The blackheads are a common problem that affects all skin types, especially those with oily skin. The blackheads and whiteheads usually occur around the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. The blackheads are caused by hardened masses of sebum, formed in the ducts or the sebaceous glands. They are direct result of skin pores becoming clogged with sebum and dead skin cells.
The whiteheads are tiny, pearly, white raised spots. They are caused due to excessive secretion of sebum oil. The whiteheads usually show up as tiny white spots around the eyes. The same lotions, creams and masks are recommended for whiteheads too.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to reduce the pore size, but you can minimize the amount of gunk that is clogged in them.
In order to prevent the appearance of blackheads you should follow a strict skin care regime. Daily skin cleansing is essential. Wash your face at least twice a day using oil and alcohol-free formulas.
Exfoliate three times per week apply the exfoliator in circular motions to all affected areas, normally the nose, forehead and chin. The exfoliation encourages a newer, smoother skin surface by helping to unclog pores, prevent further breakouts and diminish blemishes and pigmentation spots.
A regular old scrubbing will clean your complexion, but it is not enough powerful to banish the blackheads since they are an accumulation of dead skin cells, oil and pigment deep within the pores. If you want, some serious purging you should use a cleanser and a toner that contain salicylic acid every morning and night. Make sure you avoid using overly drying cleansers because they can increase your likelihood of experiencing skin irritations and breakouts.
Daytime protective moisturizers will help the skin maintain its suppleness and moisture.
It’s essential to keep the skin clean and hydrated with appropriate cleansing and care, in order to prevent the formation of blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.
Another alternative for dealing with blackheads and enlarged pores are the pore strips. They pull away oil and the build up dirt from the nose, chin or forehead. The strips much be applied to wet skin for several minutes and then peeled away.
Another thing you can do is to ask your dermatologist to prescribe you some medicines, like Vitamin C and Vitamin A for example. These vitamins will speed up cell turnover and prevent old skin cells from clogging your pores.
The steaming is very important to loosen debris that may be embedded into the skin. Steaming the face is also a useful technique for people with oily or combination skin. It helps control the blemishes, cleanse the face, open the pores and soften the content of the blackheads.
Boil a pan of water and make sure that you remove the pan from the stove. Stand directly over the steam and drape a small towel over your head for keeping the steam from escaping, because it will be more effective in opening the pores.
After steaming wrap a tissue around each of the fingers and apply gentle pressure each side of the blackheads. A little gentle pressure with a finger on each side of the blackhead will squeeze them out.
Remember:
- Violent squeezing must not be used, because it always leads to the formation of little painful boils
- Never use your fingernails as they can carry dirt and can cause further infection
- Never prick the pimples, because doing so infects the surrounding area and leaves the scar behind which usually results in dark or red spots.
Masks:
Brook lime lotion
- Leaves of brook lime 30gr.
- Mineral/spring water 300ml.
- Sodium benzonate
- Boil the mineral/ spring water and put the brook lime leaves in it. Mix sodium benzonate in it. Mix well. Apply the mixture on the face using cotton. The lotion removes spots, blackheads and little pimples.
Salty deep pore cleanser
4 tsp baking soda
1 cup mineral water
First steam the face. Mix baking soda and one cup of hot water and stir well. Apply to the face and strip until the entire face is covered. Leave the mask on for approximate 10 minutes until it cools off. At the end apply moisturizer. The mask is good for deep cleansing of the pores and helps remove the outer deed skin cells from the face.
Blackheads removal
2Tbs oatmeal
1tbs honey
Mix the oatmeal and honey together until mixed well. Warm the texture in a microwave. Apply the mask to the face and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Remove the mixture and rinse well with lukewarm water. Do the mask on a regular basis to help eliminate pores from getting plugged with debris.
List of things you can do:
- Keep your face clean. It is a great idea to try to wash your face in the morning and nights and if possible once in the afternoon. If you workout or play sports washing your face is a natural thing to do and will get in that third daily face washing, which is essential.
- Buy a good astringent and use it daily on your skin. This will eliminate oil and keep your face clean.
- After you use an astringent use a good strong toner. A toner will tighten your skin and help make your pores smaller.
- It is a good idea to use a daily moisturizer but make sure it clearly says “Oil Free.” The last thing you want to do is add oil to your skin.
- Use lukewarm water anytime you clean your face. This is an important tip so don’t forget it.
- Buy a lemon and rub the peel on your face. This will help remove the greasiness of your skin and it’s a natural method of taking good care of your skin and body.
- Another homemade solution to black heads comes from rice. Soak rice in milk for a few hours, grind them and make a paste for your body. Use on your body as a scrubber to remove the black heads. Be careful when scrubbing your face.
- Purchase black head removing strips. You can buy these at almost any cosmetic or pharmacy store. These are great tools and if used correctly can remove your blackheads easily.Tip #9 Apply steam to your face and body. Try to get it as hot as possible but do not of course burn yourself. After applying the steam, use a scrub brush to get rid of any black heads.
- If needed seek professional help. You doctor may be able to direct and treat your black heads. Use this as a final resource as it can be costly but it may be necessary and well worth it.
References
http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/blackheads
http://www.drexelmed.edu/home/HealthEncyclopediaArticles/Symptoms/Blackheads.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0003722/
Video Instructions
That’s really detailed and descriptive. I know exactly how to rid my skin of blackheads if that ever becomes a problem. However, blackheads are not my problem. My problem is whiteheads. I directed my attention to this article, thinking it would give me a little more than a simple paragraph about whiteheads. Maybe you should just rename the article. It has almost nothing to do with whiteheads. Thank you.
i have had bad skin for the last 3 years and i have been using clinique but i never seem to be rid of them completely altough i do not have acne my skin is not in good health ant suggestions???
Hi katy,
you had better consult a dermatologist. You may also need to change your cosmetics and skincare products for a while – it may be a mild allergy or sth like this to some of the ingredients. Leave your skin to breathe naturally for a few days – don’t wear any makeup for 2/ 3 days. Good luck !!!
btw – lovely site !!!!!!!!!
I researched this site for ridding my skin of whiteheads. Even though they return I have no problem ridding my skin of blackheads. Not really much help.
help.. i got this combinations of white heads and black heads all over my face and it seems it wont go away and it gets more severe, before these black heads and white heads appear my skin was smooth and no traces of white heads nor black heads but suddenly they appeared starting from my cheeks and it spread through all over my face i need some help anyone? i am already using salicylic acid and retinoic lotion but it has no effect, i wash my face two times a day.
hi katy well if the product is not working for you maybe you should move on to another product… and also by changing your eating habits you will immediately you will see the change in your face…. i suggest more water and less soda.
try this it really works….
Blackheads removal
2 Tbs oatmeal
1tbs honey
Mix the oatmeal and honey together until mixed well. Warm the texture in a microwave. Apply the mask to the face and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Remove the mixture and rinse well with lukewarm water. Do the mask on a regular basis to help eliminate pores from getting plugged with debris.
my face especially my cheeks are destroyed in clusters of what i was told are whiteheads i always had uneven skin but never as much as a pimple no acne stage nothing as a teenager and its after my third baby this has happened after i sought help at a local chemist i was recommended to use rock facial scrub and moisturiser daily and i did and my face is worse than ever it made it worse anyone who has been in simuliar circumstances who just might have the answer please help
as i was told by a farmaceutical expert, whiteheads are caused when the skin is not hydrated sufficiently. you may have an oily T-zone (the forehead, nose and chin), but the rest of your face could be dry or normal. if you do not moisturize regularly, whiteheads will eventually pop up. i`ve hadthem even under my brows! just moisturize every day and you will prevent them. as for the ones you already have, have a facial at a salon. professionals will deal with it.
I really enjoyed this article up until the point in which I saw the phrase open pores. Pores do not open or close (there are no ligaments or muscles operating the pores).Its just that the heat cleans out the pores, allowing the product to soak into the skin deeply.Using Cold
air/water/
However, skin does contract as it gets colder (based on cell structure of skin it does not contract to a dangerous level until it hits – 47 degrees celcius. Thus it also expands when it gets hot (think of it like a door)
after i wash my face with lukewarm water, do i have to rinse it with cold water later?
i have a serious case of white heads i have visited all the doctors available but nothing ever works they keep on coming and i am sick of them this website is showing me a couple of drugs that i already tried and they do not work… Anyway please if someone here knows a combination of something natural that remove them you'll be doing me a huge favor… Xoxo
Always apply face powder after creme. On a dry skin the face powder clogs the pores making them visible. However, on an oily skin powder doesn’t last long.
When choosing a nuance, remember that.
I have was given this recipe by my mother-in-law and it works GREAT!!! I have used it for about three years now. I was an avid Biore blackhead and whitehead removal tapes user and this is WAY better! If this doesn't work I would be VERY surprised. My 14 year old son has my problem of very embeded black and white heads, and altough he hates the smell (it smells like wet dog while it's on–so he says–it is stinky–but not unbearable) but it is definately worth the 10-15 minutes.
1 packet KNOX gelatin (supermarket store with gelatins and pectins for canning or jello– comes in small packages already measured out.)
2-3 tablespoons MILk (yes, the kind you eat your cereal with)
mix in microwave safe container and heat till warm and gellatin is dissolved. Use your finger and massage on problem areas (I uses it like a whole face mask, apply thicker around my t-zone.) and let dry completely (depending on thickness it can take upwards of 20 minutes). Peel mask off and CHECK OUT the splinter like black heads and YES whiteheads attached! You will be amazed!!!
I know my family was and I tell and give everyone this recipe and yet to find someone who dislikes it. I have used it as much as three times a week. Hope this helps!!!
P.S. I thouroughly wash my face afterwards and use a mile toner to help shrink my pores. I had horribly embedded black and white heads around my nose, forehead, and chin area and I am just amazed how you no longer can see them—I even stopped wearing foundation because I no longer feel self-conscious that, that was the first thing you could see on my nose.
If you have had skin problems for years and you need to get on top of them, there are a number of things you can do, especially in regards to how to remove whiteheads on nose.
First of all, if you're someone who needs to know how to remove whiteheads on nose, realize that you're not alone. A lot of people have this problem, men and women alike. And because they can get worse during hormonal swings, they can strike at any time during your life.
• Clean the skin with mild soap and water morning and evening. It is recommended that this routine is not carried more than four times a day, as it may dry out the skin significantly.
• Dry the face, back or pressure affected areas with a towel, never carving.
• Use the special cleaners for the face (astringent lotions) should have very oily skin, since only then is it possible to remove impurities that soap can not remove.
Cut a potato, rub over the black head. The grit in the potato will remove the debris in the pore. Follow with a cleanser and honey facial. Hope it helps you to remove blackheads.
i used a mask from sally's. i've only used the mask twice, already see a dramatic difference. i've tried other products that were listed on this site. they were not as helpful. maybe just for the day you use it.
hi i have a lot of blackheads and whiteheads on my face, i always go the derma clinic (2x a month). Im going to try these suggestions. I hope this will work, as i am really fed up of paying too much when the black and whiteheads are not even diminishing.
Lauren…it does say in the article "The same lotions, creams and masks are recommended for whiteheads too."
Ugh. My blackheads are ruling my life! I feel like everybody is staring at my nose because of them. I am going to try the gelatin thing. I don't know if my mom will let me, but I DESPERATELY NEED TO GET RID OF THEM!
Hiii…
I have small pimples on my forehead they are white n have a redrash around them…. I dont know how to get rid of thm! I have tryed freedom, sudocream….. etc..
But nothing seems to work they piss me off!
Please help if u know any home things i can do to get rid of them!!
Thanks!
What's the Knox gelatin? Not really sure what it is? Is it a brand of jello??
hi i'm taka i think streaming is more natural and helps so much
apply multhani with rose water and honey and do scrubbing everyday defnetly u can come out from your problem
I agree with lauren, i have the most problems with whiteheads. There should be more in here about them or you should suggest a website for us to go to. Thank you.
Have a diet rich in fruits n salad. Have 3 litres of water everyday. Have no oily things. Do not be constipated. Wash face twice daily with a gud facewash. Do pranayama yoga in morning. You will glow like the sun..:)
Never use clinique.. I got a facial an it's the worst thing for your face. I used it and even the feel on my skin made it seem like there was a big lather of oil on my face and it didn't feel good. Also, don't use pro Active. For one, it's a waste of your money and it makes your skin age quicker. If you have it, just use the toner and the lotion and then just all together, stop using it. That is what my person said when I got my facial.
Hi,i have REALLY bad blackheads on my chin and right below my lip and it looks like a zit but i think its an infected blackhead.can amyone help me?
My dermatologist advised me to buy Panoxyl from Walmart to treat the whiteheads I get on my forehead due to my new bangs, the pimples my husband gets on his shoulders and back from his workouts and to get rid of the blackheads on my teens face. It is FABULOUS! All those years spent on expensive acne treatments are now treated with a $5 bar of soap…
Hey..I’m 12 -really close to 13- and I have whiteheads around my nose. I just solid the steam thing and washed my face after…I changed my pillowcase too…since I have eczema, I’m sensitive to most moisturizers so stuff like that doesn’t work for me…I am on my period…I guess puberty has something to do with it huh :-/ anyways please tell me how to get rid of them from now til September 3rd (my b’day and first day of school) i really dont want to look like this for the first day 🙁
I decided to try a product from WALGREENS store so easy and not expensive at all and I am seeing nice smoothing results not only for my face blackheads and whiteheads but the tiny bumps on the backs of my arms are gone and other family members say their problems are going away. It’s just called “Blackhead Remover” and it’s a gritty minty warm type of scrub. Don’t scrub too aggressive or you’ll hurt your skin but you want to be sure to rub the grit around in circles over the “heads” to loosen them up and soon you’ll see a difference. I need to buy more now…only like $4.00 for a tube. Good Luck all.