5 Ways to Get Rid of Blackheads at Home the Right Way
Blackheads and whiteheads can be extremely annoying, as the unsightly dots can become inflamed and cause full-blown acne, which can take a serious toll on one's confidence. They can appear everywhere - on the face, neck, and even on the back. But worst of all, people of all ages are susceptible to these pesky little skin problems. In this article, we'll teach you to get rid of these annoying spots by using 5 easy and effective at-home methods, as well as provide you with other important tips and information about blackheads.
Is It a Blackhead or Something Else?
We’re
used to calling any pimple and sometimes just any enlarged pore a
blackhead, but not all clogged or enlarged pores are blackheads.
Blackheads are a type of acne that appears as dark spots that stretch
out and clog up the pores, and their cousins are whiteheads -
essentially the same spots, but located deeper in the pore. There are
many causes of blackheads and whiteheads, ranging from poor diet, skin
that's producing too much oil, hormonal changes, and even sebum (skin
oil) oxidation by the sun. Importantly, blackheads should not be
confused with other skin conditions that should be treated differently
to blackheads, such as:
- Comedones - skin-colored bumps on the skin common on the forehead.
- Acne vulgaris - large red bumps or pus-filled pimples.
- Sebaceous filaments - small transparent or slightly greyish dots on the skin that are normal and should not be removed to prevent acne formation.
Dermatologists
and estheticians suggest easier to prevent blackheads by maintaining a
basic skincare routine than treat them once they appear, namely:
1. Cleansing the face daily or twice a day if you have combination or oily skin.
2. Using products that contain AHA or BHA (e.g. salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, azelaic acid, and mandelic acid) on the skin twice or 3 times a week.
3. Moisturizing the skin daily each time you wash the face.
4. Wearing sunscreen daily to prevent the oxidation of sebum.
2. Using products that contain AHA or BHA (e.g. salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, azelaic acid, and mandelic acid) on the skin twice or 3 times a week.
3. Moisturizing the skin daily each time you wash the face.
4. Wearing sunscreen daily to prevent the oxidation of sebum.
That
being said, there are several extra at-home treatments you can do to
get rid of and prevent blackheads (and whiteheads). Below, we featured 5
excellent natural treatments that use common household ingredients like
green tea, turmeric, ice, and more. If you're struggling with clogged
pores, whiteheads, or blackheads, we recommend you try out any of these
useful and effective DIY recipes:
1. Green Tea Rinse
Green tea is an excellent ingredient for the skin:
its anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory benefits are
known to reduce the amount of oil in the skin, hence reducing blackheads
and whiteheads, and calm down any redness or inflammation in the skin,
making it beneficial for acne overall. If used regularly, you can even
brighten the overall complexion with green tea.
When
putting green tea on the face, make a stronger brew than you normally
would, putting 3-4 teaspoons of tea or 3 teabags per glass of hot water.
Let the tea cool down, the colder the better, before putting it on the
face, as the cold will make your pores look smaller. You can either
splash some of the tea directly onto your face or apply some using a
cotton pad. It's important to wash your face before using the green tea
rinse.
For
best results, use daily, and follow up with a moisturizer. You can
store this homemade green tea toner in the refrigerator for up to 3
days.
2. Tea Tree Oil Spot Treatment
Similarly to green tea, tea tree oil
has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and it's even used
to treat fungal skin and nail infections, psoriasis, dandruff, and
promotes wound healing. The same properties make tea tree oil an
excellent treatment for acne, blackheads, and whiteheads as well, and
many people do manage to treat these issues with tea tree oil.
Do
keep in mind, though, that tea tree oil is an essential oil, which
means that it's extremely concentrated and so needs to be diluted with a
carrier oil to avoid skin burns. The best way to use tea tree oil is as
a spot treatment, applying it directly onto the blackheads. To do so,
mix 1 tablespoon of any base oil of your choice (e.g. jojoba oil,
rosehip oil, sunflower seed oil, grapeseed oil, but NOT coconut oil
because it can further clog up the pimple) with 5 drops of tea tree oil
and apply this mixture to spot 1-2 times a day.
3. Clay Mask
Clay
is another super ingredient when it comes to acne and blackhead and
whitehead removal and prevention, as it acts like a sponge, absorbing
the excess oils from your skin and giving your pores a deep clean. Any
type of clay will do the job, with kaolin clay being possibly the most
popular for the skin.
To
make a clay mask, all you'll need to do is mix the clay with a tiny
amount of water so that the clay powder forms a thick paste, and then
apply the mask on clean skin. You can keep the mask on for about 10-15
minutes, keeping it on for any longer will dry out your skin. Wash off
the mask completely with lukewarm water, and follow up with a
moisturizer.
If
you have combination, normal, or dry skin, you can only apply the clay
mask to the area where you have blackheads or where your skin gets oily,
typically the T-zone or just the nose, and keep the other areas bare
not to dry out your skin. You can do this mask 1-2 times a week.
4. Facial Oil Massage
People
who have blackheads or oily skin are typically afraid to use oils on
their face, but they really shouldn't, as oils can really help them
erase the blackheads from their skin for good. Do keep in mind, however,
that you shouldn't use coconut oil on your face, since it can be
comedogenic for some people, meaning that it can be pore-clogging.
Instead,
use neutral oils like grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, sunflower
seed oil, or others on the skin.
For
this specific method, you will be washing off the oil and cleansing
your face afterward, so no need to use an expensive facial oil, any oil
cleanser or inexpensive carrier oil will do the job. All you will have
to do is apply the oil on the skin and start massaging the face in small
circular motions, focusing on the areas where you have clogged pores
and blackheads. Massage for several minutes until you see small black
lines - oil plugs and blackheads - start emerging from the skin. When
all of these are gone, wash off the oil with warm water and a cleanser.
Follow up with a moisturizer.
5. Turmeric and Oatmeal Mask
We hardly need to remind you of the amazing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of turmeric,
but when it comes to the use on the skin, it has one drawback - it can
stain. However, some beauty experts point out that one specific variety,
namely Kasturi turmeric, doesn't stain the skin. We'd still be careful
if we were you, though, so we recommend wearing gloves and clothes you
don't mind staining when applying this mask.
The
second ingredient in this mask is a calming and anti-inflammatory
ingredient as well - oatmeal. In addition, the ground oatmeal will
provide a gentle exfoliation on the skin, which also benefits clogged
pores.
To
make this mask, combine 1 tablespoon of ground oatmeal, half a teaspoon
of Kasturi turmeric powder, and about 1 teaspoon of water to create a
thick paste. If necessary, add more water. Apply the mask on the entire
face or just the area that's prone to blackheads and whiteheads and
leave on for about 7-10 minutes. Wash the face before and after using
this mask and follow up with a moisturizer.
labels- blackheads, home remedies, tea tree oil, green tea, turmeric oatmeal mask, facial massage , clay mask,