blackheads and whiteheads

How to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads

Are you fed up of the whiteheads and blackheads appearing all over your face, especially on the more highlighted areas, like nose, forehead, and chin? Well, it is a very common skin problem that most of the people suffer from, regardless of their gender and age. So, do you know what are they? Are they different or almost similar? Here goes the answer -According to expert dermatologists, both blackheads as well as whiteheads are comedowns. The latter are considerably mild blemished that crop up inside the clogged hair follicles. Although both are same, the major difference between them is their colour.

 

Blackheads and whiteheads are known as open and closed comedones, respectively. The former are blackheads because they develop when your pores get loaded with dead skin cells and oil, but the terminal (top) of the pores remains open. Exposure to air leads to the darkening of these blemishes. Whereas the latter are whiteheads because they occur when your pores get completely clogged with no room for air.  These comedones, if ignored for long can get infected by Propionibacterium acnes. It can aggravate simple blemishes to severe skin conditions like nodule status and cyst. Here are some effective home remedies to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads. Let’s check them out:

Toothpaste

One of the simplest and most handy products useful for the removal of the black and white heads is toothpaste. Dab on some toothpaste on the affected areas and let it dry. You might feel a burning sensation just after application, but it will fade away after sometime. Once the toothpaste dries, wipe it off with a damp cloth. You can also use wet tissue. You can see instant results. Just touch the areas and you will find that the rough and uneven skin has become smooth and soft. Repeating this step every alternative day for 2 weeks will help you a lot.

Almond or oatmeal

Take some almonds and grind them into fine powder. Mix the powder with enough rose water to make a thin paste. Apply it to the affected areas with the help of your fingertips and then apply it to the whole face. Leave it for about 20 minutes and rinse off the face with chilled water. You can make a similar paste by replacing almond with oatmeal. It will be a less expensive option.

 

Rice

Soak a portion of rice in milk for 4 to 5 hours and grind it into a thick paste. Apply this mask all over your face and scrub it gently. Make sure to put extra pressure on the affected areas. Do it for 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse your face.

Potatoes

Grate some potatoes and rub the mixture on the affected area and wash it off after 20 minutes.

Coriander leaves

Mix coriander leaves and a little bit of turmeric powder with sufficient water to make a spreadable paste. Apply the paste as mask to get rid of the blackheads as well as whiteheads.

Baking powder

Take baking powder and water in same quantities and mix them to get a thin paste. Apply the mixture to the affected area and wash it off after 20 minutes. It can help you get rid of comedones effectively.

Honey

Honey is considered to be one of the most effective ingredients when it comes to fighting blackheads and whiteheads, both open and closed. You can apply it either singly or with sugar. When applying only honey, dab some on the affected areas and remove it after 20 minutes. When applying it with sugar, take 1 tbsp of each and mix well. Scrub your face gently for 10 minutes and wash off.

Tomato

Take a medium sized tomato and mash it well.  Apply it to the face before going to bed and scrub it on the area of blackheads and whiteheads gently for few minutes. If possible, don’t wash your face till the morning. The antiseptic properties of tomato can help you deal with these blemishes in a proper way.

Lemon

Squeeze the juice from half a lemon and add a pinch of salt to it. It is one of the simplest recipes to fight the stubborn whiteheads & blackheads. Apply the solution on the areas you see the traces of blackheads or whiteheads or both. Wash you face after 20 minutes with lukewarm water.

Yogurt

Add equal quantities of olive oil and lime juice to 2 tablespoons of oatmeal and 2 tablespoons of yogurt. Mix well to get a fine paste. Apply the mixture to the face and wash it after five minutes with chilled water.

Groundnut oil

Groundnut oil or peanut oil can not only help you remove whiteheads and blackheads, but also prevents their growth in the future. Take few drops of the oil and mix it with lime juice (2 to 3 drops). Apply on the affected areas and wash off after 20 to 30 minutes. If your skin is dry, then it will also nourish your skin.

Ground cinnamon

It is yet another effective remedy for blackheads and whiteheads. Mix cinnamon powder with lemon juice and apply all over your face. Leave it for 20 minutes and then wash off. It removes dead skin cells and improves your complexion. A word of caution – when making use of spices, make sure to examine then prior to application. This will help you to prevent reactions.

So, now that you know about some of the best and most effective cures for whiteheads and blackheads, you should not ignore them. Ignoring such issues can be quite taxing for you in the long run. So, love yourself to the fullest and always look your best.

Facial steaming

Make use of facial steaming to remove whiteheads at least once in a day. This unclogs the pores on the skin.

Egg and honey mix

The whites of the egg make the pores of the skin firm while honey acts as a humectant. Mix 1 teaspoon of organic yoghurt, ½ teaspoon of almond oil, one white from an egg, and a tablespoon of some warm honey together. Mix the ingredients using a spoon or a fork together.Apply some of it to form a thin layer on the face.

 

Clay mask

Clay mask is an excellent exfoliating agent that removes the dead skin cells.Apply a thin layer of clay to form a mask on the face. Leave it on to dry for just ten minutes. Then, wash it off using some lukewarm water.

Warm towel

Dip a soft towel in some warm water. Squeeze out the water immediately afterwards. Lie down on your back and put the towel on your face. This will help to open up the pores on the skin. Use this remedy for at least ten minutes every day. Also, use this remedy at night before you can hit the bed.

Apple cider vinegar

Use this after a steam bath. Apply some apple cider vinegar to your face and let it dry. Do not however rinse it off. This will take care of your blackheads as well as whiteheads.

Garlic, orange peel and lemon juice scrub

Take three tablespoons of lemon juice, two cloves of garlic, and half orange peels. You can put these items to dry in the sun. Then, use a blender to mix these items to form a thick paste. Apply this scrub on the areas that have been affected. Wait for ten minutes. Then, rinse it off using warm water. Repeat this procedure twice in a day.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is highly effective in order to destroy the bacteria that are present on the surface of the skin. It is also available in the form of an ointment. You must however remember to apply this acid only on the areas that have been affected and not on the entire face.

Gram Flour (Besan)

Take one tablespoon of raw milk or rose water and mix it with some gram flour or besan. Use this mixture as a face mask. Allow the mixture to dry on the face and then, rinse it off using some warm water. This will be effective both against whiteheads as well as against blackheads.

Soap and salt mix

Mix ½ a tablespoon of salt with one tablespoon of liquid soap. Apply this mixture on the whiteheads and then, rub the mixture gently on the face. Wash your face using cold water afterwards. Repeat this procedure several times in a day until you can see the results. The whiteheads should vanish in a few weeks’ time.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is both an antibacterial as well as an antifungal agent. This kills the bacteria that are present on the skin. Dab a ball of cotton that has been dipped in tea tree oil on the blackheads and the whiteheads. Leave it to dry and do not wash your face or rinse it.