Blackheads are one of the symptoms that are indicative of acne. Blackheads, by definition, are the result of excessive production of the skin’s natural oil, sebum. When this oil is lodged in the skin pores, it easily causes blockage.The exposure of the blocked pores to air leads to oxidation which in turn causes the characteristic appearance of the blackheads.
Blackheads are common during puberty, but since the primary cause of this condition is the accumulation of oil in the skin pores, adults with extremely oily skin are predisposed to the development of blackheads.
Blackheads have been shown to appear in the face’s T-Zone – this refers to the facial structures that resemble the the letter ‘T’, that is the forehead, the nose and the chin. Occasionally, these blackheads appear on the arms, shoulders and back, as well as other parts of the skin that have numerous sebaceous glands.
1. Egg White Mask:
Time Required: 45 Min
What You Need: 2 Eggs, facial tissue, a clean washcloth, warm water to rinse.
Difficulty: Easy
This is an easy remedy that you can whip up in a few minutes from the comfort of your home. Egg white is preferred because of its astringent properties that help tone the skin and tighten the skin pores. This has helps clear the blackheads while reducing the chances of recurrence. The nutrition present in the egg whites helps nourish the skin while ensuring it stays hydrated, and therefore less prone to drying.
Directions:
- Break the eggs and separate the whites from the yolk.
- Wash your face using your normal skin routine, and dry it before application of the egg whites.
- Scoop some of the egg white and apply it onto your face, making sure to focus on the specific areas with blackheads.
- Let the first layer of the egg mask dry up before repeating the procedure a second and a third time.
- Let the mask dry for about half an hour, during which your skin will start feeling taut. This is perfectly normal as it is one of the great benefits of the egg white mask.
- Rinse your face with warm water to get rid of the layers and pat dry before applying your choice skin moisturizer.
2. Baking Soda:
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: Two teaspoons of baking soda, quarter cup of warm water.
Difficulty: Easy
Baking soda is one of the most effective home remedies for the skin, thanks to its ability to get rid of dead cells and dirt on the skin. When used in the treatment of blackheads, the baking soda clears the clogged pores. Additional benefits include clear skin following regular use, and rejuvenation. This remedy also helps balance the pH of the skin so that it is maintained as close as possible to the normal levels.
Directions:
- Take the baking soda and add some water to it to create a paste-like substance.
- Scoop some of the paste and apply it on the part of the skin that has the blackheads.
- Let the paste stay on the skin and air-dry it for about 15 minutes. This allows the remedy to act on the clogged pores.
- Rinse the paste with the remaining water before drying your face and applying a moisturizing skin product.
3. Lemon Juice:
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: 1 Medium sized lemon, cotton wool, warm water to rinse, brown sugar (optional).
Difficulty: Easy
Lemons are a versatile home remedy because they aid in improving the skin’s health. As one of the most popular citrus fruits, lemons are loved for their acidic nature which effectively gets rid of bacteria on the skin. In addition to this, the nutrients present in the fruit are perfect for nourishing the skin, making it less predisposed to the development of blackheads. Lemons are both efficient and easily available.
Directions:
- Wash your face to get rid of dirt on the surface of the skin.
- You will then wash the lemon before squeezing the juice fresh. It is advisable to roll the lemon gently between the palms of your hands to ensure that the fibers release as much juice as possible.
- Collect the juice in a small bowl and soak some cotton wool.
- Dab the soaked cotton wool onto the blackheads and let the juice sink in as you massage in simple gentle motion.
- Let this juice sit on the skin for about 15 minutes.
- Rinse your face with warm water. Repeat this remedy thrice weekly for best results.
- If you would like to improve the remedy’s exfoliant properties, you could incorporate the use of brown sugar whose abrasive nature helps get rid of dead cells and debris from the skin debris.
4. Honey:
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: Raw honey, warm water to rinse, lemon juice (optional)
Difficulty: Easy
Raw honey is an amazing home remedy used for the natural treatment of different conditions on the skin. The high concentration of sugars in the honey make it impossible for bacteria to survive on the skin. Consequently, this reduces the chances of bacterial infection even with the presence of blackheads.
The viscosity of honey also has a hydrating effect on the skin, in addition to enhancing the constriction of skin pores so that the build up of dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells is reduced. The result is clear glowing skin following regular use of honey on the skin. The efficiency of this remedy can be enhanced with the addition
of lemon juice whose benefits on the skin have been indicated above.
Directions:
- Pour some of the honey onto the palms of your hands and apply on the part of the skin that has the blackheads.
- If you choose to add the lemon juice to the remedy, simply mix a few drops of the freshly squeezed juice with the honey and follow the directions outlined in step.
5. Using Natural Clay:
Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: A tablespoon of bentonite clay, 1/2 cup of warm water (or Apple Cider Vinegar).
Difficulty: Easy
Bentonite clay is a healing type of clay that has been used since ancient civilizations to treat different skin conditions. The mode of action of this particular clay involves the elimination of toxins from the skin. This occurs because when wet, the clay’s molecules have a unique type of charge that removes dirt and debris lodged deep within the skin pores. When applied on the skin, the minerals are passed on from the clay to the skin, thus improving the condition of the skin. This nourishment happens simultaneously with the removal of the blackhead.
The use of this clay also has the advantage of improving blood circulation
which, in the long run, improves the health and glow of the skin.When the clay is applied on the skin, it is left to dry so that it effectively gets rid of the blackheads. On drying, the skin will feel taut, which is perfectly normal. Be careful however, if you feel any irritation, you should rinse the clay immediately. In such cases, you are advised to allow the clay to dry for just a
short while.
Directions:
- Scoop a handful of the clay and add a few drops of water or the apple cider vinegar to the clay. This is done to create a consistent paste which you can then apply on your skin.
- Wash your face and rinse your fingers before applying a thin layer of the paste on the part of the skin that is affected.
- Allow the paste to dry out for about 15 minutes depending on how long you would like the paste to act on the skin.
- Rinse off the clay using warm water, and follow this up with an ideal skin moisturizer. This remedy can be used thrice weekly or until there’s an improvement in the condition of the skin.
6. Use Tomatoes to Get Rid of Blackheads:
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: Raw tomatoes, source of heat, pan, water, strainer, cotton wool.
Difficulty: Easy
Tomatoes are an excellent home remedy, thanks to the presence of antioxidants. These antioxidants help get rid of toxins on the skin thereby reducing the likelihood of bacterial infection following the appearance of blackheads. In addition to this, tomatoes have antiseptic properties that help get rid of blockage in the skin pores. Once the blockage is cleared, the active ingredients in the tomato cause the blackheads to dry out so that they eventually fall off the skin.
Directions:
- Wash the part of the skin that is affected by the blackheads.
- Clean the tomatoes well and blanch them lightly. This will allow you you to peel the skins with ease.
- Mash the tomatoes to get a paste-like substance.
- Strain this mixture to get the tomato juice.
- Soak a cotton wool ball in the juice, and dab this juice on the skin where the blackheads have appeared.
- If you use this remedy in the evening, you can let the tomato juice mask stay on till morning for best results.
- Rinse your face using warm water and apply your choice skin moisturizer.
7. Cinnamon and Honey:
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: A tablespoon of cinnamon powder, a tablespoon of raw organic honey, clean strips of cotton.
Difficulty: Easy
A mixture of cinnamon and honey certainly sounds like part of a baking recipe, but you cannot possibly go wrong with this combination if you intend to get rid of blackheads. The antimicrobial properties in the honey help keep bacterial infections at bay, while effectively clearing out clogged pores. Cinnamon on the other hand, is referred to as a warming spice, and for good reason. When used topically in paste form as is the case in this home remedy, the cinnamon encourages blood circulation to the affected skin region. When used for the treatment of blackheads, the two ingredients in this remedy help eliminate the unsightly pores while ensuring that your skin retains its glow.
Directions:
- Take the equal parts of honey and cinnamon and mix them until you have a consistent paste which should also be enough to cover the affected parts of the skin.
- Apply a thin layer of the paste onto the affected skin and press a few of the cotton strips in place.
- Let the strips remain there for about 15 minutes.
- Rinse your face with warm water and follow this up with your normal skin routine.
8. Sweat or Steam Therapy:
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: Space to exercise or boiling water in a bowl, a clean washcloth.
Difficulty: Easy
Sweating has been shown to reduce the occurrence of blackheads, particularly when one exercises over a considerable period of time consistently. This works because when one engages in exercise, the sweat produced flows over the skin pores. This usually creates a flushing action which over time, gets rids of blackheads. It is important however, to note that after such an intense session, you must wash your face immediately.
Failure to do this causes the sweat to dry up, creating an additional layer over your blackheads – the exact opposite of what you are trying to achieve. Alternatively, take on steam therapy. The steam helps unclog the pores, in effect minimizing the occurrence of blackheads.
Directions:
Sweat it out:
- Make sure you have ample space to exercise, whether it is at the gym or at home. Immerse yourself in your choice exercise (preferably cardio exercises) for about 15 minutes.
- When the time has elapsed, rinse your face to get rid of the sweat and follow this up with your normal skin routine.
Steam Therapy:
- Transfer the boiling water from the source of heat and place it in a bowl.
- Lean over the bowl and cover your head with the washcloth so that the steam is contained between your face and the bowl.
- Keep at it for a couple of minutes, or until the water is warm. Make sure you are careful to prevent scalding.
- Dry your face and apply a skin moisturizer.
Other home remedies that you can use to address blackheads include oatmeal which sponges out accumulated stuff from the skin pores, turmeric which clears blackheads as well as Epsom salts.
