Are you annoyed by those blackheads sitting on your nose and chin? Though ugly, you can quickly eliminate blackheads using a suitable scrub. However, not everyone feels comfortable about exfoliating their skin. If so, you can always choose a face wash exclusively designed for those pesky blemishes. In this article, we will discuss everything about blackheads for you. Also, find a compilation of India’s ten best face washes for blackheads.
What are Blackheads?
Blackheads are tiny, black or dark-colored, slightly raised bumps that appear on the surface of some of our skin due to hair follicles clogging. They are a mild type of acne, mostly found on the face (nose and chin), but can also be seen on other body parts like the chest, back, neck, shoulders, arms, etc. The main difference between blackheads and acne or pimples is that blackheads are neither inflamed nor painful. In contrast, acne or pimples cause everything, including inflammation, redness, and pain due to the invasion of bacteria.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is the most common skin disorder in America. Almost 50 millions people in the United States are affected by acne. (1) Blackhead is the most common form of acne, which is also quite predominant in the country.
Read Also – How to Get Rid of Pimples on Nose
What Causes Blackheads?
Blackheads are formed if the pores in the skin develop clogs or plugs. Skin pores are the openings of hair follicles, consisting of hair fibers and sebaceous glands. These openings keep collecting dead skin cells and sebum (the secretion of sebaceous glands), thus resulting in bumps or ‘comedones.’ When the skin over these bumps opens, they oxidize and turn into dark blackheads. However, a few factors can trigger the formation of blackheads. These include overproduction of sebum, irritation of hair follicles (due to the accumulation of dead cells), buildups of P. acnes bacteria, birth control pills, hormonal imbalance, medications (lithium, androgens, and corticosteroids), and so on. (2)
Treatments of Blackheads
Blackheads have no severe impact on our health. But if you let them grow, it might be tough to get rid of them. Following is a list of some of the most common treatments for blackheads (3):
- Over-the-counter (OTC) Products: Available in creams, gels, scrubs, face washes, and cleansers, these products treat blackheads by drying excess sebum and eliminating dead skin cells.
- Prescription Drugs: These are topical solid medications containing vitamin A, tretinoin, tazarotene, adapalene, benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, etc., which prevent the formation of plugs in the skin pores.
- Microdermabrasion: In this treatment, doctors or skin care professionals use a unique instrument with a rough surface to sand the outermost layer of the skin to remove the clogs.
- Chemical Peels: This uses specific chemical solutions for peeling off the top layer of the skin, thereby revealing the smooth, transparent, and blemish-free layer underneath.
- Laser and Light Therapy: Tiny beams of intense light are used in these therapies to reduce oil production and clear blackheads without damaging the surface layer of the skin.
- Manual Removal: In this method, a round loop extractor is used to apply pressure to the affected areas to remove the blackhead-causing plugs.
Read Also –10 Homemade Face Packs for Open Pores That You Need to Try Today
10 Best Face Washes for Blackheads
Now, check out the ten best face washes for blackheads available in India that come with oil-clearing properties and exfoliating beads to give you fresh and bright skin:
1. Lotus Herbals BerryScrub Strawberry & Aloe Vera Exfoliating Face Wash
The Lotus Herbals BerryScrub Strawberry & Aloe Vera Exfoliating Face Wash is a fantastic blackhead-busting cleanser enriched with the goodness of strawberry and aloe vera extracts. It gives you skin that looks as great as it feels.
Best Features:
- It contains the goodness of strawberry seeds, aloe vera extracts, lemon extract, and orange peel extract.
- It has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties
- Removes dirt, impurities, blackheads, and whiteheads
- Deep cleanses the skin and keeps it hydrated with a creamy lather
- Polishes the skin with natural exfoliators
- Adds life to dull and uneven skin tone
- It gives you silky, smooth, and refreshed skin in 1 minute
- Brightens up the skin instantly
- Suitable for all skin types
Price: Rs. 210 for 120 gm.
Also Read – 10 Surefire Home Remedies to Remove Blackheads Naturally
2. The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash
The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash naturally gives you visibly clearer skin by treating various skin issues, including blackheads. Tea tree oil and other active herbal ingredients reduce shine and infection effectively.
Best Features:
- Daily facial wash
- Infused with purifying tea tree oil collected from the foothills of Mount Kenya
- Removes excess oil and shine without over-drying the skin
- Helps remove impurities through deep cleansing
- Cooling lather leaves the skin refreshed
- Clinically proven to give clearer skin
- Suitable for blemished skin
Price: Rs. 895 for 250 ml.
3. Himalaya Herbals Deep Cleansing Apricot Face Wash
The Himalaya Herbals Deep Cleansing Apricot Face Wash has an Ayurvedic soap-free formula that cleanses, exfoliates, and moisturizes all skin types. On the other hand, the apricot granules help clear pores and prevent blackheads.
Best Features:
- 100% ayurvedic and soap-free formulation
- Offers complete daily face care
- Enriched with all-natural ingredients like aloe vera, apricot, neem, red lentil, lemon, and honey
- Cleanses thoroughly to unclog pores
- Removes excess oil, impurities, and blackheads
- Exfoliates dead cells gently
- Moisturizes deeply to reveal softer and smoother skin
- Heals and repairs damaged skin
- Adds a natural radiance to the skin
Price: Rs. 149 for 100 ml.
Read Also – 8 Ways to Use Sea Salt for Acne and Scars (With Benefits and Downsides)
4. Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser
The Neutrogena Deep Clean Facial Cleanser is a penetrating and thorough cleanser with salicylic acid that removes blackheads and improves the look and feel of the skin. It is also an oil-free and non-comedogenic formulation.
Best Features:
- A penetrating and thorough cleanser
- Oil-free, alcohol-free, non-comedogenic formulation
- Contains salicylic acid
- Washes and dissolves dirt, oil, and makeup
- It helps remove dead surface cells
- It gives a blemish-free complexion
- Reveals fresher and healthier-looking skin
- It leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth
- Suits normal-to-oily skin
- Dermatologist tested
Price: Rs. 525 for 200 ml.
Also Read – 6 Natural Recipes to Get Rid of Blackheads on Nose Fast
5. Nivea Total Face Cleanup
The Nivea Total Face Cleanup is perfect for getting pure and clear skin. It has a revolutionary cleansing complex that helps clear skin pores and removes blackheads upon regular use.
Best Features:
- Mild and gentle formula
- Provides five benefits (wash, scrub, pack, oil remover, and spot reducer) in 5 minutes
- Enriched with active magnolia extract
- It has a revolutionary cleansing complex for deep cleansing
- Peeling particles unclog pores and remove blackheads
- Reduces spot-causing bacteria to give pure and clear skin
- Refines the appearance of the skin to enhance the complexion
- Ideal for normal to oily skin
Price: Rs. 225 for 100 ml.
6. Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam
The Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Foam actively gives your skin deep cleansing. This results in a refreshing, clear, blemish-free complexion without acne or blackheads.
Best Features:
- Soap-free and alcohol-free formulation
- Maintains the pH balance of the skin with a pH of 5.5
- Infused with patented active ingredients online C40 and panthenol
- Removes excess oil, dirt, and bacteria from the skin gently
- It helps you get rid of both blackheads and whiteheads
- It prevents the formation of new pimples
- Soothes irritated or inflamed skin
- Regenerates damaged skin cells
- It leaves the skin clean, soft, and healthy
- Adds an instant glow to the skin
- Ideal for sensitive, acne-prone skin
Price: Rs. 580 for 150 ml.
7. Aroma Magic Neem & Tea Tree Face Wash
The Aroma Magic Neem & Tea Tree Face Wash by Blossom Kochhar is a 100% natural product that prevents the appearance of blackheads and cures acne effectively. It also soothes irritated skin and enhances skin tone.
Best Features:
- Aromatherapy skincare essential
- It contains tea tree essential oil, lavender essential oil, rose extract, and neem extract
- Balance oil levels in the skin and control acne
- Prevents blackheads by cleansing deeply
- Soothes, irritation, and inflammation
- Lightens scars and blemishes significantly
- Improves skin tone
- 100% free of paraben, soap, alcohol, artificial coloring, and fragrance
- Suitable for daily usage
- Best for oily and acne-prone skin
Price: Rs. 180 for 100 ml.
Also Read – 10 Best Body Washes In India for Moisturized and Fragrant Skin
8. Plum Green Tea Pore Cleansing Face Wash
The Plum Green Tea Pore Cleansing Face Wash cleanses gently, thoroughly, and effectively to remove excess oil and avoid blocked pores. It helps keep blackheads, acne and pimples away while rejuvenating and energizing the skin.
Best Features:
- Mild, foaming formula with a soft, natural exfoliating scrub
- It has vital active ingredients like glycolic acid, cellulose beads, and green tea extracts
- Cleanses thoroughly and effectively
- Gently removes older, surface skin cells
- Unclogs pores to cure acne and prevent blackheads
- Brightens up the complexion
- 100% vegan, SLS-free, paraben-free
- Unbeatable green tea fragrance
- Specially designed for oily, acne-prone skin
Price: Rs. 199 for 50 ml.
9. Clean & Clear Pimple Clearing Face Wash
The Clean & Clear Pimple Clearing Face Wash by Johnson & Johnson comes enriched with neem and lemon to work on pimples from the first use. It also helps you steer clear of blackheads while achieving healthy, fair, and moisturized skin.
Best Features:
- An oil-free formulation that does not clog pores
- Gentle yet effective product
- Infused with neem and lemon extracts
- Works on blackheads, pimples, and acne from the first use
- It clears up the skin and leaves it blemish-free
- Best suited for oily and acne-prone skin
- It gives smoother, clearer skin within just seven days of daily use
Price: Rs. 140 for 80 gm.
10. VLCC Ayurveda Deep Pore Cleansing & Brightening Haldi & Tulsi Face Wash
The VLCC Ayurveda Deep Pore Cleansing & Brightening Haldi & Tulsi Face Wash is a unique cleansing formula that keeps pores clean and prevents blackheads while making the skin look more fresh and nourished.
Best Features:
- A potent Ayurvedic formulation
- Enriched with haldi extract, haldi oil, tulsi extract, and tulsi oil
- Cleanses skin pores deeply
- Eliminates dead skin cells
- Keeps blackheads away
- Enhances skin tone and complexion
- It makes skin nourished and refreshed
- Free from parabens and synthetic colorants
- Soap-free formula
Price: Rs. 125 for 100 ml.
Read Also – How to Wash Your Face Properly – 4 Simple and Easy Steps
Summary:
Blackheads are dark-colored bumps on the skin, which result from the clogging of skin pores. They appear on nose, chin, back, neck, arms, etc. Though blackheads are not a serious health concern, they look really unappealing and can make your acne even worse. There are a number of ways to treat blackheads effectively, which include OTC products, prescription drugs, microdermabrasion, laser therapy, etc. However, using face washes to cleanse skin pores deeply is known to be the easiest way to stay away from this problem.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Blackheads Go Away Naturally?
No. Blackheads never go away on their own. Instead, they only keep growing and eventually lead to acne.
Do Blackheads Leave Holes?
Yes, large blackheads can leave noticeable holes in your skin.
What Happens to Blackheads if Not Removed?
If you do not remove blackheads, they will keep growing and result in acne. This may also make your skin pores permanently enlarged.
How Do You Close Your Pores After Removing Blackheads?
Once you are done removing your blackheads, apply a natural toner all over that part of the skin to minimize the appearance of the pores.
References:
- “Skin Conditions by the Numbers,” AAD.org
- “Blackheads“, Healthline.com
- “12 Ways to Get Rid of Blackheads“, Healthline.com
