Blackheads are not the prettiest things, but they also are nothing to be all that worried about. Blackheads, the little black or dark bumps, that you might find on your face, shoulder, neck, back, arms, or chest are just clogged up hair follicles. Blackheads are also a kind of acne, which is the most widely spread skin disorder in America. Home remedies for blackheads can easily and quickly cure blackheads.

Causes

It has been said that blackheads are clogged hair follicles. But that brings around the question of. how do the hair follicles get clogged in the first place? Again, this is nothing to worry about.

Every hair follicles hold an oil called sebum (which is part of what makes skin so soft) and a single hair. The little bump that comes with the blackhead is called the comedo and it forms when other oils and dead skin cells gather in the follicles’ opening. The follicle can close (and does not turn black) to form a whitehead or the follicle stays open and the air exposure turns makes it look black.

Risk Factors

It is rarely anything that the person themselves is doing as it normally depends on the overall body type of the person. People who have gone through/are going through puberty and those who are not yet senior citizens are most at risk for getting a blackhead. Below are some of the other factors that can make it more likely that you will get blackheads.

• Having a buildup of a certain bacteria on the skin
• Going through hormonal changes
  • this is why acne and blackheads are most common among teens and women taking birth control
• Your body produces too much oil
• You take drugs like steroids, androgens, lithium
• Drinking too much caffeine
• Allergy to dairy
• High blood sugar

 

Home Remedies for Blackheads

1. Chemical Peels

This might sound scary, but it should not be that bad. There are over the counter chemical peels that you can buy. If the over the counter ones do not help you, then you can talk to your dermatologist and they will be able to use a heavy duty kind.

Chemical peels work because you are applying something that looks a little like a band-aid. When you remover the strip, it takes the top layer of your skin with it which should leave your skin smoother and cleaning out the opening of the hair follicle.

 

2. Wash More

Washing your face or giving your body a quick rinse when you wake up and before you go to bed can really help to keep your skin clean, get rid of dead skin cells, and get rid of excess oil. You also might want to wash your hair every day if your hair is more oily than most because hair oils can clog the follicles as well.   

 

3. Do Not Eat Oils

One of the easiest ways to not get blackheads is to not eat food that has a lot of oils. So things like fries and other fast foods, pizza, and so forth can really clog those follicles. If you do eat those foods, be sure to at least rinse your face when you are done so that the oils do not have the time to block the follicles.

4. Oil-Free Products

Makeup, make removes, sunscreens, lotions, toners, and so many things that people out on their face on a daily is actually terrible for your skin because of the oil content. It might be a little expensive, by trying to find things that do not have oil in them because it can clog your follicles really easily. And if you are able to get your products without oil, then it is one less skincare item you have to buy.

 

5. Do Not Use Benzoyl Peroxide    

This tip is simply to save you money. Benzoyl peroxide is an acne reliever that you can buy from most drug stores, but it does not help all kinds of acne. If you have the acne that is just the red bumps, then, by all means, give this a try. If you only have blackheads, do not waste your money.

Benzoyl peroxide helps some people who have acne because it stops inflammation (like pustules and cysts) and kills bacteria (like the bacteria that causes pimples) but blackheads are not technically an inflammatory issue.

6. Skin Brush

Skin brushes can help your blackheads because they get more dead skin cells and oil off of your skin than an average washcloth or bath pouf might. There are different skin brushes you can buy. One kind works for one person while it does almost nothing for another; it depends completely on your skin type. You can read into skin brushes to decide which one might work for you, or you can talk to your dermatologist and see what kind they suggest.

 

7. Clay Masks

If you have oily skin, then this tip is definitely for you. Using a clay mask can absorb the excess oil; it can remove dead skin cells, dirt, and other things from the pores; it can even clean out the pores or at least loosen up what is blocking the pores. You can buy clay masks over the counter, you can make your own in many different ways.

To make your own basic clay mask, you are going to need the following ingredients:

• A sealable jar
• Two teaspoons of organic turmeric (us a little less if you have pale skin)
• Two to four tablespoons of witch hazel (you can use apple cider vinegar instead)
• Two tablespoons of bentonite clay
• One to Two tablespoons of unrefined coconut oil

When you have all the ingredients together, you are going to want to put the bentonite clay with the turmeric in a bowl, then slowly add in the witch hazel.

Once you have done that, add in the coconut oil and this is when you are going to want to start mixing things together. A small tip, try warming the coconut oil before you add it in (it makes it easier to stir). The last step is to just put the mixture in the mixture into the jar. It should be kept a dark and cool place for no longer than a month.

To actually use the mask, you just apply it to your face and then rinse it off with a cloth that has been wetted with warm water after 15 or 20 minutes.    

8. Baking Soda

Baking soda will help to clean out your pores because it exfoliates the skin while also neutralizing the pH balance of your skin if you have trouble with that. Using baking soda for blackheads is super easy. Just mix two tablespoons of baking soda with the same amount of water (to make a paste) and apply it to your skin for a few minutes. If you have dry skin, do not use this method for more than two days a week. Whether you have dry skin or not, be sure to use lotion after each use.

 

9. Tea Tree Oil

You can tea tree essential oil to kill the bacteria that helps to cause the blackheads. You can get the tea tree oil in soaps, lotions, and other creams. If those are not really for you, then by all means, you can and should try looking into aromatherapy.

 

10. Sugar and Coconut Oil Scrub

Coconut oil helps to kill bacteria and the sugar helps to clean your pores to effectively stop and get rid of the blackheads. Making this face scrub is really easy and only takes a half cup of coconut oil and a fourth cup of granulated sugar (if you want a coarser texture of scrub then you can try using a half cup). Rub the scrub into your face for a half minute in circles. Just rinse your face and gently dry your face.

For more exfoliating facial scrubs, read our article Easy DIY Scrub Recipes for Healthy Looking Skin.

11.  Turmeric

Turmeric can stain your skin, but if you use kasturi turmeric than that is not something that you have to worry about. This spice can help clean your skin of blackheads because it fights fungi, bacteria, and inflammation. You just need to mix a tablespoon of the kasturi turmeric with a tablespoon of coconut oil (or water if you prefer) and it apply it to your face before rinsing it off after about ten minutes.

 

12. Green Tea

Green tea is such a golden ticket against blackheads because it is an antioxidant and it also lessens the amount of oil that your face produces. However, as odd as this sounds, you will not be drinking the tea if you choose to use this method. You are going to putting the leaves on your face.

You need a teaspoon of water mixed with a teaspoon of the dried green tea leaves applied to your face for about three minutes. After the three minutes, you rinse your face and apply some lotion to keep your face from going dry. You should not use this of getting rid of blackhead more than three days a week.

13. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice removes dead skin cells from your face because of the AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) it contains. The juice also improves your skin’s health because of the vitamin C in it builds more collagen and lessens the scarring you get from acne.

The best way to use lemon juice against blackheads is to get a teaspoon of juice from an organic lemon by squeezing the lemon over a bowl. You just wash your face, apply the lemon juice with a cotton ball, and rinse it off with cool water after ten minutes.

 

14. Cinnamon

This is another scrub that you can make to get rid of the blackheads you have on your face. You just need two parts honey and one part organic cinnamon to be applied to your face and left to sit for a minimum of 15 minutes. You need to wash off the mixture and follow it up with a lotion. This cinnamon and honey mix work because both kill bacteria, they smooth the skin, and clear it of dead and or flaking skin.

 

15. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) kills bacteria, breaks up the clogged pores, and balances pH to lessen the amount of oil that you face makes. You can use ACV to make your own homemade toner that you can every day. You need three tablespoons of ACV and three tablespoons of crushed up mint leaves (also kills bacteria). The mixture can also calm inflammation and grants a calming effect.

16. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is always a good idea whenever you have just about any kind of skin condition. Whether it be a minor burn, acne, or blackheads aloe vera can really help. As far as blackheads go, aloe vera helps because it cleans out your pores, lessens the amount of oil your face makes, and calms your skin. All you need to do is apply fresh aloe vera gel to your blackheads and rinse it off with room temperature water for ten minutes.

 

17. Honey

Honey has bacteria-killing powers of its own and does not get enough credit for everything it can do. Apply a little of honey and water to your skin or you can try this little face scrub.

Mix a tablespoon of lemon juice, a tablespoon of raw organic honey, and a tablespoon of sugar. You just apply it to your skin and leave it be for ten to 15 minutes and rinse it off with warm water when the time is up.

18. Castor Oil

Castor oil cleans out your skin’s pores while also getting rid of any dead skins that might be lingering about. This is one of the fastest home remedies for blackheads. When it comes to applying the oil, you just need to rub a couple drops of the oil into your skin for a minute or so and you just leave it in place. If the oil leaves you with a sticky feeling, then feel free to clean your face of the leftover oil after 15 to 20 minutes.

 

19. Salt Water

This method of clearing away blackheads is more gradual than other methods, but it still works just as well. Salt kills bacteria and also limits the amount of oil your face produces.

You need a tablespoon or two of salt and some water. Mix the salt into the water really well and then just use that to rinse your face. If you have dry skin, then it is highly advised you use a cream or lotion when after you use this.

20. Icy Toothpaste

This one is going to sound crazy, but people have found that it works. You need an ice cube, mint toothpaste, and some water. Rub the mint toothpaste over the blackheads and leave it in place for five minutes. This kills bacteria and cleans out the pores. Use the water to rinse it off. This is where the ice cube comes in. By running the ice cube over the areas that you just rinsed the toothpaste off of, you are closing the pores to stop future blackheads. The trick to this is that you have to repeat it once a day.

 

21. Egg Whites

This is another easy fix for blackheads. Whisk up some egg whites and apply it to your face. After roughly ten minutes, the egg whites should have dried and left your face feeling a little tight. This is when you rinse it off with warmed water. If you want to, you can add a little bit of honey to the mix.

Egg whites help rid your face of blackheads because of the vitamins D, A, and E. They work together to kill the bacteria and to improve the overall health of your skin. Also, as the egg whites dry, they hold onto the impurities that are clogging your pores and it is washed off with the egg whites.

 

22. Nutmeg and Milk

The nutmeg and milk work excellently together to get rid of blackheads rather quickly. The mixture is pretty easy to make. You need to mix two tablespoons of nutmeg into enough milk to make a paste. When you have the paste, you just apply it your face and rinse it off with warm water after ten to 15 minutes.

23. Do Not Pop It

Some people try to pop their blackheads and pimples. If you put a little pressure on the blackhead and it pops clean, that is great. However, if you put a little pressure on it and it does not pop, let it be. Trying to force popping can damage to your skin, leave scarring, and just leave it looking worse than it did in the first place.

24. Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal works sort of like a weak magnet when it comes to the things clogging your pores. It also cleans your skin of the extra oils and dead skin cells. To use activated charcoal, you need half a tablespoon and just a few drops of water. You get the activated charcoal into a kind of paste and then apply it to the affected skin by massaging it in for three to five minutes and then leave it on for ten to 15 minutes. You can do this two or three days a week.

Which of these home remedies for blackheads will you try? Comment below!

 

Sources

http://alluringsoul.com/15-effective-home-remedies-for-blackheads/

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a18371341/home-remedies-for-blackheads/

https://wellnessmama.com/347042/blackhead-removal/

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/18-home-remedies-for-blackheads/#AloeVera

https://thefamilyfreezer.com/2013/10/02/homemade-coconut-oil-sugar-scrubs/

https://www.rd.com/health/beauty/home-remedies-blackheads/

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/how-to-get-rid-of-blackheads#benzoyl-peroxide

https://www.healthline.com/health/blackheads#causes