The battle against blackheads can be a long and cumbersome one. While tenacity and persistence are widely considered to be positive traits, unfortunately, in the case of blackheads, these virtues are a hindrance rather than a help.
While blackheads do not have the itchy, burning inflammation and pain associated with the closely related acne, the relief is short-lived and evened out by their ability to surface randomly, without warning and resist most short-term fix solutions.
To compound the problem, in many cases blackheads display an annoying tendency to grow harder and larger over time, which means that leaving them untreated and hoping for the best isn’t an option.
Hold on for a second though! Before you work up a sweat and dash to the nearest pharmacy for another tube of a blackhead removing cream, we’ve already saved you the effort by compiling 5 fantastic treatment methods that are guaranteed to help you get rid of blackheads!
These methods are commonly recommended by dermatologists and are a mix of everything you’d look for in a solution – easy, effective, convenient and quick!
What Are Blackheads?
Before we look at the solutions, it’s important to understand exactly what a blackhead is. Blackheads are clogged pores and hair follicles that have been blocked by a mix of sebum (natural body oil) and dead skin cells. As a result, oily skin is susceptible to develop blackheads.
While the color might look like dirt, it actually isn’t. The black color is a result of the sebum oil’s exposure to air. This also indicates that blackheads are not closed and are stretched open, unlike their lighter counterparts, whiteheads.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s move on to the cures that help you clear your skin too!
Green Tea Face Masks
The first remedy that we’re examining today is green tea. Now, there are a wide variety of green tea scrubs, face wash products, cleansers and masks available commercially but the beauty of this method is that you can make a green tea mask by yourself in minutes, with the help of the normal green tea bags! All you need to do is soak a tea bag in water, tear it open and mix the tea leaves with honey and a little water.
Without getting too technical, green tea is anti-androgenic, which means that it reduces the amount of oil released by the body’s glands. Even drinking a cup or two of green tea every day is considered to be extremely beneficial for skin.
All in all, this is a quick and natural method to remove blackheads and prevent them from returning any time soon!
Blackhead Suction Treatment
Arguably the most effective and quickest blackhead treatment method is the modern device known as a comedo suction or vacuum pore cleaning device. As the name suggests, this tool works as a vacuum cleaner would and extracts the comedo, which is the black bump that forms the main part of a blackhead.
A large part of their attraction is that these devices are non-invasive, which means that they do penetrate the skin’s surface and are therefore almost completely painless! The ease with which they can be used is a big plus point too as one simply needs to run them across the skin’s surface.
The primary advantage of this device is speed. Natural masks and scrubs do get rid of blackheads but they don’t match the quickness of a high-quality blackhead remover vacuum, which can get the job done in a couple of sessions!
Exfoliate
Yes,we know what you’re thinking, exfoliation on acne is a big NO! However, it’s important to remember that the main reason for this is because of the swelling and inflammation that accompanies acne, pimples and boils.
On the other hand, blackheads do not contain discharge and surrounding redness. Exfoliation is a terrific way to get rid of excess oil secretion and more importantly, dead skin cells. Regularly exfoliating your skin gently, softy and carefully is guaranteed to bring about a drastic reduction in frequency of blackheads and prevent them from surfacing.
Facial Steaming
The simplest of all skincare techniques but one that is tried and tested over centuries! Hot water vapor offers a variety of benefits for the skin and its effect on blackheads is right up there with the most effective cures that you can find.
Heat causes objects to expand, which is why steam is fantastic for clearing blocked pores and follicles. If you’re feeling fancy, you can purchase an inhalation machine/facial steamer or just use a pot of hot water and a towel instead, it really is that easy!
For best results, follow up the steaming session with a gentle exfoliation and moisturizing treatment. The steam loosens and dislodges the oil and dead skin while the exfoliation or scrub does the rest.
Oil Cleansing
You’re probably wondering if there’s a typo up there and we don’t blame you! But yes, non-comedogenic oils are an increasingly popular method of cleansing skin and clearing away excess skin oil, dirt and dead cells.
These oils are basically special natural oils such as jojoba oil, that do not clog skin pores. It may seem counterintuitive, but dermatologists recommend this method for its gentle action and safety!
Oil cleansers dissolve and remove excess oil from the skin surface and are extremely effective for treating existing blackheads. All you need is a natural non-comedogenic oil such as argan, which you then massage very gently onto your face for 5-10 minutes. Use a warm, damp towel and wipe the oil away once you’re done, without pressing hard into the skin and you’re done!