Blackheads

Blackheads – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Home Remedies

Written by Updated on June 10, 2021

Blackheads are mild forms of acne which look like tiny bumps on your skin surface of dark or black color. Face is the primary victim area of these tiny bumps but it can also appear on your chest, neck, back, arms and shoulder. Though it doesn’t cause pain or any discomfort but really looks dull especially when your skin is overwhelmed with it. However, there are many effective home remedies to treat blackheads with a few simple ingredients and steps.

Blackheads develop due to clogging of hair follicles which happens due to the accumulation of dead skin cells, excess production of sebum by the sebaceous gland, and environmental dirt and pollutions, etc. A blackhead is a very common skin disorder and it is common to every individual in less or excessive form depending on their skin type, a lifestyle they lead and the skincare routine they follow.

Though this mild form of acne can attack your skin at any point in time of your life but puberty or adolescence is the most common life stage when people get this outbreak. This is because the hormonal changes are high at this stage which reflects its effect by developing different forms of acne on your skin such as pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads.

Blackheads can appear anywhere on skin wherever follicles are present but it is highly concentrated on your nose, forehead, cheeks, and chin. As skin pores around your nose sides and bridge remain larger so these places are prone to develop more amounts of blackheads. This means any skin area with larger pores is prone to get clogged and develop blackhead thereon.

Sometimes people make this skin condition worse by themselves when they try to remove the blackheads by squeezing or scrubbing. Picking the blackheads only makes it larger than its normal size and sometimes it looks like a scar which makes your skin condition duller. Also squeezing a blackhead contains the risk of transferring the infected sebum to the nearby skin area. So these kinds of activity should always be avoided for the safer side and one should try only DIY remedies to get rid of this skin condition. Also, you can contact a dermatologist if your face is overburdened with an excess amount of blackheads that are hiding your beauty.

Causes

The following factors can increase your chances of developing blackheads skin disorder.

Hormonal Changes

Your age and hormonal changes in the body play a crucial role in developing blackhead skin issues. Rapid changes in hormones during the puberty stage give a spike to sebum production that leads to follicles plugging and blackhead develops as a result of this. During the puberty stage Androgen also known as male sex hormone increases in the body that triggers sebum secretion and rapid turnover of skin cells both in boys and girls occurs. This is the reason why in adolescence stage boys and girls experience different types of acne issue including the blackheads.

Apart from puberty stages hormonal imbalances or rapid changes in hormones can trigger blackheads’ problems at any point in time of your life. Other than the puberty stage hormonal changes during the menstruation cycle, pregnancy and birth control pills intake can trigger blackheads issues in women.

Overproduction of Skin Cells

Overproduction of skin cells can also lead to blackheads as it can clog the pores resulting in pesky little black dots appear on different areas of your face and sometimes in other body parts as well wherever the skin cells turnover is high.

Pores Clogging due to Cosmetic Products

Excess use of makeup especially thick layers of makeup can block your pores or clog the hair follicles leading to blackheads appear on the face. This risk increases especially when you sleep without removing your makeup in the night.

Excessive Sweating

Heavy sweating may also clog your pores just like excessive sebum production does in any area of your skin. The dirt existing in your sweat especially when you workout rigorously can clog your hair follicles leading to blackheads appear in the affected region.

Shavings

Shavings or any other activity that opens your hair follicles or skin pores increases your risk of blackheads. This risk factor is high when you don’t keep your face clean especially when you come from a dirt and pollution rich area.

Excess Humidity and Grease in Environment

When someone travels in high humidity and greasy environment then also their skin is susceptible to get affected by this unfavorable environmental effect on their skin health in the form of blackheads growth.

Health Conditions

Certain health conditions increase your risk of developing blackheads such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Premenstrual Syndrome, Stress, etc. This particularly happens because these health conditions badly affect the hormonal balance of your body and this imbalance leads to outbreaks on your outer skin surface in the form of blackheads etc.

Medications

Certain medications intake especially those which triggers to rapid skin cells turnover can cause blackheads problem on the skin when these excess cells plug your skin pores. Also, the usage of steroid-based drugs such as corticosteroids can also cause blackheads problem on your skin.

Excessive Scrubbing

Excessive scrubbing opens your skin pores which increases your blackhead risk if necessary aftercare treatment is not provided like moisturizing etc. Also scrubbing for removing the blackheads often makes it worse instead of removing it by making its size large and scary one.

Impact of Environmental Changes

The polluted environment also affects your skin health badly leading to different skin disorders appear. Also, the changes in weather conditions make your skin weaker because your skin needs time to adapt to the unfavorable changes in the environment hence blackheads may develop if necessary skincare routine is not followed on time.

Symptoms

Blackheads are tiny dark color bumps on the skin which are easily noticeable in spite of their small size because of dark black color appearance. It develops with the following symptoms

  • Small dark lesions
  • Raised textures but flatter than pimples
  • Develops in nose, chin, foreheads, neck, shoulder and chest area
  • Non-inflammatory
  • Doesn’t causes pain or discomforts like pimples

Though blackheads are not painful or severe like pimples but changes in facial appearance due to its excessive growth can lead to negative psychological impact and can cause social embarrassment too in the affected person.

Treatment

Over-the-counter Medications


You can get over-the-counter medications for treating blackheads easily from any drug store, grocery shops, and online shopping without showing any prescription. These blackheads treating medications comes in the form of a gel, cream, and pad that you can directly apply to the affected skin area. These drugs contain benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol and salicylic acid which kills the acne-causing bacteria, removes dead skin cells, and dries out excess oil produced by the sebaceous gland.

Prescribed Medications

Under the condition where the application of over-the-counter medications is not bringing any effective result then you can consult with a doctor. The healthcare specialists will prescribe for stronger medications such as drugs that contain Vitamin A that restrains the plug formation in the hair follicles and promotes rapid skin cell turnover. The prescribed medications such as adapalene, tazarotene, and tretinoin need to be applied directly to the affected area of your skin. Apart from this, your healthcare specialist may also prescribe for medications that contain antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide. These medications are effective for people who have developed acne cysts or pimples along with blackheads.

Chemical Peels

A chemical peel is a technique that helps in removing blackheads very easily from the deep skin pores and to get smoother skin texture. With the use of this professional method, clogs are removed to relieve the dead skin cells issue which is the primary contributor for the blackheads skin disorder. With the application of this procedure upper layer of your skin removes over time leaving behind healthy and smoother underneath the skin.

In this procedure, a strong chemical solution is applied to the affected skin which works on pulling dead skin cells that clog your follicles. One can easily avail mild peels as over-the-counter medication but for stronger peeling process you need to consult with a dermatologist or skin care expert who has expertise in the peeling task.

Microdermabrasion

This is another medical technique for removing blackheads from your skin pores. In this procedure, a skincare professional or doctor uses an instrument that has a rough surface for sanding the top layer of your skin. The sanding works help in removing clogs that causes blackhead problem.

Laser and Light Therapy

During the laser and light therapies, tiny beams of the intense light are used on the affected regions which helps in killing acne-causing bacteria and decreases oil production. These beams can easily reach the underneath area of your skin surface for easy treatment of your blackheads and acne-related problem without damaging the upper layer of your skin.

Manual Removal

In this technique, a dermatologist or any skincare professional uses a round loop extractor for removing the plug responsible for blackheads’ growth. Once a small opening is made into the plug a light pressure is applied by the doctor with the extractor for removing the clog.

Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Blackheads

Oatmeal and Honey Scrubber

Oatmeal is a very effective natural scrubber that helps in removing clogs from the deep skin pores that cause blackheads issue. Apart from this, honey another ingredient of this remedy is rich with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which kills the acne-causing bacteria and relieves the inflammation. Tomato juice is another stimulant that increases the effectiveness of this natural scrubber.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tsp oatmeal
  • 1 Tsp honey
  • 1 Tsp tomato juice

Process

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl to get a smoother paste. Apply this paste on your face and scrub your skin with hands in a gentle circular motion in the upward direction. Give special focus on the blackhead affected areas of your face like nose, chin, and forehead.

Leave this paste as it is for 10 minutes and then rinse off your face with lukewarm water after 10 minutes. If your skin is highly sensitive then before applying this remedy directly on the face do a patch test first for checking the sensitivity on your skin. Apply this remedy 3 to 4 times in a week to get rid of the blackhead problem completely. Once you relieved then reduce the frequency as excessive scrubbing may irritate your skin.

Turmeric and Coconut Oil Scrubber

Turmeric is rich with many medicinal properties and best home remedies for treating different skin issues in a very safe and effective way. Coconut oil works as a natural soothing and hydrating agent and when mixed with turmeric it works best as a scrubber for removing clogs from deep skin pores and blackhead thereon.

Ingredients

Process

Mix both the ingredients in a bowl to get a smoother mixture and apply this paste on the affected areas of your skin. Let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Apply this remedy three to four times a week until your blackheads disappear completely.

Green Tea

Green tea is a rich source of antioxidant which controls excess oil production and relieves the pore-clogging issue that causes blackheads skin disorder. This remedy reduces inflammation; removes the plug and helps in clearing blackheads.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp dry green leaves
  •  Water

Process

Mix dry green tea leaves into the water to get a smoother paste. Apply this remedy on the concerned area of your skin and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. After the resting period wash it off with lukewarm water. Apply this remedy one to two times in a week until your pores get cleaned and blackheads disappear.

Lemon and Cinnamon Powder Scrubber

Lemon is a natural skin lightening agent rich in Vitamin C. Also it is rich with anti-bacterial properties that help in fighting with blackheads and whiteheads causing bacteria very effectively. Cinnamon powder is a medicinal property-rich spice which not only tightens your pores but also stimulates blood circulation to get a smoother textured toned skin.

Ingredients

  •  2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp cinnamon powder

Process

Mix both the ingredients in a bowl to get a smoother paste. Apply this paste directly on the affected areas of your skin and let it sit for 20 minutes. After the resting period rinse it off with lukewarm water. Use this remedy 3 to 4 times a week until your blackheads disappear completely.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is an effective natural scrubbing ingredient. With its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, it kills the blackheads causing bacteria. Moreover, it also controls extra sebum production along with exfoliating the dead skin cells that help in getting rid of blackheads problem.

Ingredients

  •  1 Tbsp baking soda
  •  2 Tbsp water

Process

Mix both the ingredients in a bowl to get a smoother paste. Apply this paste directly on the affected skin area and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes. After that rinse it off with lukewarm water. Apply this remedy once daily for the speedier result to get smooth and blackhead free skin.

Egg and Honey Scrubber

Remove the white part of an egg in order to use it in this remedy. The egg white tightens the hair follicles that produce sebum and shrink large pores that increase the pore-clogging risk. Honey helps in soothing and hydrating the inflamed skin and helps in getting toned and smoother textured skin naturally

Ingredients

  •  1 Egg white
  •  1 Tbsp honey

Process

Mix both the ingredients in a bowl to get a smoother paste. Apply this paste on your face and let it dry naturally. Once it dries out rinse it off with lukewarm water. Use this remedy 1 to 2 times a week until you get rid of blackheads issue completely.

Some More Home Remedies for Blackheads

There are some tried and tested home remedies for curing blackheads. That helps in getting the best solution against it. Let us now go through all these categorically and check out the various ways to cure them.

  • Prepare a paste of ground radish seeds and add water to it. Now apply this paste to the affected area and wash it off after sometime. A repetition of this technique has been found to be useful in curing the symptoms of blackheads quite effectively.
  • You can also prepare a paste of cornstarch and vinegar and apply it on the blackheads. Once it dries, you can rinse it off. This should be repeated once every day for at least a week. That would help in cleansing the skin and thereby preventing blackheads and other related problems.
  • Another effective way to get rid of blackheads is to keep a face wash that has lime extracts in it. You should carry it in your bag and use it when you return to your home after hitting the polluted roads.
  • Mix a bit of salt with some glycerin soap and apply it on the black heads. Hat is also another effective way of getting rid of black heads.
  • You can squash a tomato and apply it o your face. Tomatoes act as a good cleanser and helps cleansing your face by eliminating dirt from the pores of the skin. After keeping the pack for some time you can wash it off with milk. That would act as a toner and you would have a rejuvenated skin.

Precautions to take

Those suffering from blackheads should be cautious and take some precautions. Men, who drive motorcycles must, make it a point to wear helmets that cover the entire face. That would help in keeping dust and pollution away. Moreover, they should also use a good face wash and use it regularly. Ladies should use a good sunscreen lotion and also use a face wash that is mild. That would help them to retain a good healthy skin.

Those who suffer from skin conditions quite often can also consult a doctor, rather a skin specialist. Taking expert’s advice o this can help one to get thorough information on your skin type and also know what to do and what not to do in order to keep it in a good condition.

Moreover, you will be able to get some handful tips on which foods to avoid and which to have in order to maintain a good healthy ski and retain the glow. There are some fruits such as citrus and lime which are great for the skin. Therefore having such fruits can help you to get the best for your skin.

Blackheads skin disorder is not something that you have to live with throughout your whole life. You can easily get rid of it with the above-mentioned home remedies to treat blackheads very effectively by following them consistently. However, you need to take care of your skin more in order to prevent its growth risk in the future.

Keeping an eye on the latest studies and seeking the advice of a good skin specialist can definitely help one to get rid of these issues. The most important thing to remember is that a wrong medication or an improper technique can further aggravate the symptoms of blackheads. Therefore, getting in touch with a good doctor is of utmost importance in this context. Moreover, you also need to follow the medications that they prescribe and not discontinue them abruptly. Keeping all these things in mind would definitely help one to tackle the issues regarding their skin

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