How to Get Rid of Blackheads Quickly and Naturally
Blackheads are a type of non-inflammatory acne that causes unsightly bumps on the nose and face to appear. Blackheads develop when excess oil (sebum) blocks the skin’s pores and turns a brownish-black color when exposed to the air. If the blocked pore or hair follicle becomes infected with bacteria, a pimple or a pustule will form and cause red, pus-filled bumps to appear that are typical of acne conditions.
There are many natural home remedies that can help to reduce the appearance of blackheads on your face. Natural treatments to remove blackheads use natural ingredients to gently exfoliate the skin to unblock pores and draw out excess sebum. Other home remedies for bumps on face include natural peeling agents to dissolve dead skin cells and remove a buildup of oil.
If you want to get rid of blackheads quickly and prevent more from appearing, you should know what causes them in the first place. This can help you care for your facial skin properly to prevent blackheads around your nose, on your cheeks, and on your chin.
Causes of Blackheads on Nose
Sebaceous glands in our skin produce oil called sebum. This oily wax is needed to keep the skin moist and protect it from germs and other contaminants. However, too much sebum blocks up the skin’s pores and causes various forms of acne including blackheads on nose.
Blackheads appear when the clogged sebum in the pores reacts with oxygen in the air which turns the oil to a dark color – a process called oxidation. To prevent blackheads on your nose it’s important to remove excess sebum from the pores.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that blackheads are caused by dirt blocking pores. They then try to clean the affected area too much to remove what they think is grime. However, too much cleaning of the skin strips its protective layer and can result in outbreaks of more blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.
According to doctors at the Mayo Clinic, other factors like
- stress
- certain carbohydrate-rich foods
- some type of medications
- and hormones
Can make acne become worse and cause more blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, and other kinds of pimples to appear.1
The Best Home Remedies to Get Rid of Blackheads on Nose and Face
Let’s look at some of the best home remedies to keep your nose and face free from blackheads. Even though these natural acne treatments will help to get rid of blackheads quickly, you still have to be patient. Regularly using these home treatments will help to unplug the pores and prevent more blackheads from appearing.
Exfoliate with baking soda
Baking soda is a great natural ingredient to get rid of acne and blackheads on nose due to its antibacterial properties and grainy texture. Studies into baking soda have shown that it effectively kills off various strains of bacteria.2 The texture of baking soda exfoliates the skin to remove excess sebum and dead skin cells from blocked up pores.
How to use baking soda to get rid of blackheads:
Make a baking soda paste as a natural remedy to remove blackheads. Mix a little water with 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Gently massage onto your nose to loosen up the skin and unclog the pores. Leave for a few minutes before rinsing with warm water. Repeat the treatment once a week to prevent blackheads from appearing on nose and face.
You could also add 2 drops of tea tree oil to the baking soda paste for its antibacterial properties. This will help to remove bacteria from your skin and prevent pimples from appearing.
Facial steaming to get rid of blackheads on nose
Steam will help to open the pores on your face to naturally unblock pores that have excess sebum in them. You can boost the anti-acne effect of the facial steam by adding a few drops of lavender essential oil. Research has shown that lavender oil has powerful antibacterial properties against acne-causing bacteria.3
How to do it:
To make a facial steam treatment for blackhead removal on nose and face, put some boiling water in a large bowl. Add a few drops of lavender oil to the boiling water and mix with a spoon. Put a large towel over your head and place your face over the bowl to allow the steam to open up your pores. Keep your head in place for 5-10 minutes. You may notice that the blackheads have softened, in which case you can gently push them out (avoid squeezing as this can make the pores infected and leave acne scars).
Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
After using the facial steam method to get rid of blackheads, you can make sure and prevent blackheads from returning by using raw unprocessed apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is an excellent home remedy to get rid of blackheads and it also has amazing benefits for your face. The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar helps to disinfect your skin from germs and bacteria and reduce the production of sebum.
How to use the ACV face wash for blackheads
Use apple cider vinegar to wash your face and keep your skin blemish free. Mix equal amount of raw apple cider vinegar and water. Dip a cotton ball into the apple cider vinegar facial toner and apply the natural remedy to blackheads on nose, cheeks, and chin to cleanse your skin and remove blackheads. Repeat the treatment 1-2 times a week to keep your skin free of whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples.
Oatmeal scrub to remove blackheads from nose
Another natural way to exfoliate excess sebum from the skin and remove blackheads fast is to use an oatmeal scrub. Oatmeal contains skin-cleansing properties and other beneficial nutrients to nourish your skin, remove blackheads and prevent more from appearing.4 Some people claim that you can get rid of blackheads from nose and face relatively quickly by using the oatmeal scrub.
How to use the oatmeal scrub to keep skin free of blackheads and zits:
This natural oatmeal scrub uses raw natural honey for its antibacterial properties. To make the anti-acne oatmeal scrub, mix equal parts of raw honey and oatmeal to form a thick paste. Gently massage the remedy on your face and nose and leave for 20 minutes. This helps to unclog sebum and dead skin cells and remove any bacteria from infected pores. Rinse with warm water. Use the scrub for blackheads 1-2 times a week to make sure that you keep blackheads at bay and to keep skin free of zits.
If you are interested in other ways to use oatmeal for keeping your skin clear and pimple-free, please read my article about more homemade face scrub for skin blemishes.
Honey and egg facial mask
Make blackheads disappear fast by using egg whites to draw out excess sebum from blocked pores. The addition of honey helps to moisturize and nourish the affected skin and prevent infection in pores.
How to use the home remedy for pimples:
Use this facial mask with honey and egg whites on your nose, chin, and cheeks to reduce the chances of developing more blackheads. Mix 1 tablespoon of raw honey, 1 tablespoon of organic yogurt and one egg white in a bowl. Carefully apply the mixture to the blackheads on your face and leave for 20-30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. Use this facial mask to prevent blackheads from appearing and to keep your skin looking bright, youthful, and free of zits.
For more ways to use honey to keep your skin looking beautiful, please read my article on how to use honey to make natural face masks. There you will find recipes for 10 honey face masks to treat all skin types.
Lemon juice to get rid of blackheads from nose and face
Lemon juice is a natural chemical peeling agent to dissolve dead skin cells and it is also a natural astringent to dry out excess sebum from pores. Lemon juice is an excellent, simple and cheap home remedy for blackhead removal.
How to use lemon to remove blackheads:
Make a cleansing and refreshing lemon juice scrub to get rid of blackheads fast by adding some honey and brown sugar. In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of raw honey, and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Gently massage the lemon and sugar scrub onto your face and leave for 5 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and pat your skin dry. Use once a week to keep your skin looking healthy and free from blackheads.
This homemade facial scrub contains all the ingredients you need to make a natural remedy for blackheads on nose and face. The honey kills the germs that cause bacteria, the sugar gently loosens the pores and removes excess sebum, and the lemon helps to cleanse the pores.
Tea tree oil remedy for blackheads
Get rid of blackheads naturally with tea tree oil which has antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, studies have shown that a treatment containing 5% tea tree oil was as effective as some popular medicated blackhead treatments.5 Other studies have confirmed that tea tree oil is an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne.6 Tea tree oil is also an excellent home remedy to get rid of acne.
How to use the tea tree oil remedy for blackheads:
Always make sure and dilute tea tree oil before using it to treat large areas of blackheads. Use either witch hazel or aloe vera, which both have medicinal properties to treat acne. Witch hazel is also one of the best home remedies to shrink and minimize pores. Put 5-6 drops of tea tree oil in 1 tablespoon of witch hazel or aloe vera. Apply the home remedy to the blackheads using a cotton ball to remove dead skin cells and kill off bacteria. Leave the mixture to dry.
Helpful Tips to Prevent Blackheads on Nose
- Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water. This will prevent your skin from drying out and cause more sebum to be produced.
- Always wash your hands before touching your face.
- Keep your face and hair clean, but don’t overdo it when it comes to washing.
- Prevent the spread of bacteria by changing your bed linen regularly.
- Enjoy a healthy and nutritious diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. These will give you plenty of nutrients for healthy skin.
- Use water-based beauty products to cleanse your face.
- Always remove makeup before going to bed.
- Never pop or squeeze blackheads or pimples. This could cause your skin to become inflamed and spread bacteria.
If these home treatments for blackheads haven’t helped your condition, you should visit a dermatologist who can help to remove blackheads in ways that cause a minimal amount of irritation to your skin.
Read these related articles:
1. The Best Home Remedies to Treat Oily Skin: The Ultimate Guide
2. How to Get Rid Of Back Acne (“Bacne”)
3. Turmeric Face Mask Recipe for Glowing Skin, Acne, Rosacea, Eczema and Dark Circles
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