Hydrogen peroxide can be used to effectively treat blackheads and whiteheads. They occur when the pores on the skin are clogged with excessive oil. Hydrogen peroxide dissolves the blackheads and treats the area.
Don't: Treat with Hydrogen Peroxide
Regardless of whether you have sensitive skin or not, it's a safe bet to treat blackheads with gentle products that are free of fragrances and irritants. Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly misused solution and is neither a gentle nor a valid long-term treatment.
Deep blackheads should be removed by a medical professional — usually a dermatologist or medical aesthetician. They use a small tool with rigid metal loops on the ends (blackhead or comedo extractor) to apply even pressure to your blackheads.
Hydrogen peroxide used to be a popular antiseptic for cleaning wounds and treating acne. But it's not a good idea to use it for those purposes, since it can irritate your skin. If you don't want to throw away your hydrogen peroxide, you can use it for disinfecting around the house.
Acne forms when dirt and bacteria clogs pores. Hydrogen peroxide can kill acne-causing bacteria, but the risks outweigh the benefits. 3 Hydrogen peroxide is harsh and irritating to the skin.
“Gently press on each side of the blackhead until it begins to release,” she says. “Apply slow and even pressure, and once you are able, lightly pinch the tweezers and pull the blacked out material from the skin to extract it. If the blackhead does not release easily, do not continue to attempt the extraction.”
Home remedies for blackheads are green tea, tea tree oil, salt scrub or sugar scrub. Green tea helps lower the oil production on your skin while tea tree oil can stop the growth of bacteria. The salt or sugar scrub exfoliates your skin and removes the dead skin that is clogging the open skin pore.
While cellophane tape could possibly remove surface dead skin cells, it's unclear how effective this method is in removing clogged gunk in your pores. Don't use masking, duct, industrial, or any other type of tape that could be harmful to your skin.
Baking soda
Baking soda is a natural exfoliator. Create a paste using baking soda and water and apply it to the blackhead affected area. Use your fingers to gently scrub the skin for a few minutes and then wash off with water.
Hydrogen peroxide also kills normal cells within the wound — including healthy skin cells and immune cells — and slows blood vessel formation, all of which are important for wound healing.
Health Effects. Hydrogen peroxide is corrosive to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes at high concentrations (>10%); lower concentrations may cause irritation.
Squeezing blackheads out with your fingers might be one of the more satisfying ways to remove them, but Dr. King warns that it's not a good idea. "Squeezing blackheads can traumatize the skin, introduce bacteria and damage the pore,which can spread debris and bacteria deeper into the tissue," she says.
Don't use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on wounds or to control oily skin or acne breakouts. They're not effective and they can damage your skin, making the problem worse.
To help blackheads disappear by morning, Dr. Bank recommends a two step process: Use a pore strip first and follow by applying a salicylic acid gel before bed. If you have blackheads on your cheeks, be gentle.
Via Refinery29, Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., agrees that after the clay mask brings all the junk to the surface, physical massage can "indeed dislodge clogged pores and whatever's inside them."
Dermatologists know how to remove acne safely
One is called acne extraction, which involves using sterile instruments to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads. Acne extraction is usually offered when other acne treatment fails to clear the skin. it's rarely a first choice because it takes time and can be expensive.
The ATSDR note that exposure to diluted solutions of hydrogen peroxide can cause temporary skin bleaching. An older study suggests that a concentration of 20–30% is necessary to lighten the skin — a range far greater than the 3% concentration deemed safe in household products.
Shock, coma and convulsions may ensue and pulmonary oedema may occur up to 24-72 hours post exposure. Severe toxicity has resulted from the use of hydrogen peroxide solutions to irrigate wounds within closed body cavities or under pressure as oxygen gas embolism has resulted.
Apple cider vinegar is excellent for removing blackheads. It has a strong antimicrobial effect, which effectively makes it eliminate even some of the most dangerous bacteria. What to do: Take a few drops of apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball or pad and gently dab it on the affected regions of your face.