Effective home remedies to get rid of blackheads

Acne is not all about red or pink spots. You can also get blackheads, a common form of acne, that are pesky dark-coloured spots. They pop up on nose and other parts of the face or back or chest. Squeezing them out is quite tempting but it won’t help. You can also go to a clinic or a salon to remove blackheads. But there are natural ways too. You can always try out home remedies to get rid of blackheads. So, it’s time to check your kitchen cabinets and look for ingredients to remove blackheads naturally.

What are blackheads?

Blackheads is scientifically known as open comedones, which are a type of acne lesion that commonly appears on the skin, says Dr Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson, Blossom Kochhar group of companies. It gets formed when a hair follicle gets dilated and becomes clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells. The reason why blackheads are dark in colour is because when the pore is open to the surface of the skin, the clogged material is exposed to air. That causes it to oxidise and turn dark in colour.

Home remedies to remove blackheads

You can try over-the-counter products with salicylic acid, which is a powerful ingredient to remove blackheads. If not, you can try these home remedies for blackheads:

1. Multani mitti and orange peel

Mix multani mitti and orange peel well, use it to gently scrub the affected area. Leave it for 5 to 10 minutes. Gently scrub and then wash your face with water. Multani mitti is known for its oil-absorbing properties, making it effective in controlling excess oil on the skin, says Dr Kochhar. Orange peel contains vitamin C and citric acid, which can brighten the skin, improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of dark spots.

2. Baking soda with water

Mix baking soda with water so that you can create a paste. Gently massage the paste onto damp skin. While doing so, focus on areas with blackheads. Leave the scrub on for a few minutes, then use warm water to rinse your face.

3. Sugar and lemon juice

Mix one tablespoon of granulated sugar with juice of half a lemon. Combine the sugar and lemon to form a gritty paste. Gently massage it onto your skin and leave it on for five to 10 minutes then rinse with warm water. The sugar granules help to exfoliate, while the lemon juice may help to brighten the skin.

4. Papaya, milk powder, lemon juice and rice flour

Mix papaya, milk powder, lemon juice and rice flour until formed into a paste. Apply it on your face, gently scrub then leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes and finally, rinse your face with lukewarm water. Papaya contains natural enzymes like papain, which can help to break down and dissolve dead skin cells and excess oil. This enzymatic action can further aid in clearing out blackheads, says the expert.

5. Honey and cinnamon scrub

Mix one tablespoon of honey and half teaspoon of cinnamon powder and wait for all the ingredients to combine well. Apply this to your face and scrub gently then leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing your face. While honey has natural antibacterial properties, cinnamon may help to improve blood circulation to the skin.

You can also try clay masks to draw oils as well as toxins out of the skin. This will in turn help to unclog pores and gradually aid in removal of blackheads.