Spotless and clear skin is something that seems unattainable for many of us. Finding your skin riddled with blackheads can be pretty disheartening. Don’t stress over blackheads too much.
It’s quite common and they can be removed at home using simple, yet effective remedies. Even harsh hair removal methods on your face may cause blackheads. It may sound surprising, but it’s the truth. You might be tempted to squeeze these blackheads out to get rid of them, but avoid doing so as it can lead to skin irritation.
What Causes Blackheads ?
Typical reasons for the cause of blackheads are: sebaceous glands producing excessive oil, building up of dead skin cells that lead to irritation of hair follicles, when you are under medication and due to hormonal imbalance during menstruation or when they consume birth control pills.
Remedies
Few home remedies to get rid of blackheads are:
Lemon and honey: This combination of lemon and honey does wonders. It does a fantastic job at cleansing your skin and removing your blackheads. You will need one teaspoon of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of honey. Mix the honey and lemon juice together. Apply it on your nose and the rest of your face.
You can apply this thrice a week for it to be effective. Remember to wash it off in 15 to 20 minutes of applying this mixture. Wash your face with lukewarm water. Honey has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and lemon is rich in potassium, calcium and vitamin C. These properties and vitamins clear blackheads and blemishes.
Egg white mask: For this you will need two egg whites, two teaspoons of lemon juice and tissues. Whisk the egg whites till they become frothy. Add some lemon juice and mix well. Apply this pack evenly on your nose. Leave it on your nose till it dries up. Place a clean tissue over it and apply another layer of the pack and let it dry.
You can apply a third layer on the mixture in case of acute blackheads problem. Once it dries up you can gently pull off the tissues. Wash your face with warm water to neutralise the raw egg smell. You can use this pack twice a week for it to be effective.
Egg is rich in proteins and possesses skin toning properties which help in shrinking large pores and hair follicles. When these pores tighten blackheads get pushed out to the skin’s surface and hence you can easily remove blackheads.
Lemon and baking soda: This is a painless and yet useful technique to ward off blackheads. Mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of lemon juice until it forms paste. Apply the paste evenly on your nose and allow it to dry. Once the paste dries up, wet your fingers and gently massage to exfoliate your nose.
Use lukewarm water to wash your face. Give a final splash using cold water to prevent the pores and to stop dirt from entering your skin. Do this remedy once a week.
The baking soda can regulate your skin’s pH and thwarts the production of excess oil. It also acts as an excellent exfoliant and helps plug off dirt and dead skin cells. The acidic nature of baking soda and lemon helps in battling bacterias that cause blackheads.
Salt and toothpaste: Most of you might wonder how toothpaste and salt work to remove blackheads. This is an expensive method to pluck out those stubborn blackheads. You will need a teaspoon of toothpaste, a teaspoon of salt and a few ice cubes.
Choose a mint flavoured toothpaste. If you think a baby toothpaste will be less harmful, please know that it’s not effective. It’s the fluoride and other ingredients in adult toothpastes that prove effective.
Mix the toothpaste with salt and form a thin paste. Apply this on your nose and leave it for five minutes. Allow it to dry. Once the toothpaste dries up, dab some water on it and gently move in circular motion. This will exfoliate your nose. Once you wash off your nose rub some ice over your nose to close the skin pores.
The toothpaste cleanses the skin pores and draws out the blackheads. The mint present in your toothpaste helps in eliminating bacteria. Salt has antiseptic properties that help you get rid of dead skin. You can use this mixture twice a week.
Steam facial: Take a big bowl of hot water, make sure it is hot enough to emit steam. Steaming your face is an easy way of getting rid of those pesky blackheads. Pour some hot water into a bowl. Lean over and place a towel on above your head. Hold your face around fifteen inches away from the water.
Tuck the towel loose around the bowl’s outside so that the steam cannot escape out. Steam your face for five minutes. Pat your face gently and try to remove the blackheads carefully. Steam your face once a week.
Steam will soften your skin and combate dead skin cells, oil and unclean solid matter present in the skin pores. This is how steam facilitates easy removal of blackheads.
Cinnamon pack: Cinnamon pack is the key to getting positive results in fighting against blackheads. You will need two ingredients. You will need a teaspoon of cinnamon powder and a tablespoon of honey. Add cinnamon powder and honey to a bowl and mix well to make a fine paste.
Apply the paste on your nose and let it sit for half an hour. You can rinse your nose off with lukewarm water. For good results use this remedy every day. The antimicrobial and healing properties of cinnamon and honey help remove dirt and excess oil from skin thus preventing blackheads.
Cautionary Tips
- Wash your face twice a day. Use mild soaps and face-washes to wash your face.
- Remember to take off your makeup completely before you go to bed.
- Change your bedspread and pillow covers often.
- Maintain a nutritious balanced diet. Include fruits and vegetables as a part of your diet.
- Avoid touching your face and nose often.