Home Remedies for Blackheads

Blackheads are tiny, dark spots on the skin. A dermatologist or skin specialist is best equipped to remove deep-rooted blackheads. However, superficial ones can be easily addressed through proper skin care and home treatments.

Home Remedies for Blackheads

The following at-home treatments can help remove and prevent blackheads.

1. Try steaming

Steaming is perhaps the most commonly used home treatment for deep cleaning clogged pores, which can safely be done twice a week for the best results. The gentle heat opens up your skin pores, making it easier to extract the debris trapped inside them.

Picking at the pores with your sharp nails can damage and even scar your facial skin, so it’s recommended that you use a tool called a comedone extractor, which is specifically designed for this purpose.

2. Exfoliate your skin

Exfoliating the epidermal layer of the skin to remove dead skin cells is necessary for timely skin renewal. However, it is important to note that it is not suitable for all skin types and overdoing it can irritate or even damage the skin.

Chemical exfoliation involves applying an acid-containing peeling agent to your skin, such as a 2% salicylic acid wash. It is still recommended to consult a skin specialist before trying out any such peeling treatment.

Mechanical exfoliation uses motorized devices such as brushes or topical exfoliants such as scrubs to physically remove the dead skin cells.

Here is an easy-to-make homemade scrub that can help remove blackheads:

Oatmeal, honey and tomato juice scrub

1. Take 1 teaspoon each of honey, oatmeal, and tomato juice in a bowl and mix them to make a paste.
2. Apply the paste to your face.
3. Use gentle circular motions of the hand to scrub your skin in an upward direction, with a special focus on the blackhead-prone areas.
4. Rinse off the paste after 10 minutes of scrubbing.

 

3. Try turmeric and coconut oil/olive oil

Turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antioxidant properties that help cleanse the skin pores. (1)

How to use:

1. Mix turmeric and oil in a clean bowl to form a paste.
2. Apply the mixture over the blackheads.
3. Wash your face with warm water after 10 minutes.

4. Apply aloe vera

Aloe vera acts as an antioxidant against free radicals and helps remove blackheads.

How to use:

1. Extract gel from an aloe vera leaf.
2. Apply a thick layer of the gel to your face, especially over the blackheads.
3. Leave it overnight, and wash your face with warm water in the morning.

5. Use a clay mask

Fuller’s earth and bentonite clay are popularly used as clay masks to get rid of blackheads.

How to use:

1. Mix 1 teaspoon of any clay and 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.
2. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it for 15–20 minutes.
3. Once dry, use a wet towel to gently remove the mask and wash your face.

6. Try Epsom salt for exfoliation

Epsom salt is an effective exfoliating agent that helps remove dead skin cells from the pores. Moreover, it acts as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of acne, pimples, and small wounds.

How to use:

1. Mix 1 teaspoon of Epsom salt in your facial cleanser.
2. Use the mixture to wash your face as usual.
3. Apply a moisturizer to prevent dryness.

7. Use lemon juice and honey

Lemon juice possesses antibacterial properties  and also acts as a natural exfoliant. The citric acid content of lemon helps open and cleanse the pores.

How to use:

1. Apply a few drops of fresh lemon juice and honey to the affected areas.
2. Wash with water, followed by your usual cleanser.