What Can Be Done Against Blackheads?

Correct cleansing of the face in the morning and in the evening is essential to keep the pores free. Once all of the black dots are removed, it’s a good idea to continue with this routine so the blackheads don’t reappear.

They are a real nightmare and are usually difficult to remove. Not only women, men too can suffer from it. But what can you do about blackheads ? Find out more about it afterwards. 

What are black pores?

These unsightly spots, which mainly appear in certain areas like the nose, chin, cheeks, or around the lips, are dead cells with sebum. The dark color is due to the oxidation process that occurs when it comes into contact with the surface.

It is not always related to acne as many believe. Mostly it is due to an overproduction of fat in the skin. As a result, they tend to be more common in the warmer months.

Blackheads do not only occur in adolescence. If you  have sebum-producing skin and you don’t cleanse it properly, blackheads are common. Removing them takes time, dedication, and most importantly, patience.

It’s important to get into a routine of cleansing your face, both in the morning and at night. If you sweat a lot, or if you don’t remove your makeup before bed, or if you don’t wash your face when you get home, new blackheads are very likely to form.

Depending on your skin type, your face needs more or less washing. Never forget to moisturize your face! Make sure to keep to the same routine after you’ve managed to clear the blackheads so that no new ones can form.

Try to keep your pores clean and closed at all times. To achieve this, you need to wash your face with cold water every day.

Occasionally apply homemade face masks made from oatmeal, yogurt, or sugar. They act like a peeling.

How can blackheads be removed?

There are several ways to remove blackheads from your face and look great again. Here are the most effective and popular tricks to combat this problem:

An alternative is to express them individually in the shower. During the warm shower, the pores also open on the face. If you then press slowly and gently, those blackheads that are not very deep in the skin will come out.

A good variation is to use tweezers to remove them as soon as they reach the surface of the skin. This way you will prevent scars and bruises.

Further treatments

• Use a gentle scrub (the mask can be homemade or purchased) to remove any dead cells. After cleansing, dry your skin well with a light towel. Place a damp towel on your face for 10 minutes to soften the blackheads. Dry well. Then place a cotton ball on each fingertip to keep it from slipping and not leaving marks. Then, apply gentle pressure on the areas until the debris is completely removed.

• This method requires a toothbrush that you only use for this purpose and toothpaste. Apply the toothpaste to the brush. Wet the brush and your face with warm water. Brush the blackhead area for a few minutes every day before going to bed. Thereafter, sterilize the brush in boiling water. Then wash your face thoroughly and apply a moisturizer.
• Prepare a lotion from lime juice, almond oil and glycerin in equal parts. Apply the lotion to your face every night, then leave it on for at least 15 minutes. Then rinse your face with warm water as usual. This way, you can reduce blackheads as well as reduce facial blemishes.

A few more treatments

• Beat egg white into snow and then apply it all over your face, especially the blackhead areas. Place two paper towels on the areas and then wait an hour for the egg white to dry or for the paper to harden. Then carefully peel it off. Rinse your entire face with warm water and dry it without rubbing.
• Rinse your face with warm or hot water to open the pores. Then moisten a corner of a towel with a little olive or almond oil and a little toothpaste. Rub it gently, but firmly on the blackhead areas. Massage in a circular motion. If you think it necessary, you can then repeat the process again. Wait 5 minutes, then rinse your face with warm water.
• Heat a towel in the oven or in boiling water: then, place the towel on your face for 10 minutes without burning yourself until it cools. Then wash your face with warm water and a neutral soap. Rinse your face with cold water to close your pores, then apply a moisturizer that does not contain oils. Then apply alcohol and massage the affected area for five minutes. Then rinse off.

Images courtesy of Bradley Gordon, Orin Zebest, Juan Pablo Olmo, Michael Coghlan, Javier Cohen, Eleazar.