Are you dejected with the little black spots on your nose? You can’t prick those nasty spots, or pinch it, but to get rid of it? Blackheads can be an unpleasant sight. Luckily, there are home remedies!
Let us learn about what leads to blackheads and the natural ways to get them out:
Causes Of Blackheads
There are many reasons that lead to blackheads in the first place:
- Hormonal changes: Hormonal imbalances in your body (excess of sebum production) can lead to build-up of excess oil, dead skin cells, dirt and grind. When these are left inside pores, they lead to acne breakouts
- Excessive use of cosmetic products: Over-indulgence in cosmetics, cleansers etc. can block or cover pores of the skin
- Improper skin care: Things like poor hygiene, or excessive face scrubbing, make blackheads all the more worse
- Seasonal Changes: Excessive sweating or high humidity can aggravate blackheads
- Genetics: Excess of androgen hormones in grown up women increases the risk of blackheads and acne (even excessive hair growth) which is linked to PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
- Miscellaneous factors include stress, changes in menstrual periods/pregnancy, indulging in greasy and fatty foods
Here are the home remedies to get rid of blackheads:
There isn’t one, but 30 remedies that will help you say goodbye to blackheads. Whether it is chin area or nose, blackheads can be easily given a blow, thanks to time-tested home remedies.
1. Clay Time
What you need: Bentonite clay, water
How to prepare: Create a thick paste out of clay and water
How to apply: Using your fingertips, apply the paste on the blackhead region. After a gap of 10-25 minutes when it dries, wash it off with lukewarm water. Apply a moisturizer (if you feel the need).
Why it works: Clay is enriched with minerals, which when mixed with water removes blackheads easily.
2. Egg White Mask
What you need: Egg white, facial tissue
How to prepare: Take a cup of egg white.
How to apply: Now apply a thin layer of it over your face. Then, put a tissue paper over the mask. Let the layers dry up completely, so that you can peel of the tissues.
Why it works: Egg white mask tightens the skin, and cleans the pores, thereby reducing the chances of further blackheads.
3. Honey and Milk Pore Strips
What you need: 1 tbsp organic honey, 1 tsp milk, clean cotton strip
How to prepare: Mix honey with milk, then microwave it for 5-10 sec. Thereafter, blend it.
How to apply: Apply it over the blackheads. Then put the strips on it. Allow it to dry, then peel the strip away. Rinse it with cold water.
Why it works: Honey has antibacterial properties, whereas the lactic acid in milk keeps skin soft and supple.
Why it works: Cinnamon will not disappoint you when it comes to treating blackheads from the roots.
5. H2O Daily Blackhead Treatment
What you need: Water, clean towel, moisturizer (optional but advisable).
How to prepare: Splash your face with fresh water (fresh as is fresh).
How to apply: Pat your face dry with soft towel. Then, apply moisturizer (for best results)
Why it works: Gentle rinsing with water (once or twice daily) is the way to go. This clears off excess sebum.
6. Toner for Tighter Pores
What you need: One lemon, few cotton balls, and a small bottle
How to prepare: Rinse your face and pat dry. Squeeze one lemon and put the lemon juice in a small bottle. Dampen a cotton ball with this juice.
How to apply: Now apply the juice on the affected areas where blackheads show. Repeat three to four times a week, when you go off to sleep at night. When you wake up, then rinse your face with lukewarm water and apply moisturizer.
Why it works: Lemon juice is a good astringent which helps fight out pesky blackheads.
7. Sweat It Out
What you need: Fresh water, clean towel and motivation to exercise (or steam/sauna)
How to prepare: First of all, rinse your face. Now sweat it out majorly.
How to apply: Pat your face with water and wipe it with towel. Moisturize well!
Why it works: Sweat can open up and cleanse clogged pores, which is good news when it comes to battling out blackheads.
[Also Read: How To Minimize Pores]
8. Baking Soda & Water
What you need: 2 tsp of Baking soda, Water
How to prepare: In a bowl, sprinkle baking soda powder and pour few drops of water. Make a paste out of it.
How to apply: Smear the paste on the blackheads evenly. Let it dry. Now, rinse it with warm water.
Why it works: Baking soda works out well in treating blackheads and acne. It also helps clear out skin impurities like debris and dirt.
9. Cleansing Sugar Scrub
What you need: 1 cup sugar, 3 to 4 tbsp jojoba oil, and a Glass jar
How to prepare: To a cup of sugar, add jojoba oil. Store it in a jar, after you have mixed it well.
How to apply: Wet your face first and then begin scrubbing your skin with this sugar mixture for about 5 min. Rinse it off with water, and pat your skin dry.
Why it works: Sugar Scrub is a known remedy when it comes to removal of dead skin cells and exfoliating it. Use this scrub once a week in order to keep your skin clean.
10. Steam It Out
What you need: Bowl of water (not small, but large), and a soft towel.
How to prepare: First of all, boil the water and let it cool for a few sec.
How to apply: Now, put your head over the bowl, and cover your head with a towel. Stay in this position for 5-10 min. Keep rotating your face in front of the bowl so that all skin pores on your nose, forehead and chin get steam-cleaning. When you are through, rinse your face with lukewarm water and wipe away the blackheads with a neat and clean towel.
Why it works: No questioning or doubts here, as steam is a natural way to unclog the pores and blackheads!
11. Apple Cider Vinegar & Mint Toner
What you need: ACV (2 glasses), Mint leaves (1 cup), cotton balls
How to prepare: Pour the contents of ACV in a bottle, and add mint leaves to it. Keep it in a dark place for 1 week. After the week is over, strain the liquid, and add a cup of water to it. Store it in the fridge for 2 or 3 days.
How to apply: Now that the treated solution is ready, apply it with cotton balls on the blackheads.
Why it works: A great combo it is – ACV and mint are effective skin toners. While ACV removes blackheads, ‘menthol’ in mint soothes your skin from the irritation caused by blackheads.
12. Lemon
What you need: Lemon juice, Honey (few drops)
How to prepare: Take half of a lemon. Now put few drops of honey on it. If you want extra exfoliation, add a bit of sugar.
How to apply: Now rub the honey-or-sugar-kissed lemon on your blackheads. Rinse it off after a gap of 10 minutes. Repeat this at least twice a week to get good results.
Why it works: Lemon juice is not only good for treating acne, but removing blackheads, as well. The nutrients and vitamins in a juice of lemon suit all skin types.
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13. Cinnamon & Lemon
What you need: Cinnamon powder, 1/2 lemon
How to prepare: Squeeze half of a lemon in a bowl and add cinnamon powder. Make a smooth paste out of it.
How to apply: Smear the paste on the blackheads on face and leave it overnight. Next morning, wash your face and pat it dry.
Why it works: Cinnamon takes off excessive sebum on the skin – thereby clearing blackheads. Lemon, on the other hand, tightens the skin.
14. Lemon and Milk
What you need: Lemon juice (3-5 drops), 1 tbsp milk, water, and a towel
How to prepare: Mix the juice of lemon and milk.
How to apply: Now apply it to your face (skip the eye area). Let it dry for 5-10 min. Follow it up by rinsing with water, and pat it dry.
Why it works: This recipe is extremely beneficial for erasing blackheads.
15. Oatmeal and Yogurt Mask
What you need: 2 tbsp oatmeal, 3 tbsp yogurt, 1 tsp honey, lemon juice and olive oil (in parts)
How to prepare: First of all, you need to mix oatmeal, honey and juice of tomatoes so that a paste is formed.
How to apply: Now, scrub this paste on the blackhead areas. After 10 minutes, wash it off. Keep repeating it often to get best results.
Why it works: The combo effect of oatmeal and yogurt works – in eliminating blackheads.
16. Oatmeal and Rosewater
What you need: 2 tbsp Oatmeal powder, 1 tbsp rosewater
How to prepare: Combine both the ingredients in a bowl to thick consistency
How to apply: With gentle fingers, apply this on blackheads on your face, nose or chin. After 20 min are over, wash it off with lukewarm water.
Why it works: This recipe is a process of natural exfoliation which removes blackheads.
17. Tomato Mask
What you need: 2-3 tomatoes, cotton balls
How to prepare: Extract juice of the tomatoes.
How to apply: Dip a cotton ball into the tomato juice. Then, apply it on the blackheads on your face and nose. After 15 min, wash it off with water.
Why it works: Tomato has antiseptic properties which helps it open the clogged pores.
18. Sugar and Olive Oil
What you need: Few drops of olive oil, 1 tsp sugar, soft toothbrush
How to prepare: Mix olive oil and sugar in a bowl.
How to apply: Use a toothbrush in order to apply the paste on the blackheads. Rub it gently for 5-10 min. Then, wash it off with cold water.
Why it works: Both are actually great ingredients in knocking off blackheads.
19. Green Tea Solution
What you need: Leaves of dried green tea, water
How to prepare: Make a paste by combining dried green tea leaves and water.
How to apply: Scrub the paste over the blackheads for 2-3 mins. Rinse it with lukewarm water.
Why it works: The green tea scrub cleans (in fact, deep cleans oily skin pores) and helps in unclogging of pores.
20. Toothpaste
What you need: Toothpaste and a toothbrush.
How to prepare: Wash your face with lukewarm water. Pat it dry.
How to apply: Now put toothpaste on a toothbrush, and brush it slowly on the affected area of blackheads. After few min, wash it with cold water.
Why it works: Yes, “toothpaste” might sound strange for removal of blackheads. But the fact is that it helps in removal of dead skin cells, and clogged pores. Make sure you use a new and soft-bristled toothbrush, not an old one.
21. Toothpaste and Salt
What you need: 1 tsp salt, some toothpaste
How to prepare: Scoop out small amount of toothpaste in a bowl, and sprinkle some salt over it.
How to apply: Now apply this paste on the blackheads on nose area. Rub it for a min. Then wash you face with clean water for instant result.
Why it works: This remedy helps remove blackheads from your skin pores.
22. Turmeric and Mint
What you need: Turmeric (a pinch), 2 tbsp mint juice
How to prepare: Mix turmeric powder and mint juice.
How to apply: Make a paste of the above ingredients, and apply it on the blackheads. Once it dries off, wash it off with lukewarm water.
Why it works: Did you know that turmeric is a great treatment for minor burns and blackheads as well?
23. Epsom Salts
What you need: 1 tsp Epsom salt, iodine (few drops), cotton ball
How to prepare: Start off by mixing Epsom salt with iodine drops in hot water (not extremely hot). The purpose is that the salt should dissolve well. Let the solution cool down to room temp.
How to apply: Take a cotton ball, and apply the Epsom salt mixture on the area with blackheads. Let the mixture dry up. Then, use a clean washcloth to wash it off.
Why it works: Epsom salt when combined with iodine works for fighting bacteria responsible for blackheads.
24. Fenugreek
What you need: Fenugreek leaves, water
How to prepare: Add fenugreek leaves and water in a bowl. Crush it to form a thick paste.
How to apply: Smear the fenugreek paste on the blackheads. Let it dry for 10 minutes. Now rinse it off with lukewarm water. Do this daily till the time the blackheads vanish off.
Why it works: Not only does this recipe remove blackheads, it also helps heal severe skin conditions like eczema and acne.
25. Orange
What you need: 1 tbsp orange peel powder, 2 tsp olive oil
How to prepare: Put the ingredients in a small bowl
How to apply: Now scrub the mixture on your face in gentle motions. After a gap of 2-3 min, wash off your face with warm water and pat it dry.
Why it works: The beauty of powdered orange peel lies in the fact that is makes a refreshing face scrub, and exfoliator too! Avoid scrubbing your skin vigorously, as it can cause redness on skin and micro abrasions.
26. Cornmeal
What you need: 1 tbsp cornmeal, milk or water
How to prepare: First of all, use steam to open up the pores. Then mix cornmeal with milk or water.
How to apply: Gently massage the mixture on face in a circular motion. Rinse off with cold water.
Why it works: Cornmeal cleans the dirt in the skin pores, thereby knocking off pimples and blackheads. It is also a good cleansing agent.
27. Olive Oil and Lemon
What you need: Olive oil, lemon extract, few cotton balls
How to prepare: Mix equal quantities of lemon and olive oil in a bowl.
How to apply: Dab this solution on blackheads on your nose using a cotton ball.
Why it works: This combo is a natural toner – pretty effective in treating blackheads on nose and face.
28. Glue
What you need: Multi-purpose glue
How to prepare: First
How to apply: Wash your face with soap and water to get the skin impurities away (or else they will get glued to your skin). Now apply the glue over your nose, and wherever you find blackheads. Let the glue dry for about 15 min. During the drying process, don’t touch your nose! When it dries off, peel the glue from the bottom. You will now see the dirt and blackheads removed.
Why it works: This remedy is truly multipurpose in nature, as it removes blackheads from your nose.
29. Squeezing
What you need: Fingers of the hand, blackhead extractor
How to prepare: Cleanse your face with a facial cleanser. After that, use as much water as you can and then apply a pat of moisturizer. Put a plastic wrap all over your nose (leave your nostrils open, or else how will you breathe). Now soak a washcloth in hot water, squeeze out excess of water, and put it on the plastic wrap for a brief period. This will get the heat to filter down the skin.
How to apply: Place the tip of your fingers at the bottom of the blackheads and then squeeze them gently. Remember, you have to dislodge the grime inside the blackheads. Now cleanse the area with antiseptic solution.
Why it works: Using index fingers is a good way to dislodge the blackheads.
30. Milk
What you need: Milk, Unflavored gelatin, measuring spoon, disposable containers
How to prepare: Put 1 tbsp gelatin in a container. Then, add 1 -2 tbsp milk, Mix all the ingredients well.
How to apply: Now, rinse your face, while you microwave this mixture for 15 sec. Apply this paste on your blackheads. Let it soak in. Then start peeling off.
Why it works: You will see the blackheads come out!
Having read the remedies, let us find out the steps we can take to prevent blackheads:
How To Prevent Blackheads
When you follow these steps in reality, you are close to preventing blackheads in the first place. Here are some tips for you to follow-
- Always clean your face with a quality cleanser before you go off to sleep
- Increase your fluid intake (this means water, water and more water)
- Wash your face twice daily. This will help reduce irritation and blackheads
- Facing oily skin? For face toner, use tomato juice or rose water (these will help in keeping your skin free of oil).
- Always apply sunscreen before coming in exposure to direct sunlight
Precautions
Remember the saying “precaution is better than cure”. It’s of extreme help in blackhead prevention.
- Whenever you are trying out the ‘steam’ method for blackhead removal, make sure the steam is hot enough, but more importantly, skin-tolerable. Sensitive skins should avoid using this technique.
- Do not do aggressive scrubbing, as it can cause redness on skin. Always apply moisturizer on skin, after scrubbing is done.
- Never ever bust your blackhead. Or else, it can lead to pimples.
- Avoid excess of sun exposure.
Now that you are aware of multiple ways to show blackheads “the door”, do so in time. Let us know how you found these tips.
Images Source: pinterest
