Achieving flawless skin is a common aspiration for many women, but the reality often falls short of the desire. Dealing with dull skin, acne, and blackheads is a shared struggle. While consulting a dermatologist is the optimal solution, cost-effective home remedies are available. Discover how common kitchen ingredients can effectively address and eliminate blackheads, providing a DIY approach to clearer skin.
Why Do You Have Blackheads on Your Nose?
Before you try to get rid of blackheads, it is helpful to know what they are. Contrary to popular belief, they are not the accumulation of dirt or a result of insufficient skin cleansing. They are a mixture of excess sebum and dead skin cells in the pores that turn black when exposed to the air. The most commonly appear on the nose due to increased oil glands.
TRIVIA: The technical, dermatological term for blackheads is “open comedones” while whiteheads are “closed comedones” (1).
Best Home Remedies to Remove Blackheads on Your Nose
Though many blackhead-busting products are on the market, using store-bought cosmetics does not have to be the only solution for your blackhead problems. If over-the-counter products fail to produce results or you’re tired of wasting money on fancy cosmetics with significant claims, give these natural remedies a chance. Luckily, your kitchen can provide a few inexpensive yet effective blackhead-busting treatments. So, let’s look at six proven home remedies that may help banish these annoying little dots.
1. Milk and Honey Mixture
Pore strips are probably the most popular blackhead-removing remedy on the market, and now you can easily craft it yourself. Milk contains lactic acid, which helps remove dead skin cells and sebum, while honey has antibacterial properties. Combining these two products will leave you with glowy, clear skin.
Process:
- Mix one tablespoon of milk with one tablespoon of organic, raw honey.
- Cook or microwave the mixture for 10-20 seconds.
- Let it cool down a little.
- Take a cotton cloth and put the paste on the area with blackheads. The paste should be thick and sticky.
- Keep it there for at least 30 minutes.
- Peel it off.
2. Clay Mask
Bentonite clay is one of the best solutions for blackhead removal, and it has been used for centuries because of its healing properties (2). Experts believe bentonite clay absorbs oils and dirt from the skin, thus wholly removing blackheads. Bentonite clay effectively removes blackheads, wounds, and all sorts of skin ailments.
Process:
- Add Apple cider vinegar to the Bentonite clay and make a thick paste.
- Apply the paste to the affected area using a brush or finger.
- Let it dry for 20-35 minutes.
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water, and you will feel instant smoothness on your nose.
3. Oatmeal and Yogurt Scrub
When mixed with yogurt, oatmeal forms an effective paste that helps curb blackheads. Oatmeal acts as an exfoliator without being harsh to the skin, while yogurt leaves your skin moisturized. You can also add honey and tomato juice to it, and it will act as a beautiful antiseptic blackhead-removing agent.
Also Read – 10 Best Face Washes for Blackheads Available in India for Pure and Clear Skin
Process:
- Mix oatmeal, honey, tomato juice, and a little yogurt.
- Apply a thick paste on your face, and leave it for 10 minutes.
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water by gently massaging the mixture in a circular motion.
TRIVIA: According to research, oatmeal has anti-inflammatory, exfoliating, and skin-soothing properties. It has been used for centuries as a topical treatment for a variety of dermatological conditions including dry skin, skin rashes, and eczema (3).
4. Facial steaming
Facial steaming is fantastic—it is highly affordable and relaxing and leaves your skin bright and glowy. In addition, steaming makes the skin soft and supple and opens up the pores, and this will help you extract blackheads easily.
Process:
- Boil 3 to 4 cups of water in a pot.
- Remove the pot from the heat source.
- Add a couple of drops of lavender, orange, geranium, or eucalyptus essential oil to the pot.
- Secure your hair so that it’s off your face.
- Drape your towel over your head and the pot, and hold your face 6 inches above the water.
- Steam your face for 10 mins.
- Rinse the face-off with lukewarm water.
5. Lemon, Honey, and Sugar Mask
Lemon, sugar, and honey masks are easy to prepare yet effective in treating blackheads. Sugar is a natural exfoliator that keeps your skin healthy and glowing. Lemon juice removes dead skin and opens clogged pores while maintaining the skin’s PH balance. Honey, with its antibacterial properties, keeps bacteria at bay while moisturizing and soothing your skin.
Process:
- Squeeze a little lemon juice over brown or white sugar and add honey to make a thick paste.
- Apply on the entire face.
- Scrub for a couple of minutes.
- Rinse it off and moisturize.
6. Tomato Pulp
Tomato is highly effective in removing blackheads; you don’t have to do anything except crush the pulp and apply it all over your face before bed. This nutrient-dense superfruit can do wonders for your body and skin. It has an astringent effect and reduces the oiliness of the skin. Moreover, its high vitamin and mineral content restores the pH balance, which can be disrupted by harsh soaps and cosmetics, adding an instant glow to your skin.
Process:
- Crush the pulp using a blender, cut the tomato into pieces, and mash it by hand.
- Clean the face and apply the pulp to the affected area.
- Leave it on your face for at least half an hour. It’s best to leave it on your face overnight while you sleep.
- Gently rinse it off and moisturize.
TRIVIA: There is an abundance of old wives’ tales about blackheads. One of them is that you eventually grow out of blackheads. However, even though they are more common in teenage years, adults can have them as well (4).
How To Prevent Blackheads on Your Nose?
So now you’ve learned how to get rid of blackheads fast. Unfortunately, this is not a one-off treatment but an ongoing process because these notorious dots tend to return no matter what treatment you constantly do. That’s why, as with managing acne, a prevention plan is necessary to keep blackheads at bay. Look at these eight simple tips to create a consistent skincare routine that will leave you pristine skin.
- Wash your face twice a day. Then, incorporate a gentle face cleanser with Salicylic Acid into your everyday skincare routine.
- Never go to bed without thoroughly washing off your makeup.
- Exfoliate your skin weekly with a gentle face scrub. You can use our DIY Oatmeal and Yogurt scrub recipes or Lemon, Honey, and Sugar Mask.
- Make Retinol your best friend.
- Use a moisturizer with a light, milky texture that contains Niacinamide.
- Opt for oil-free face products because excess oil is one of the causes of blackheads.
- Wash your pillowcases once a week to stop pore-clogging bacteria and oil from living on your pillowcase.
- Avoid touching your face.
Summary:
Blackheads form when pores are clogged with sebum and dead skin cells that turn dark once exposed to air.Fortunately, there are many ways to get rid of blackheads. While you can’t banish those unsightly black dots for good, you can prevent them with a consistent skincare routine and blackhead-banishing products. To get a blackhead-free T-zone, you can easily craft effective natural treatments at home with products you already have in your pantry. Just remember, the key to treating blackheads is time and patience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it okay to squeeze out blackheads?
No, squeezing is not the best solution. However, if you decide to proceed with it, maintain proper hygiene. First, steam your face to make your pores relax. Then, wash your hands and use a cotton swab for popping out blackheads. Finally, cleanse the area and moisturize.
What to do with a stubborn blackhead?
If you have a stubborn blackhead that is not coming out, that means it’s still not the time to remove it. It would be best to wait a few days before trying again.
Can I use toothpaste and baking soda to remove blackheads?
In theory, those ingredients could dry your blackheads; however, the problem with applying baking soda and toothpaste to your skin is that it can irritate and dry out the rest of your skin, too. So it’s best to avoid putting these products on your face.
What if nothing works for me, and I can’t get rid of blackheads?
There could be multiple triggers for blackheads, and despite your best attempts, you may not be able to banish them altogether. The best way to eliminate it is to get professional help.
References:
- “How to Get Rid of Blackheads“–thecut.com
- “Bentonite clay: 11 benefits and uses“– medicalnewstoday.com
- “Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena Sativa) Improves Skin Barrier Through Multi-Therapy Activity” –researchgate.net
- “How to get rid of blackheads for good – according to a dermatologist“– netdoctor.co.uk
