Blackheads are stubborn, tricky, and can quickly become an eyesore for you. Blackhead is basically skin pores that have excess sebum and dead skin that get clogged. When this is exposed to air and gets oxidized. On oxidation, these pores turn black and form blackheads. Blackheads can appear on the face, neck, back, chest, arms, and even on the shoulders.
7 Major Causes Of Blackheads
There can be multiple reasons for the appearance of blackheads on face or other areas of the body. By understanding the causes of blackheads, you can help prevent blackheads and reduce their occurrence too. Few of them are listed below:
- Hormonal changes that occur around puberty cause an increase in sebum production by the sebaceous glands, which can trigger blackheads. Post puberty, hormonal changes due to menstruation, pregnancy, and use of birth control pills can also cause blackheads
- Excessive skin cells production can trigger blackheads
- Using unsuitable cosmetics can block the skin pores, and trigger blackheads
- Excessive sweating can clog the pores on your skin and cause blackheads
- Shaving parts of your body can expose the hair follicle causing blackhead
- Health conditions like PCOS, and even PMS can lead to the appearance of blackheads and acne
- Stress can also lead to blackheads and reducing it could be a remedy for blackheads
10 Best Home Remedies For Blackhead Removal
It is possible to do blackhead removal at home with easily available ingredients that are both natural and inexpensive. By choosing home remedies, one does not have to worry about harmful chemicals on their face. Here are 10 easy do-it-yourself home remedies that will teach you how to get rid of blackheads.
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a simple remedy for blackheads and even for acne.
How To Do It:
1. Add two to three drops of tea tree oil mixed with coconut oil on a cotton pad.
2. Apply the oil to the blackhead prone area.
2. Cinnamon
Cinnamon increases collagen synthesis which helps in tightening your skin pores. This reduces and mainly helps in blackhead removal on nose. Lemon juice can sting the skin, so always test out a patch of skin before applying this paste.
How To Do It:
1. Make a paste by mixing the 1 tablespoon each of cinnamon powder and lemon juice.
2. Apply this paste on the blackhead prone areas.
3. Rinse off after 20 minutes.
3. Coconut Oil
Coconut has many proven benefits as it is a good moisturizer. This can help relieve dry skin and prevent the blockage of pores with dead and dry skin cells. As a home remedy for blackheads, it can be used daily.
How To Do It:
1. Apply a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil (cold-pressed, if available) on the blackhead areas
2. Leave it on until it is fully absorbed into your skin.
3. Apply it twice daily until effective results.
4. Honey
Honey is one of the oldest natural remedies for dry skin. By preventing clogging of pores and dead skin, it helps remove blackheads on face.
How To Do It:
- Take some honey on a cotton pad.
- Apply on the blackheads and leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing off.
- If you are wondering how to get rid of blackheads on nose, you can use honey as a natural pore strip.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera contains zinc that helps tighten the pores and cleanses the skin. This will help remove blackheads on nose and other areas.
How To Do It:
1. Apply fresh aloe vera on blackhead prone areas.
2. Leave it overnight and rinse the area with water in the morning.
6. Turmeric
Turmeric contains curcumin which has antibacterial properties and helps in cleansing the pores. Turmeric helps with blackhead removal at home.
How To Do It:
1. Make a paste of turmeric and water.
2. Apply the paste on all blackheads generously and wash it after it dries off completely.
7. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can eliminate blackheads on face.
How To Do It:
1. Mix 2-3 drops of jojoba oil with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil. Certain oils like jojoba oils are extremely strong and need to be diluted with carrier oils.
2. Apply this on the blackhead and repeat this several times a week.
8. Tomato
Tomatoes have antibacterial properties and cleanse the pores and are a great home remedy for blackheads.
How To Do It:
1. Mash 1-2 tomatoes into a thick paste.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to the paste.
3. Apply it on blackheads on nose and other areas on the face.
4. Leave it on for 15 minutes before washing it off with cold water.
5. Repeat this 1-2 times a week.
9. Egg White Mask
The best way to remove blackheads is by using a natural face mask. Eggs are an easy and effective way to help in tightening pores, hair follicles that produce sebum, and removing blackheads.
How To Do It:
1. Whisk one egg white and apply it on your skin.
2. Layer a tissue on your face avoiding the eyes and mouth and apply a layer of egg white again.
3. Let dry for 20 minutes and peel it off.
10. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a common kitchen item that helps with blackhead removal. Baking soda helps to neutralize any pH imbalance your skin may have, as well as work as an exfoliant to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells.
How To Do It:
1. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and water to form a paste.
2. Massage the paste on the blackheads on nose and the other areas on the face.
3. Rinse with warm water and use a moisturizer afterwards as using baking soda as a remedy for blackheads is drying to the skin.
5 Highly Recommended Products For Blackhead Prone Skin
If you are wondering how to get rid of blackheads using certain products like creams and face washes, here are a few recommendations for you. The only way to get rid of them is by regular exfoliation and having a daily routine. Choose a product based on your skin type, quality, and ingredients.
1. Forest Essentials Hydrating Facial Moisturiser-Sandalwood and Orange Peel
If you have dry skin type, then this is the most suitable product for blackhead remover cream and provides your skin with ample amounts of moisture and richness. This cream contains the goodness of ingredients like orange peel and sandalwood that are known to work wonders for skin problems such as blackheads and acne.
2. Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub
Neutrogena Deep Clean Blackhead Eliminating Daily Scrub is a gentle yet effective daily exfoliator and is the best face scrub for blackheads. It offers dual-benefits to the skin. First, the maximum strength acne formula with 2% Salicylic Acid penetrates pores and eliminates blackheads by removing the oil and dirt trapped inside. Then, this gentle scrub exfoliates your skin without over-drying it and prevents blackheads from recurring. The scrub cleanses your skin from deep within, leaving you feeling and looking refreshed.
3. The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser
The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser is used in the final step of the skin care regimen and especially formulated for blemished and acne-prone skin. This pore minimizer is enriched with the natural goodness of organic tea tree oil that smoothes skin texture.This effective targeted treatment is gentle on the skin and can be used as a blackhead remover cream.
4. Himalaya Herbals Gentle Exfoliating Daily Face Wash
Himalaya Herbals Gentle Exfoliating Daily Face Wash contains the goodness of an apricot exfoliating scrub and a deep cleansing face wash. It not only cleanses the face to remove all the dirt, grime, and oil but also exfoliates dead skin cells. It is suitable for all skin types and is gentle enough to be used daily. It’s one of the best face wash for blackheads as it deep cleanses your large open pores which in turn prevents the occurrence of acne.
5. SebaMed Clear Face Cleansing Bar
Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing bar prevents the formation of blackheads and whiteheads and supports healthy skin. This soap for pimples and blackheads is great as a daily cleanser as it is ultra-hydrating without drying your skin. The unique cleansing formula gently removes oil and water-based moisturizers hydrate your skin without making it feel dry or stretched.
How To Prevent Blackheads?
While the above list of remedies will help you treat blackheads, one must also learn how to prevent blackheads so as to overtime reduce blackheads on the body.
- Keep your skin oil-free and clean at all times
- Avoid excessive use of cosmetic products and try using natural cosmetics
- Switch to non-comedogenic products so that your pores are not clogged
- Don’t wear clothes that are too tight as that can trap the sweat and choose sweat-absorbent clothes while exercising
- Always remove your makeup before sleeping
- A nutritional remedy for blackheads includes not consuming foods that can cause excessive production of sebum. These foods include processed foods, dairy products, fast food and more.
These tips and remedies will help you on how to get rid of blackheads. Try any or a combination of the above remedies and bid goodbye to blackheads. Blackhead removal does not have to be painful, costly, or time-consuming and rediscover your healthy, glowing and beautiful skin.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the difference between blackheads and whiteheads?
A. Blackheads and whiteheads have a similar underlying cause. Both are caused when dead skin cells and oil clog the pores in your skin. The difference is that blackheads have a dark brown appearance and are formed when the pores remain open, while whiteheads occur when the debris closes the pores and have a yellowish tint.
Q. What to do after removing a blackhead?
A. Before using any of the above, always steam your face or place a warm, damp cloth on the face for 5 minutes to open up the pores. Once you have removed the blackheads, you must wash your face with plain or cold water and pat it dry.
Q. Where can we find blackheads?
A. Blackheads can be found in multiple areas where sebaceous glands are present – like the face, neck, back, chest and arms. Blackhead removal on nose can be a particularly difficult task and home remedies can help.
Q. Which foods cause blackheads?
A. Processed or refined foods, dairy products, artificially sweetened drinks, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can increase the sebum production in your skin, thereby increasing the chance of having blackheads on face.
Q. Do pore strips remove blackheads?
A. Pore strips stick on to your skin and pull off the dry, dead skin cells as well as blackheads if any. This is a temporary solution and does not aid permanent blackhead removal.
Q. What happens if you don’t do blackhead removal?
A. Sometimes your body does blackhead removal naturally after it’s been on the skin for a few weeks. If that does not happen, you may need to get it extracted by a dermatologist.
Q. Does squeezing a blackhead damage a pore or relieve it?
A. Squeezing a blackhead can cause damage to your skin pores. If there are bacteria present, squeezing might risk spreading the bacteria to the surrounding tissues, which can cause acne.
