home remedy to get rid of blackheads.
- How to Apply: Dip 2 -3 green tea bags into boiling water. Let it cool down for 10 minutes. Take out the bag and cut it open into a bowl. Now add 2 tbsp of honey. Stir it well. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with cool water and pat dry your face. Repeat this process twice a week for good results.
Oatmeal and Yoghurt
Oatmeal is known for its exfoliating properties. It is mildly abrasive to shed off dead skin cells without drying your skin. Yoghurt has lactic acid with deep-cleansing properties. The mixture of these two ingredients is not only an effective blackheads treatment but gives you a natural face-glow!
- How to Apply: Soak up the mixture of 1 tbsp of oatmeal and 2 tbsp of yoghurt for 10 minutes to soften it. Add a few drops of lemon juice to the mixture and apply it on your face. Leave the mask for 15-20 minutes until dry. Wash it off with lukewarm water. Repeat the process 1-2 times a week to clean blackheads completely.
Prevention Tips for Blackheads
If you’re here to know how to prevent blackheads, given below are some of the tips for you to keep in mind to avoid blackheads:
- Use clean and fresh pillowcases and bed sheets, so that your skin doesn’t get clogged with dirt and grime leading to blackheads and acne.
- Try steaming your face once a week. It helps remove all the toxins and sweat to keep your skin soft and pores clean. It also avoids blackheads on nose.
- Wash your face twice a day to remove the bacteria and dirt sitting on your face causing clogged pores.
- Use oil-free lightweight sunscreen formulas that do not add a thick layer on your skin causing blackheads and breakouts
- Exfoliate your face at home using natural ingredients to remove dead skin cells and excess oil. Use an organic facial scrub based on your skin type.
- If possible, cover up your face whenever you step out to reduce exposure to dirt and air pollutants.
- Try topical use of retinoids to stimulate skin cell turnover that helps remove dead skin and hence prevent the onset of blackheads.
- If you see a few blackheads on your nose, do not pop out blackheads on your own as it might lead to the spread of bacteria under the dermis, permanent scarring or redness.
- Choose non-comedogenic moisturiser that will not block your pores.
- Do not over-use skincare products as it might strip the natural oils off your skin, causing imbalance in the natural sebum levels secreting excess oil in the pores which can result in increased blackheads.
FAQs
Do blackheads leave holes?
Yes, after blackheads removal a tiny space remains in your pores. This is because the dirt and the debris is gone leaving a small hole which will shrink with time.
Can toothpaste get rid of blackheads?
Yes, toothpaste contains basic ingredients like baking soda and alcohol that helps sanitise your skin and remove blackheads. However, it might have compounds that could be reactive to your skin. Using toothpaste to remove blackheads can sound like an easy hack but is not advisable by dermats.
How does Vaseline remove blackheads?
Vaseline dries up oxidised melanin transforming it into a hard-popped oil plug which is then easier to extract out of the pore and clear the blackheads.
What happens if you don’t pop blackheads?
Blackheads in one of the early stages of acne. If you do not undergo blackheads removal at certain time intervals, it will become inflamed into acne. Another problem with leaving blackheads for too long is that it causes ice pick scars or dilated pores.
Are blackheads worms?
No, blackheads aren’t worms, but the congealed dead skin cells and sebum that are found in the clogged hair follicles appear as tiny black bulbs.
Are blackheads caused by being dirty?
Blackheads are caused by trapped dirt in the skin and poor hygiene. You can invest in a good facial cleanser to keep your face squeaky clean free from dirt and impurities.
Conclusion
Blackheads are comedonal acne that are oxidised versions of whiteheads on the face. Next time you think of getting rid of blackheads, try these remedies for blackhead removal at home.
Keep an eye on this space for more of such home remedies for skincare.