Blackheads – also called open comedones – are among the most common skin imperfections in men, as well as in women. They form when surface debris is pushed up, collects in pores and, as it oxidizes, changes color forming dark spots on the skin that can be mistaken for dirt.
Blackheads can appear all over the body, however they are most commonly found on the skin of the face and especially on the forehead, nose, chin and lip contours, as well as on the back .
Beyond their unsightly appearance, it is important to treat blackheads correctly because, in the long run, bacteria can settle and accumulate in them and can cause infection and inflammation .
Why do black dots appear?
Blackheads form when the pores of the skin – called hair follicles – are blocked by residues of dead cells and excess sebum produced by the sebaceous glands.
For this reason blackheads are more common in people with a tendency to have oily skin.
Other causes may be the continuous use of certain cosmetics that contain ingredients such as petroleum jelly, parabens and paraffin, petroleum derivatives whose use forms an invisible film that blocks normal skin breathing and clogs the pores, favoring the generation of blackheads and other skin blemishes.
Clogged pores can also be caused by an inaccurate choice of make-up , as products that don’t respect the skin’s pH can help increase excessive sebum production and dilate pores.
Finally, we must also pay close attention to the power supply . The daily or excessive consumption of sugars, chocolate and sweets in general can contribute to the excessive production of sebum and therefore to the formation of acne and blackheads.
Remedies to get rid of blackheads
First let’s see what to never do .
Very wrong practice is to crush blackheads with your hands . This practice only removes the most superficial part of blackheads, without acting in depth and paradoxically can lead to a proliferation of impurities and the appearance of new blackheads.
What to do instead?
The daily cleaning of the face is very important, certainly essential to prevent the formation of blackheads, but not sufficient if it is a question of eliminating them.
So let’s go and see which are the most effective natural remedies to remove blackheads .
1. Exfoliating scrub
In order to remove blackheads well, it is important to unclog the pores by eliminating dead cells. We can do this through the use of a good exfoliating scrub .
Attention, the scrub is not used to remove the blackhead. At the limit, he will be able to remove it in its most superficial part, but never in depth. Instead, it serves to increase the effectiveness of the treatments that we will see shortly.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a scrub or can’t get one, you can rely on a long-standing but still effective practice: hot steam
Hot steam, or suffumigi , is in fact another natural solution for freeing the pores of the skin from impurities. To proceed, boil water in a saucepan roughly the size of your face. To improve its effectiveness, I suggest you add 5-6 drops of lavender essential oil to hot water . Cover your head with a fairly large towel and let yourself be gently pampered by the hot vapors for about 5 minutes (you can extend the pose to 10-15 minutes). Then wash your face with warm water and dry yourself well.
If you prefer using a scrub, but don’t know where to buy a good one, I can recommend our Aloe Vera-based face scrub with almond and hazelnut shell microgranules, for a natural and delicate exfoliation.
Related products:
2. Face masks
Considering that the overproduction of sebum is one of the main causes of the appearance of blackheads, a very valid remedy to eliminate and prevent the formation of new blackheads are face masks , which have the ability to cleanse and dry the face , eliminating both excess sebum and many impurities, including blackheads. However, we must be careful and choose the right products, with the right ingredients.
An ingredient that should never be missing in a good face mask is green clay . The green clay applied to the skin acts like a “sponge” absorbing excess sebum and impurities found above and below the skin, until those that hide deeper , such as blackheads, are eliminated.
Given its drying effect, green clay is also effective for treating acne and pimples .
In this regard, I suggest you try our Aloe Vera and Green Clay Face Mask , made with natural ingredients, it performs an effective dermopurifying and sebum-balancing action.
Related products:
3. Sulfur Soap
Sulfur is the same mineral that gives its virtues to thermal waters. It is in fact a precious mineral, with marked antiseptic and antibacterial properties. By killing the bacteria responsible for acne, sulfur is excellent for clearing pimples, blackheads and comedones . In addition, its purifying activity eliminates excess sebum and allows oily skin to regain its balance.
For this reason, if you suffer from blackheads, acne, or pimples, I highly recommend using a good sulfur soap . Try to use them every day, several times a day to cleanse your face and thoroughly cleanse it of impurities.
Daily use of this soap will ensure you clean, smooth and soft skin. It is important to cleanse your face well before and after using the exfoliating scrub and face mask .
If you don’t know where to look, try our handmade sulfur soap using the cold kneading method. It is a natural product and does not contain parabens, paraffin or other petroleum derivatives.
Related products:
4. Tea tree oil
The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia, better known as “Tea tree oil” is one of the best known remedies for facial cleansing. It is in fact a broad – spectrum natural antibacterial and antifungal , which also has important anti – inflammatory properties .
For this reason Tea tree oil is often used as a natural remedy against impurities such as blackheads, whiteheads and acne .
Generally, it is recommended to apply 1-2 drops on a cotton ball with which to dab the area affected by blackheads. By virtue of its properties, tea tree oil should help resolve the blackhead, especially when associated with inflammatory states.
Buy our pure and natural, edible Tea tree oil.
Related products:
5. Aloe gel
If you have already read other articles on our blog, you will already know how many and what are the beneficial properties of Aloe . In fact, this plant can boast a multitude of virtues that have made it famous for the treatment and prevention of an incredible number of ailments.
Blackheads are no exception. Aloe gel , applied to the skin, performs an effective purifying, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, soothing and healing action .
If you are lucky enough to own an Aloe Vera or Aloe Arborescens plant, you will be able to use the raw, bare leaf directly. Just cut a small piece and apply it on the area affected by the blackhead, keeping it in contact for at least 10 minutes.
I generally recommend its application combined with tea tree oil , which adds a more effective antibacterial action to the properties of aloe.
But if you don’t have the plant, you can always use a good Aloe-based cream. I can recommend our Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil Face Cream .
In addition to the virtues of the Aloe I told you about, this cream produced only with natural ingredients contains Jojoba oil, one of the few natural oils whose application does not leave the skin oily, but has a regulating action on the production of sebum, so it is also perfect for those with oily skin.
Related products:
NB : All the information published on this site is of an informative nature and should not be considered as advice, or medical prescriptions, or of any other nature.