Effective Home Remedies For Blackheads

Introduction:

Blackheads, also called open comedones, are dark, tiny spots visible on the skin.¹ They are a type of acne. Blackheads are open cavities on the skin filled with dead skin and excess oil. They commonly affect the face, neck, chest, and back areas. Usually, adolescents experience blackheads, but they can occur at any age. ² When the open skin pores get clogged with dead skin, oil and bacteria, the upper surface darkens to form a blackhead. The skin pores stay open in the case of blackheads. When the pores close, they turn into a whitehead.³ 

What Causes Blackheads:

Our skin all over the body has sebaceous glands, and most of these glands are connected to a hair follicle. These glands produce an oily substance called sebum. Comedones are formed due to inflammation of a sebaceous gland or a hair follicle. Blackheads are open comedones. The following causes can lead to  inflammation of a hair follicle or sebaceous gland: 

• Increased production of sebum  
• Increased production of androgen hormones i.e., testosterone 
• Abnormal keratin formation  
• Increased bacteria on skin that produces acne² 

Symptoms of Blackheads:

Blackheads are dark, visibly open bumps on the skin. They are nothing but a milder form of acne.² Blackheads look black on the surface of the skin as the sebum gets oxidized on coming in contact with air, not because they are dirty.⁴ 

Also Read: Best Home Remedies For Whiteheads

Home Remedies for Blackheads:

Some people try to pop blackheads or try to squeeze them out, in an effort to get rid of them. However, doing so is worsening the problem, not solving it. You may remove the clogged sebum from the blackhead and leave a scar.  In addition, the open pore will get filled with more oil or bacteria in course of time. Also, there are chances that the entire blackhead is not removed, leaving behind some part that might get infected later. 

You can use some of these home remedies to remove blackheads safely and naturally: 

1. Salt or Sugar Scrub:

• Exfoliate the surface of your skin using a salt or sugar scrub. The natural roughness of these substances removes the dead cells on the skin surface. Do the following steps: 
• Wash your face with any cleanser 
• Apply salt or sugar to the affected region 
• Massage them on the skin in small, circular/round motions for about 30 seconds 
• When finished, thoroughly rinse your face with water to remove all traces of the scrub 
• You will be able to see that the blackhead has been removed entirely 

2. Tea Tree Oil:

Tea tree oil can stop bacterial growth. ² 

Tea tree oil is an essential oil obtained from the ends of branches and leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia tree belonging to the family Myrtaceae. Tea tree oil has antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties that help fight bacteria, virus, and free radicals. That’s how it can be very helpful in several skin conditions. 

NOTE: Do not take tea tree oil orally. It is toxic if taken orally at higher doses. Oral poisoning in adults and children has been well-documented.⁵

• To use the blackhead-busting properties of tea tree, take some cottonand add a few drops of tea tree oil to the cotton ball.
• Dab it all over the blackheads and leave it on for as long as you can.²  

3. Green Tea:

Green tea is an antioxidant. The oil production in your skin can be reduced with the help of wet green tea leaves. Green tea has several health benefits. The health benefits are mainly due to the polyphenols that are present in green tea. It acts as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral that helps fight bacteria, viruses, and free radicals.⁶  

• Take dry green tea leaves and mix them with water.
• Massage the wet leaves onto your skin.
• Massage the area for up to 30 sec in small, circular motions.
• As you are done, rinse your face with water.²  

Though there are studies that show the benefits of the given herbs and home remedies in this condition, these are insufficient and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of these herbs and home remedies on human health.  Thus, these should be only taken under the guidance and supervision of your Ayurvedic physician.

When to Seek Medical Help: 

Most blackheads subside in early adulthood, but some people continue to develop blackheads all their lives. It depends on how deep the blackheads are rooted in your skin. Mostly, they disappear on their own if they are close to the skin surface, but some blackheads get deeply rooted in the skin. These blackheads have a slim chance of resolving on their own. Do not self-diagnoseor take medications without proper consultation.  

You can seek medical help if you have repeatedly new or old embedded blackheads. Consult a skin specialist (dermatologist) for the removal of blackheads. They will safely remove the whole blackhead which will prevent them from recurring. These professionals use a small tool with fixed metal loops on the ends. These tools are called come-done or blackhead extractors. They apply slight pressure around the blackheads and safely remove them.²  

You must not rely on home remedies for the treatment of this condition you should consult a qualified doctor for any advice for the condition.

Conclusion: 

Blackheads are a common skin condition that appears as dark, tiny spots on the skin. They mainly affect teenagers but can occur in all age groups. Simple home remedies that might be helpful for getting rid of blackheads include green tea, tea tree oil, sugar scrub, or a salt scrub.  

If you experience anxiety or feel too self-conscious due to blackheads, you should consult a skin specialist for the appropriate treatment. ² 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 

Also Read: Sandalwood: Uses, Benefits, Side effects & More!

References: 

1. Pazyar N, Yaghoobi R, Bagherani N, Kazerouni A. A review of applications of tea tree oil in dermatology. Int J Dermatol. 2013 Jul;52(7):784–90. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22998411/ 

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