Pet & Animal: How to Remove Blackheads

Blackheads, essentially open-air pimples, can appear on any part of your body and be especially frustrating to deal with. If you are looking to remove your blackheads, try some of these successful treatments to clean your skin and stop the formation of the pesky dark spots. With some very easy adjustments to your skin care regimen, you can have the clear skin you've always wanted (and deserve).

Steps

Cleansing to Remove Blackheads

Use honey and cinnamon. Honey is a natural antibiotic and works to pull out dirt from your open pores. Mix a tablespoon of honey with ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon and use your fingers to dab it onto your dry skin. Rub it in a circular motion for three minutes and then wash off with warm water.
Try an egg-white mask. Egg whites help to tighten pores and pull out any clogged dirt giving you smooth, clear skin. Remove the yolks from two eggs and smear it into a thin layer over your face. Give it two minutes to dry, and then add the remaining whites in a second layer. Give the complete mask an additional 10-15 minutes to dry, or until the whites are smooth to the touch and your skin feels tight. Use warm water to rinse the whites off your face.
Create a clay mask. There are many different kinds of cosmetic clay available to purchase in a powdered form, each with the specialized property of drying out oily pores and removing unwanted residue. Mix a tablespoon of powdered clay with enough apple cider vinegar to make a paste, and spread it over your face. Leave it for 10-15 minutes until it is dry to the touch, and then rinse off with warm water.^[1]
Cleanse with oatmeal and yogurt. The lactic acid in the yogurt and the calming qualities of oatmeal mix to create a blackhead-blocking formula. Make a paste of three tablespoons yogurt, two tablespoons whole oats, and a few drops of lemon juice and olive oil. Mix between your fingers and apply it to the skin by dabbing onto the affected area. Allow it to set for ten minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.
Use a paste of fenugreek. Fenugreek? That’s right - use the leafy green blended with water to form a paste. Besides its numerous other health benefits, fenugreek has shown promising results for removing blackheads. Spread this paste over your face and allow it to sit for ten minutes, and then rinse off.
Try turmeric and mint juice. Both spices you likely have in your kitchen cupboard, turmeric and mint help to clean out dirty pores. Create a brew of mint tea and allow it to cool. Then, add two tablespoons of the liquid with a tablespoon of turmeric powder and apply it to your face. Leave it on for ten minutes and then rinse off with warm water.
Make an epsom salt cleansing solution. Epsom salt mixed with iodine form a bacteria-fighting combo perfect for removing blackheads. Mix a tablespoon of epsom salt with hot water and a few drops of iodine. Let this mixture sit, stirring occasionally to dissolve the salt completely into the hot water. Then, use a bit of cotton to dab the solution onto your skin, allowing it to dry onto your face. Then gently rinse the mixture off with clean warm water.

Exfoliating to Clean Your Pores

Try a lemon and salt exfoliant. The purifying qualities of lemon mixed with the scrubbing effects of salt help to remove all the grime buried deep in your pores. Mix lemon juice with a tablespoon of yogurt, a tablespoon of salt, and a bit of honey. Use this to scrub your blackhead-prone areas for 2-3 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
Make a green tea scrub. Green tea is great to drink, and also great for refreshing your skin. Packed full of nutrients, a green tea scrub works to remove dirt while supplying your face with healthy antioxidants. Mix a fine green tea mix with a bit of water and rub over your face. If you want, you can leave it to set for 2-3 minutes after your scrub, and then simply rinse off with warm water.
Use baking soda to exfoliate. Baking soda is one of those magical substances in life that is great for myriad purposes. Besides being a natural cleanser, the fine grain of the powder clears away dead skin cells. Use baking soda and a bit of water to create a paste, and then gently scrub in a circular motion over the entire surface of your face. If you have particularly bad blackheads, dab a thick coating of the paste to the affected area and allow it to dry for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off.
Mix cornmeal with your facial soap. Cornmeal is used as an abrasive exfoliant when combined with your regular liquid facial soap. Mix a teaspoon of the cornmeal with your favorite face wash and scrub your face gently in a circular pattern. Be careful not to scrub too roughly, as this could inadvertently damage your skin. Rinse the soap and cornmeal off with warm water.
Use a milk and nutmeg solution. Possibly the best smelling exfoliant, the lactic acid of milk combined with the tough granules of nutmeg remove your blackheads quickly and in a pain-free manner. Mix a tablespoon of milk (particularly buttermilk) with enough nutmeg to create a paste. Apply this mixture to your face while gently scrubbing to remove dead skin and dirt. Then use regular warm water to rinse the mixture clear of your skin.^[2]
Try a store-bought exfoliant. If you aren’t up for making your own exfoliator at home, look into exfoliating products at your local beauty supply or drugstore. Use these on a regular basis to help clean out your pores and remove your pesky blackheads. Exfoliating your skin and how often depends on your skin type: If you have oily or combination skin, you should exfoliate about 3-5 times per week. If you have dry skin or even sensitive skin, please only exfoliate once per week. With normal skin, you can exfoliate daily. In any of these cases, please remember to exfoliate gently and don't overdo it as this was cause you further problems if you irritate your skin.

Using Spa and Chemical Treatments

Use pore cleansing strips. These are great little strips of a cotton material backed with an ultra-sticky solution that dries to your face. Follow the package directions by getting your face damp and applying the strips to your blackhead-prone areas. Wait 15 minutes for the strips to dry, and then rip them off quickly to pull out your blackheads. This option offers immediate results, but must be followed by one of the aforementioned cleansing routines in order to give long-term results as well.
Try a facial peel. Gels containing salicylic acid dissolve away the dead skin and dirt that gets trapped in your pores. Purchase a salicylic acid peel from your nearest drugstore or visit a local spa for a professional treatment. Use by applying in a thin layer to the affected area, allow time to set, and then rinse off with warm water.
Get microdermabrasion. This is a special spa process which works by using a specialized brush and chemical cleanser to clean out dead skin cells. These are often only available at spas and your dermatologist’s office, but some beauty supply stores offer an at-home version. Get these treatments on a regular basis in order to receive the best results.
Use a retinoid cleanser. Retinoid cleansers are packed full of skin-approved vitamin A, which helps to improve skin growth and prevent oil buildup. You can find retinoid cleansers and creams at your favorite drugstores. Use 2-3 times a week in addition to your regular skin cleaning routine to keep your pores blackhead free.
Get a facial. Although using a blackhead removal-tool on your own can cause damage to your skin, getting a professional facial can give you the same immediate results with blackhead removing tools. Ask your dermatologist or esthetician for different facials that are offered and decide on which is best for your skin type. Getting these blackhead facials once every 2-4 weeks can help to keep your skin clear over time.^[3]

Avoiding Worsening Your Skin

Never pick or pop your blackheads. Using your fingers to try and remove blackheads actually adds more dirt and bacteria to your pores, making your blackhead-filled skin worse. As difficult as it may be, avoid touching your skin and removing your blackheads with force at all times.
Don’t use your own blackhead removal tools. Many stores now offer your own blackhead removing instruments to give yourself an at-home facial. However, these tools often get full of bacteria and can scar your skin. Leave using steel instruments to the professionals and stick to using cleansers and exfoliants.
Avoid ultra-abrasive exfoliants. If you have sensitive skin, using harsh exfoliants can just irritate it and make your blackheads worse. If you are ever in pain from an exfoliant, stop using it and go with a more gentle cleanser. Try using oatmeal as the most gentle exfoliant if you are having issues with harsher scrubs.
Wash your face twice daily. The cause of blackheads is dirty skin, so make sure yours is clean and clear by washing it once in the morning and once at night. Always be sure to remove all makeup before washing your skin (if you’re wearing any). Follow up your face wash routine with a gentle facial moisturizer to keep your skin from over-producing oils which cause blackheads.
Wash your pillowcases. Your pillowcases catch dead skin cells and excess oil from your face when you sleep on them at night. Wash them at least once a week to remove the buildup of dirt from the fabric to help keep your face clear of blackheads.
Don’t touch your face. Even if you aren’t picking at your blackheads, touching your face transfers bacteria from your hands to your skin. Your hands are the dirtiest part of your body and are often the cause of many cases of blackheads. Avoid resting your face on your hands or needlessly touching your skin.

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Tips

None of the blackhead cleansing and exfoliating methods offer immediate results, but will produce long-term results. Continue treating your skin with your method of choice daily for several months in order to completely remove your skin of blackheads.
Certain prescription pills and creams can be given to you by a dermatologist to remove especially difficult blackheads.
If your blackheads do not disappear after several months, a visit to your dermatologist may be in order.
Always wear your hair away from your face and make sure you stay clean.
Don't touch your face, though it might be tempting.
Use blackhead removal face washes and scrubs twice a day. It helps to keep the face clean.

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Sources and Citations

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Pet & Animal

Tuesday, 14 July 2015

How to Remove Blackheads