Effective Home Remedies for Blackheads

Introduction

Blackheads, also called open comedones, are dark, tiny spots visible on the skin. They are open skin pores which get clogged with dead skin, oil and bacteria, while their upper surface darkens to form a blackhead. They commonly affect the face, neck, chest, and back areas. Considered as a type of acne, blackheads are usually seen in adolescents, but they can occur at any age. Blackheads can affect your looks and are generally considered unesthetic. 

Although there are certain cosmetic treatments available to help you get rid of blackheads, some simple and natural products at home also show good results. In this blog, we will try to understand the science behind blackheads and explore some basic remedies that can be effective for managing blackheads at home. 

What Causes Blackheads and How They Appear

Our skin all over the body has sebaceous glands, and most of these glands are connected to a hair follicle. These glands produce a waxy substance called sebum, commonly known as body oil. Comedones are formed due to inflammation of sebaceous gland or a hair follicle. Blackheads are open comedones that contain oil and keratin¹. 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 acne 

Blackheads are dark, visibly open bumps on the skin. They are nothing but a milder form of acne. 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. 

5 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 but leave behind a scar. In addition, the open pore can get filled with more oil or bacteria in the course of time. Also, there are chances that the entire blackhead is not removed, leaving behind some part that might get infected later. Instead, trying out some simple home remedies to remove blackheads can be a safer and more natural option. These may include:  

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 that clog the open pores.  

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.  

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 help scavenge free radicals. That’s how it can be very helpful in several skin conditions².  

Use tea tree oil as follows to get rid of blackheads: 

• Take some cotton and 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. 
• Rinse with normal water 

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-documented³. 

3. Green Tea

Green tea is an antioxidant. The oil production in your skin can be reduced with the help of wet green tea leaves⁴. Not just that, green tea has several other health benefits too. These are mainly due to the polyphenols present in green tea, which have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, helping to fight bacteria, viruses, and free radicals. 

To eliminate blackheads, use it as given below: 

• 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.  

4. Honey

Honey naturally has moisturising, antiinflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can help reduce breakouts of blackheads⁵. It can also act as a gentle exfoliant to remove dead skin cells. Use it as follows: 

• Apple a small amount of honey on affected area  
• Leave it on for some time (10-15mins) 
• Rinse off with lukewarm water. 

You can combine it with cinnamon or yoghurt to make a gentle face mask. 

5. Aloe Vera

Aloe contains natural compounds like alocien that help fight inflammation and aid in improving skin health. Aloe vera also has an antibacterial action that may help avoid acne⁶. To remove blackheads, aloe vera gel can be used as follows: 

• Clean your face with a cleanser 
• Apply aloe vera gel to affected area 
• Leave in place for few hours to get absorbed by the skin 
• Rinse with lukewarm water 

A study⁷ showed that retinoids, used for acne treatment, showed better results when combined with aloe vera.  

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. Although, considering their general benefits on skin and effectiveness in acne management, these can be promising options for getting rid of blackheads at home. Yet, these should be used under the guidance and supervision of your Ayurvedic physician. 

Also Read: Effective Home Remedies for Period Pain

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.  

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. The basic extraction procedure makes 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 them⁸. Other procedures like microdermabrasion, laser or chemical therapy may also be used as deemed necessary by your dermatologist. 

Ideally, you must not self-diagnose or rely on home remedies for the treatment of this condition. You should consult a qualified doctor for any advice on the condition. 

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies for Malaria

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 feel too self-conscious due to blackheads or have old/recurring blackheads, you should consult a skin specialist for appropriate treatment.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

1. Najeeb A, Gaurav V, Sharma R. Comedones in dermatology. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2024 Apr 16;90(3):396-407. https://ijdvl.com/comedones-in-dermatology/ 
2. 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/  
3. Morris MC, Donoghue A, Markowitz JA, Osterhoudt KC. Ingestion of tea tree oil (Melaleuca oil) by a 4-year-old boy. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2003;19(3):169-171. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12813303/  
4. Mahmood T, Akhtar N, Khan BA, Khan HM, Saeed T. Outcomes of 3% green tea emulsion on skin sebum production in male volunteers. Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2010;10(3):260  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20846135/
5. McLoone P, Warnock M, Fyfe L. Honey: A realistic antimicrobial for disorders of the skin. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection. 2016 Apr 1;49(2):161-7 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S168411821500033X
6. Prakash A et al. Effectiveness Of Aloe Vera Gel On Facial Acne And Scar Among Students At Girls Hostel Of Sri Siddhartha School And College Of Nursing Tumkur. IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences. 2023; 22 (8,6):08-13 https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jdms/papers//Vol22-issue8/Ser-6/C2208060813.pdf 
7. Hajheydari Z, Saeedi M, Morteza-Semnani K, Soltani A. Effect of Aloe vera topical gel combined with tretinoin in treatment of mild and moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2014;25(2):123-9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23336746/  
8. Dąbrowska, Jolanta & Sobolewska, Ewa & Michalski, Jacek. (2014). Cosmetic treatment of manual blackheads extraction. The analysis of brand outline procedural prescriptions – market research. Polish Journal of Cosmetology. 17. 62-69. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263735055  

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof. 

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