Why does everyone want to remove blackheads? For sure, they are only a mild type of acne, yet they are very unappealing to look at. What methods are we introducing you to this time? Let’s wait no longer and figure out a way to get your clear skin back!
What is there to know about blackheads?
Causes of blackheads
In your skin, there are hair follicles. Each contains a sebaceous gland and one hair. The gland produces oil, also known as sebum. This oil is supposed to keep your skin soft and moist. However, if you neglect the dead cells and excess oils, they will clog in the follicles and form a bump. It’s your buddy, comedo. A comedo with closed skin is ‘whitehead’, and the vice versa is ‘blackhead’.
Knowing where they come from, you can easily tell what the most common causes of blackheads are:
- Overly active glands produce too much oil.
- Dead skin cells build up and cause irritation to follicles.
- Bacteria.
- Hormonal changes due to puberty, menstruation, or birth control pills.
- The effects of drugs like androgen or lithium.
A popular theory is what you eat or drink plays a role in acne treatment, specifically dairy products or carbohydrates, but no scientific proof has been found.
How to remove blackheads?
Before getting stressed over blackheads, you should be able to recognize them. They are black and very noticeable, even though you won’t feel any pain since they aren’t inflamed.
Now, what are the choices you have to remove blackheads?
Manual removal
Manually, yes. You will need a trained professional in skincare or a dermatologist. They will use a round loop extractor and strip the plug causing your blackhead off. Now the plug is opened, they can force the clog out by applying pressure on the spot with the instrument.
Chemical peels
The expert will apply a strong chemical on your skin. After a while, the top layers of the dermis will be peeled off, sparing the exposure for the smoother skin underneath. You can use OTC (over the counter) methods for the mild peels. However, if you want to go for the stronger mode, we highly recommend professional help.
Laser therapy
The dermatologists will penetrate your skin layers with tiny yet powerful rays of light and decrease the production of oil or kill off the bacteria. Therefore, the top layers won’t be suffering from damage.
Microdermabrasion
In this procedure, the professionals will sand the surface of your skin with a special tool. It can be a little painful if you don’t have high endurance, but it’s effective in removing clogs in the follicles.
Medicine
If your acne problem is fairly serious, your doctor might prescribe some medications to treat and remove blackheads thoroughly. The medicines will provide more vitamin A, which is efficient in preventing clogs and promoting the generation of skin cells.
If you have pimples aside from the blackheads, you might receive medications with the contents of antibiotics for treatment.
OTC treatments to remove blackheads
You can purchase these acne medicines at grocery and drug stores without a prescription. The most known forms are pad, gel, and cream. They remove blackheads by killing bacteria, shedding dead cells, and reducing oil.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, our natural remedies.
Easy Recipes to Remove Blackheads
We will be using the humble ingredients that are available in almost every kitchen. There is one mutual property they share: anti-inflammatory, and yet they can do more than merely treating blackheads. (1)
Honey & Cinnamon for Blackheads
Honey (1 teaspoon). Remove dirt with strong antibacterial properties and keep your skin moisturized.
Cinnamon (1 teaspoon). In addition to the awesome antibacterial property, cinnamon also boosts your blood circulation.
Mix the ingredients and apply the mixture on your nose. Leave it for half an hour before rinsing off with warm water.
You can repeat the process every day to maximize the results.
Lemon & Baking Soda to Remove Blackheads
Lemon (1/2 teaspoon). This humble fruit can do almost everything. Lemon has astringent properties that open the clogged pores and close them back the same. It’s also a great cleanser.
Baking soda (1 teaspoon). The great antifungal and antibacterial properties of this plain powder are the exact reason why it has become so popular in beauty recipes. It also helps a lot if you need to exfoliate.
Mix the ingredients and apply the mixture on your nose. After it dries, wet your fingers and massage the area gently to scrub off the dead skin cells. You can use it for 2 – 3 times a week.
Honey & Lemon to Remove Blackheads
You have known the benefits of each ingredient. What happens when we use them together? Extra effective!
Mix 1 teaspoon of each ingredient together and apply it to the desired spot. Wash your face with warm water after 15 minutes. Use it 2 – 3 times a week for good results.
Lemon & Egg White for Blackheads
Egg White (1 egg). It’s magical for people who want to tighten skin pores and eliminate sebum.
Mix with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and whisk the substance well before applying to your skin. When it has dried up, place a piece of tissue over the patch along with another layer of the mixture and wait for it to dry again. You will remove blackheads with ease when you peel this tissue off.
Toothpaste & Salt for Blackheads
Toothpaste (1 teaspoon). It contains triclosan, menthol, alcohol – they can be a little dry on the skin, but we can’t deny how they effectively strip off excess oils.
Salt (1 teaspoon). Salt cleanses the pores to the deepest crannies, controls oil production, and thus remove blackheads as well as other acne issues.
Mix the ingredients and apply it to the blackheads. When it dries, moisturize your fingers and massage the spot gently to exfoliate as well and get rid of the clogs.
Because we need to peel the skin over the acne, the ingredients to remove blackheads are fairly acidic. Therefore, you should indulge your skin some more by rubbing an ice cube over it. For better results, check out our recipes of ice cubes for skin! Say hello to your glowing skin again!
