Exfoliate. Use an exfoliating scrub on the skin once a week to help remove the dead skin cells that contribute to blackheads. A scrub may also improve the overall appearance of the skin. Avoid exfoliating if it irritates the skin, and stop using a scrub if it makes the skin feel dry or sore.
Cleansing. Washing your back with a cleanser containing salicylic acid has the potential to break down oil and dead skin cells that cause blackheads. It also helps promote skin peeling , which treats blackheads and other types of acne.
Exfoliate
Look for those that contain alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs). These are gentle acids that help remove dead skin cells. They help clear the way for other products to penetrate the skin better and work more effectively. You may have heard of salicylic acid for acne, which is a BHA.
Honey mixed with cinnamon powder makes for a most effective blackhead remover mask as both the ingredients have antibacterial and cleansing properties. Cinnamon is an astringent ingredient that helps shrinking pores and doesn't let oil and dirt settle in.
Use Products With Salicylic Acid
One go-to ingredient for eliminating blackheads is salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid that increases cell turnover and unclogs pores, says Saedi. Suozzi adds that the acne treatment can help dry active acne lesions because it is a mild chemical irritant.
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."
Due to its bleaching properties, using hydrogen peroxide to remove blackheads has been a common practice in skin care circles. Simply diluting it with water and applying it to the face after cleansing and exfoliating can give remarkable results, from removing blackheads to reducing scars.
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.
She went on to add that blackheads are best treated with retinol creams like, Retin A and Differin, and that Elmer's will absolutely not help to lift the debris that gets trapped in our pores, which is why dermatologists don't recommend it.
Differin Gel
She called this over-the-counter retinoid — which contains 0.1% adapalene, an expert-recommended ingredient to help treat acne — a “must-have” for anyone dealing with blackheads because it helps to regulate skin cell turnover, which can help prevent the pores from becoming clogged.
What should you do? The rumor mill might have you believing that dabbing some regular old toothpaste on your zit will help it clear up overnight. But, while it's true that several ingredients found in toothpaste are drying to skin and might help shrink your pimple, this home remedy for breakouts isn't worth the risk.
A type of acne, sebum plugs happen when pores get clogged with sebum and dead skin cells. Sebum is oil your body produces to keep skin moist. Sebum plugs result from hormones and increased stress levels. Sebum plugs usually develop on the face, including the forehead, chin and nose.
Try a gentle face scrub, which acts as a sort of one-two punch for combatting blackheads, providing double the exfoliation powers. "The combination of physical exfoliation from the scrub, along with chemical exfoliation from the salicylic acid, can help keep the pores clear," Dr. Zeichner says.
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.
'Petroleum jelly dilutes the dried up oxidized oil, creating a hard-topped plug of oil in the pore which is then easier to squeeze out and clear. '
Baking soda can be used as an exfoliant to clean out pores and reduce the appearance of blackheads and acne. Baking soda is also mildly anti-bacterial, so it could potentially kill off bacteria that causes acne.
Since baking soda is a great exfoliator, it can help yu get rid o those ugly blackheads. Just mix on tablespoon of baking soda with a dash of your favourite toothpaste and voila, your natural home remedy for blackheads is prepared!
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.
For deep blackheads, dermatologists use photopneumatic therapy. The process involves a combination of intense pulsed light lasers and a hand-held vacuum. Using these together allows your dermatologist to get deep into your pores to remove dead skin cells and excess sebum.
Complications from a blackhead
If pores are infected, the skin can become inflamed and cause acne, which is the inflammation that results from clogged pores. The pores can also become inflamed if the blackhead isn't treated. Other conditions can occur as a consequence of the inflamed tissue if you pop pimples yourself.
Mix one part of baking soda with one part of rose water to make a paste. Now, apply the paste to the affected area. Let the paste dry and wash it off with cold water. Apply the paste twice a week to bid goodbye to an uneven skin tone.