Blackheads are common and annoying too. These can happen to both men and women. Blackheads happen when the pores of the skin get clogged – it may happen due to excess sebum secretion from the sebaceous glands that exist in our skin; or it can happen due to dry dead cells. There is a common misconception that blackheads happen only because of dirt accumulation, and that scrubbing them well can make you get rid of them. Excess scrubbing would only make your skin dry and may even scar it. There are many clinical treatments available that can make you get rid of blackheads. But before you think of going for them, try these simple home therapies – you shall see positive results soon!
 Steam them out!
Fill up a large bowl with boiling water. Now cover your head and face with a towel and lean over the bowl for about 10 minutes. Make sure that the steam cannot escape. But take care not to go too near the boiling water. After 10 minutes remove the towel and pat dry the face. Apply moisturizer. The steam softens the sebum and helps to bring it out so that it no more clogs your pores.
Clear off with Clay!
Take enough quantity of Bentonite or cosmetic clay and make a thick paste using apple cider or water. Apply a thin layer of it on your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes. When the pack is dry, rinse it off with lukewarm water. Now pat dry and apply moisturizer. Repeat this twice weekly. The clay provides the essential minerals, improves blood circulation and tones the skin.
 Honey and Cinnamon Pack
In a bowl take equal quantities each of honey and cinnamon and make a paste. Now apply this paste on your blackheads. Take a small strip clean light cotton cloth and place it on the pack. Pat well to ensure that the cloth sticks to the paste. Leave it on for about 5-7 minutes. Now peel away the cloth. Wash the area with lukewarm water, pat dry and apply moisturizer. Honey is both antiseptic and adhesive. Cinnamon is natural healer. Together they can pull out the blackheads with time.
 Egg White Mask
Egg whites are loaded with nutrients that are beneficial for your skin. Apart from that egg white can tighten the skin pores and both eradicate and prevent blackheads. Take enough quantity of egg whites and apply a thin layer on your clean dry face. Now put a facial tissue on your face and pat to ensure that it sticks well to the mask. Let the mask feel dry. Now apply a second coat of egg white and press it with another facial tissue. Let it try and repeat the same process once more. When this third layer of egg whites dry up, peel together all the facial tissues away from your skin. Wash the area with lukewarm water, pat dry and apply moisturizer. Repeat this twice a week for best results.
 Lemon Juice
Blackheads kind of enlarge the pores. And the vice versa is also true. That is, enlarged pores provide a home for blackheads to nest. Lemon juice is an active antioxidant that provides toning to your skin and tightens the pores. This helps you to get rid of blackheads. Squeeze about two lemons and apply the extract all over your face and leave on for a couple of hours. You can apply this at bedtime too. In the morning, simply wash off with lukewarm water first, then cold water. Now pat dry and apply moisturizer.
 Mint and Apple Cider Vinegar
Take a bottle of apple cider vinegar and add mint leaves to it. Keep the bottle in a cold dry place for about a week. Now strain the contents and add a cup of water to the liquid. This liquid can now be stored in the fridge and be used for a week. Clean your face. Apply this mixture over the affected areas at bedtime with a clean cotton ball and leave it on the whole night. Rinse this off your face the first thing in the morning and apply moisturizer. The cider helps to remove the blackheads while the mint reduces the inflammation caused in the area due to the blackheads. Repeat it daily for a month and see blackheads vanish.
Baking Soda
Baking soda used in moderation can be a good cleansing agent for the skin that can flush out blackheads from the pores. Take some baking soda in a bowl and add water to make a thick yet spreadable mix. Take some of this mixture on your fingers and massage over the affected areas in circular motion. Let it dry for a couple of minutes. Wash the area with lukewarm water, pat dry and apply moisturizer. Do this twice weekly.
Green Tea Paste
Green tea is very effective in treating blackheads. Make a paste of dried green tea leaves and water using a blender. Make sure to make a coarse paste. Now apply this generously on the affected area. Massage in circular motion for about 2-3 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. The gentle scrubbing would help to clean the pores. The process should be repeated thrice weekly for best results.Exfoliating your skin not only provides a soft glow to your skin but also removes the dirt and dead cells from the pores thereby helping you to get rid of blackheads and also to keep them away. Sugar acts as a wonderful natural exfoliating agent. But scrubbing should also be accompanied by moisturizing. For this, take about 4 tablespoons of sugar and mix in jojoba oil to it to make a coarse thick paste. You can store this mixture in a clean dry container and use up to about 6 weeks. Take some of the paste and massage over the affected areas in circular motion. Wash the area with lukewarm water, pat dry and apply moisturizer.
We have discussed means of getting rid of blackheads. But don’t they always say that prevention is better than cure? So, here are some –
 Tips to Prevent Blackheads
  1. Clean your face regularly with natural cleanser.
  2. Exfoliating twice a week would help your pores unclog and breathe easy.
  3. Treat your skin gently – never be harsh on it while cleansing or drying.
  4. Drinking adequate water would help to flush out the toxins from your body.
  5. Always remove your makeup at the end of the day.
  6. Keep your hair away from your face for the oil and grime of the hair can affect your skin.
  7. Keep your bed linen clean – change your pillow covers and bed linen weekly.
  8. Always check out the ingredients of facial products before buying.
  9. Try and stick to natural products for your skin.
Never pop or pick the blackheads