Almost every person has experienced acne at some point in their life. They come in different sizes, shapes, and colours, and they need not necessarily look like a blemish sometimes.
One type of common acne almost every person gets is a blackhead. These icky dark-coloured spots sprout up on the face and the body. We often wonder how to remove blackheads naturally but end up trying to squeeze them and usually turn them into angry-looking red bumps. But there must be a way to clear such acne off your face, right?
To better understand how to remove blackheads at home instantly or prevent getting blackheads, we must understand why we get them in the first place. If we can understand why we are prone to certain kinds of acne, we can avoid it or heal it.
What Is A Blackhead?
Blackheads refer to these small bumps that come up on your skin when the hair follicles get clogged. They are called blackheads because the surface of this acne appears to look black or dark.
Blackheads are considered to be a mild type of acne, which the majority of people experience. These usually appear on your face. However, they can also spear on other body parts, such as:
- neck
- chest
- back
- arms
- shoulders
It can be quite distressing to get blackheads repeatedly. Understandably, no person is happy with acne on their skin. However, you can easily treat this type of acne at home. Keep reading to learn how to remove deep blackheads at home.
What Causes Blackheads?
Before we know how to get rid of them, we must know what causes blackheads. Blackheads are the result of the opening of the hair follicle in your skin getting clogged or plugged. A follicle contains a single hair, and the sebaceous gland is responsible for producing oil. The oil produced is called sebum, and it plays a major role in keeping your skin soft.
We all shed dead skin cells. When the dead skin cells and oils gather in the opening of our skin follicles, it produces a bump called a comedo. If the overlying skin over the bump remains closed, it forms a whitehead. However, if the skin covering the bump opens up, the exposure to the air causes it to look black. This bump is called a blackhead. Various factors may increase the chance of developing acne, such as blackheads.
These factors include:
- producing excessive body oil
- your skin building up the Propionibacterium acne bacteria
- the hair follicles get irritated when there is an irregular shedding of dead skins cells
- experiencing hormonal changes that might result in an increase in oil production. This could happen during the teen years or during menstruation. It might also occur if you are taking birth control pills.
- certain drugs such as corticosteroids, lithium, or androgens might cause acne
Sometimes even our diet can influence acne. For some people, dairy products might cause acne. Foods such as carbohydrates that increase blood sugar levels could also contribute to triggering acne on your skin.
How to Remove Blackheads at Home?
Now that we understand what blackheads are and why we get them, we can try natural remedies to take care of them. Before you head to the dermatologist to get medicines, you can try out these home remedies. They are sure to make a difference in the quality of your skin. However, if you still see no change, it would be best to get professional medical advice.
This is how to remove blackheads at home:
1. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a pretty handy remedy for not only fighting acne but lightening blemishes as well. You can easily make this remedy at home. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of water. Apply the paste over the acne and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. You can then wash it off with lukewarm water. Baking soda acts as a natural exfoliator. It is also an antibacterial which reduces the possibilities of irritation and infection.
2. Green Tea
Since it is rich in antioxidants, applying green tea to your face helps to get rid of impurities and blackheads. To make a thick paste, you can mix a tablespoon of dry green tea leaves and water. Apply it on the acne-affected areas of your face for 15-20 minutes, and then wash it off with lukewarm water.
3. Egg Whites
An egg mask is very easy to make. Take an egg white and mix it with a tablespoon of honey. Apply the concoction to your face and allow it to dry. You can then wash it off with water. You will notice that your face is glowing and blackhead free. Egg white is a great remedy because it tightens your pores and the hair follicles that produce sebum. It effectively removes blackheads this way. Honey is meant to nourish your skin, making it smooth, soft and supple.
4. Tomatoes
A one-ingredient remedy, one tomato, is all you need. Make a pulp out of tomatoes and apply it over the acne-affected areas of your face before you go to sleep. You can rinse it off the next morning. Tomatoes dry up blackheads owing to their antibacterial properties. They also act as an exfoliator; the acidic properties of tomatoes help unclog pores.
5. Cinnamon Powder
Cinnamon powder is a powerful remedy that not only removes blackheads but prevents them as well. Mix a tablespoon of cinnamon powder and lemon juice. You could even add in a pinch of turmeric powder. Apply this paste on your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Wash it off with normal water. Cinnamon will tighten your pores and improve your blood circulation. Lemon juice has antibacterial properties that fight all kinds of acne. Turmeric has healing properties.
6. Pore Strips
You may not find this one in your kitchen, but it is fairly easy to do at home. You can buy pore strips at your local pharmacy. They are made with adhesive to remove blackheads, dead skin, and hair. There will be instructions printed on the packaging. Here is how to use pore strips:
- You will have to apply the sticky part to your face.
- Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and peel it off slowly.
- Wash off all the residues and pat dry your skin.
- You can use pore strips once a week.
- However, if you have sensitive skin or allergies, it is best to avoid them.
7. Steaming and Manual Extraction
If you want to extract blackheads at home manually, you will have to be very careful as you might damage your pores and encourage breakouts. Steaming will help open the pores and loosen the gunk inside. Here is how you can manually extract blackheads at home:
- Boil some water and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Put the water in a bowl and sit in front of the bowl with your face six inches above it.
- Put a towel over your head and the bowl so that the steam does not escape. Do this for 10 minutes.
- You can now use a blackhead extractor tool after sterilising it with rubbing alcohol.
- You need to press the loop face-down on the pore that needs clearing.
- Make a gentle sweeping motion to remove the plug from the pore. Do not overdo it, as it can damage your skin.
- Keep sterilising the extractor tool between use as no dirt and bacteria should be transferred from pore to pore.
- Once you are done, use a gel mask or ice cubes on your face to prevent inflammation and close the pores. Lightly moisturise your skin.
How to Avoid Blackheads?
If you have blackheads, there are things you should avoid doing to make the situation worse. Let’s look at ways through which you can avoid blackheads.
#1 Never Pop a Blackhead
You should never try to pop a blackhead. It is important to uproot the blackhead from right inside. But popping it may only lead it to embed further into your skin. It will also encourage bacteria to spread on your skin and maybe even scar it.
#2 Avoid Using Pointed Tools to Remove Blackheads
Don’t ever try to remove blackheads or acne with pointed tools like tweezers. Leave it to a professional to use blackhead removal tools to help you with that pesky acne. People often get hurt trying to remove blackheads by themselves.
#3 Don’t Use Harsh Exfoliators
Exfoliation helps a lot in removing blackheads. However, you must avoid using harsh or abrasive ingredients. These will end up damaging your skin rather than clearing out the blackheads. Moreover, it will dry out and irritate your skin. It would be best to use a gentle scrub. You can make natural versions by using natural exfoliators such as coffee, salt, sugar, or oatmeal.
#4 Keep Your Skin Clean
The most important thing you can do for your skin is to keep it clean. Not only will this help you avoid blackheads, but acne and pimples as well. Start and end your day by washing your face with a gentle face wash. You must also put effort into ensuring no grease forms on your face. For this, use a facial scrub 1-2 times a week. Choose products according to your skin type.
#5 Hydrate Your Skin
Hydrate your skin by using a suitable moisturiser for your skin type. It is advisable to use non-comedogenic moisturisers to avoid blocking your pores.
#6 Use Products with Salicylic Acid
Skin products with salicylic acid help prevent blackheads. Salicylic acid is a commonly used element in acne eliminating creams and gels. It is also used in medication to remove the outer layer of the skin. You can use it to treat warts, dandruff, psoriasis, acne, ringworm, and ichthyosis. Such products help your face feel fresh and grime-free as it exfoliates the top layer, thereby helping you avoid blackheads.
Summing Up on How to Remove Blackheads at Home
It is difficult to resist trying to pop those blackheads yourself. However, you must resist and leave the blackheads alone. The best treatment you can give it is prevention. You can use a few helpful ingredients such as retinoids or double-taskers that help treat acne and prevent it from forming. If you wish to go the natural route, there are plenty of easy home remedies to follow.
These are how to remove blackheads from the nose at home. Keep your skin clean and pick the right skincare products for yourself. Avoid any contact with oil. If all else fails and you see no improvement, make an appointment with your dermatologist for better recommendations.
FAQs
Is It Ok to Squeeze Blackheads?
It can be difficult to resist squeezing your blackheads. While trying to pop them does result in some of the gunk coming out of the follicles, it is not the right solution. The entire blackhead might not come out. In fact, it might get pushed deeper into your skin and cause skin irritation.
You may also end up introducing more bacteria or oil into the blackhead opening. This could make the blackheads spread. Popping acne results in inflammation or scarring. Skin is sensitive. When you use your nails for popping blackheads, you could seriously damage your skin. Your skin cannot handle that kind of pressure.
You can opt for a procedural treatment by a trained professional who can extract the blackheads from your skin. They use a special tool called an extractor to remove the blackheads. But even then, it needs to be done with care. If done wrong, it can lead to embedding the inflammation deeper into the skin or even scar you.
Do Blackheads Go Away Naturally?
Yes, usually, blackheads do go away on their own. But it depends on how deep it is in your skin. If it’s closer to the surface of your skin, it will be easier for it to disappear on its own. However, if it’s deep into your skin, you will probably need help extracting it. If you have deeper blackheads, it would be best to go to a dermatologist or skincare specialist who can remove them.
Do Blackheads Leave Holes?
When you extract a blackhead, you are left with enlarged pores. They need to heal by themselves. But if it takes too long, you might be left with a scar or open pores. Yes, this sounds very disconcerting. It’s quite a common problem that can be fixed easily. Damage from acne is tricky, so you will need to take special care in treating them. If your home remedies do not work, get help from a dermatologist.
References
- Olha Ilnytska, June 2016; Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena Sativa) Improves Skin Barrier Through Multi-Therapy Activity - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303877443
- National Institutes of Health, Acne - https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/acne
- FDA, Alpha Hydroxy Acids - https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/alpha-hydroxy-acids
