You can tell that you have blackheads if you notice small, black lesions on your skin. Blackheads are characterized by a raised texture but are way smaller than pimples.
Blackheads can appear on your T-zone, cheeks, and other areas where sebaceous glands are present. They are not inflamed lesions and do not hurt. They are also not infected like pimples can be.
Blackheads can be spotted right on the surface of your skin and can eventually appear too dark on your skin. Not tackling them in the early stages can cause your face to look pigmented.
Let us now delve into the home remedies that can help you get rid of blackheads.
Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Blackheads
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has anti-comedogenic properties. It can be used topically to reduce the non-inflamed dark lesions on your skin (1). This may help in removing blackheads.
You Will Need
- 2-3 drops of tea tree oil
- Carrier oil
What You Have To Do
- Dab two to three drops of tea tree oil mixed with coconut oil on a cotton pad.
- Apply the oil to the blackhead prone area.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat 3-4 times daily.
2. Strawberry
Strawberries are rich sources of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. Vitamin C helps keep the skin hydrated and moisturized (2). This reduces the occurrence of blackheads as dry and dead skin cells are eliminated.
You Will Need
- 2-3 strawberries
- ½ teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
What You Have To Do
- Mash the strawberries and add the lemon juice and honey to make a thick paste.
- Apply this paste on the areas prone to blackheads.
- Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before you rinse with plain water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat 2-3 times a week.
3. Cinnamon
The cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon can help increase the synthesis of collagen, thereby tightening the pores in your skin (3). This, in turn, may reduce the number of blackheads.
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder
What You Have To Do
- Make a paste by mixing the cinnamon powder and lemon juice.
- Apply this paste on the blackhead prone areas.
- Rinse off after 20 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
You can do this about 2-3 times a week.
Caution: Lemon juice can cause a stinging sensation. Make sure to carry out a patch test before trying this remedy out.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has moisturizing properties (4). This can help relieve dry skin and prevent the blockage of pores with dead and dry skin cells. The lauric acid in coconut oil can also prevent the occurrence of acne (5).
You Will Need
1 teaspoon of virgin coconut oil
What You Have To Do
- Apply a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil on the area with blackheads.
- Leave it on until it is fully absorbed into your skin.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat 2 times daily until the blackheads vanish.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is well known for its moisturizing properties (6). Aloe vera also contains zinc that helps tighten pores and saponins that cleanse the skin. All of these properties can help keep blackheads at bay.
You Will Need
½ teaspoon of aloe vera gel
What You Have To Do
- Apply aloe vera gel to the areas prone to blackheads.
- Leave it on overnight and rinse off with water when you wake up.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every day until the blackheads disappear.
How Can I Prevent Blackheads?
- Make sure to keep your skin oil-free and clean at all times.
- Avoid excessive use of cosmetic products.
- Make sure to use non-comedogenic products so that your pores are not clogged.
- Don’t wear clothes that are too tight as that can trap the sweat.
- Avoid sleeping with your makeup on.
- Do not consume foods that can cause excessive production of sebum. These foods include processed foods, dairy products, fast foods, etc.
These tips and remedies will help you get rid of blackheads. However, if you think that your skin has other underlying issues that lead to the recurrence of blackheads, you must consult a dermatologist.
We hope that you found this post helpful. Let us know your feedback in the comments section below.
