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Natural Remedies to Banish Blackheads

When it comes to caring for our skin, both men and women will do anything to keep it perfectly flawless and blemish-free. Pimples and particularly blackheads are the worst to deal with. We poke, squeeze, and use other methods to remove blackheads, but they seem to miraculously return the very next day. The main culprits behind skincare issues are improper hygiene, hormonal changes, unhealthy eating habits, and stress. All of these disruptive influences lead to excess production of oil. This profusion of oil can clog your pores and become an ideal place to breed bacteria. Then it can lead to inflammation of the skin pores.

nose with blackheads - depositphotos

Natural Ways to Deal With Blackheads

When a clog develops in the opening of a hair follicle, a blackhead can quickly form. If we look at a hair follicle, we can see it contains a single hair and a sebaceous gland. This exocrine gland that is part of the integumentary system produces oil called sebum. This oil helps keep your skin soft and supple. However, dead epithelial cells and oils can get trapped in the opening to a skin follicle, creating an unsightly and embarrassing bump. We see them on chins, foreheads and our noses. These can send us rushing out to buy blackhead removal strips or try expensive skincare treatments. But before you do, there are some natural home remedies you may want to try first. They can help you get rid of blackheads without harming or damaging your skin or costing a fortune.

Clay Mask

A clay mask is a perfect medium to use on your blemished skin since it treats acne, moisturizes, exfoliates and detoxifies. So whatever is hiding in your pores, like dirt, excess oil, makeup and bacteria will be absorbed by the clay. There are a variety of different clays you can use on your face. I like using a combination of Bentonite and Activated Charcoal clays.

Bentonite clay, better know as Montmorillonite clay is made from aged volcanic ash. Its powerful healing properties will help detoxify their bodies, remove any impurities and promote wellness. Bentonite has lots of skin-loving nutrients like silica, iron, sodium, and calcium. The clay binds to impurities and will pull them out of our pores. Bentonite also tones and firms skin, tighten and shrink large pores, and controls oily skin. You’ll read a lot of mixed advice on ingesting this clay. Some experts recommend it, while the Medical Medium says to void taking clays internally because they are too harsh for the intestines.

Activated Charcoal clay can help you attain that coveted flawless complexion we’re desperate to have. Its super-absorbent powers, 1000 times its own mass, will draw bacteria, poisons, chemicals, dirt, and other micro-particles from deep within our cells to the surface of our skin. Charcoal can also be used to treat some poisonous bites and disinfect some wounds.

Egg Whites

Crack open an egg, remove the yoke, and lightly whisk the egg white. Apply a very thin layer of the egg white and let dry completely. After the first layer dries, repeat the process twice more. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes and then gently scrub the egg away with warm water.

Honey

Pure raw unfiltered honey possesses antibacterial and antiseptic properties. These beneficial properties help get rid of blackheads by killing bacteria, germs, and other impurities that block up our pores. As a natural antibiotic, honey can help pull dirt and debris from the pores, thus clearing away any blackheads. Honey is also valuable for our complexion as it will help to tighten and hydrate the pores leaving us with glowing, youthful skin.

So, if you’re looking for an effective method that does not require any drying time, making it the quickest home remedy for removing blackheads, then you’ll simply need some honey. Apply honey to your face and then begin scrubbing your face in gentle circular movements. Blackheads and other impurities will naturally get stuck in the sticky honey. Wash off with your favorite natural cleanser and follow with an organic moisturizer.

Baking Soda

Baking soda has been used in a lot of home remedies. For acne-affected skin, try mixing one or two tablespoons of baking soda combined with just enough water to make a creamy paste. Spread the paste to all the affected areas on your skin and leave it on for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Then gently rinse with lukewarm water. If you notice an improvement, use this remedy a few times a week to clean your pores.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is another versatile food that can be used to make skincare masks that remove gunk from our pores and improve our overall complexion. This nutrient-rich gain can dislodge clogged pores and remove blackheads. Its exfoliating properties are soothing and gentle on the skin itself, but abrasive enough to remove dead skin cells, sop up excess oil, and quiet distress skin.

Whether you are using oatmeal on its own or mixing it with other healing ingredients, it makes the ideal skin enhancer. Cook your oatmeal in distilled water and let cool before applying a thick paste to all affected areas. Leave the mixture on for 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

Green Tea

Green tea is rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants that benefit our skin. Aside from helping aging skin, it can break up excess oil, reduce irritation and inflammation, and protect against free radicals that cause acne. It can also prevent acne scarring and protect skin from sun damage.

Steep two bags of organic green tea in 8 ounces of boiled water for one hour. Once the green tea is lukewarm, you can dab the liquid on your blackheads and leave on for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water and let dry.

Facial Cleansing Brushes

Whether you wash your face with your hands or a washcloth you may not be doing a thorough job. There are umpteen facial brushes on the market that spin, pulse, rotate, exfoliate, and unclog your pores. They can turn your otherwise dull skin into a glowing complexion. They leave your skin is smoother, softer and cleaner after just one use. To use them, you apply your favorite natural cleanser to your skin and allow the facial brush to gently remove the impurities from your pores.

Tips for Preventing Blackheads

As credulous as this sounds, many people do not wash their faces twice a day. Or they may use a harsh product that dries their skin out, causing more skincare issues. Wash your skin using a natural cleanser and use lukewarm water to rinse off, especially before going to bed.

Avoid over-applying so much makeup. If you must wear makeup, choose an organic brand. Makeup clogs pores which leads to blackheads and acne. Make sure you wash your skin thoroughly before retiring.

Wash your pillowcases weekly. Pillowcases are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. As you sleep you slough off dead squamous epithelium, oil, and acne discharge. As you toss and turn, you could be reinfecting your clean skin.