Blackheads on your face and nose can be such a pain and for many can really affect your self-esteem and confidence, especially as there’s a common misconception that the reason they are black is because they are pores clogged with dirt! Wrong!

They are caused by clogged up pores, yes, but not because you are dirty, anyone can get blackheads.

They are caused by a build up of dead skin cells and oil that clog the pores just the same as a white head.

The difference is a whitehead remains protected by a thin layer of skin whereas a blackhead is exposed to the air.

The contents becomes oxidised just like when you cut an apple in half and the inside turns brown when exposed to the air, the same happens here turning your whitehead into a black head.

But how do you get rid of blackheads from the nose? Luckily there are plenty of things you can do to get your skin blackhead free in no time.

How to get rid of blackheads at home

It’s really important to keep your skin really clean by cleansing twice daily, this will remove any excess oil that is building up clogging your pores.

Products containing salicylic acid are great as they blast through the oil and settle down any inflammation caused by any acne.

Exfoliating

This is one of the most important things you need to be doing to get rid of your blackheads.

As blackheads are caused by an accumulation of dead skin cells, by removing the build up with a daily chemical exfoliant you will soon notice a huge difference.

Chemical exfoliants are much more gentle on the skin than scrubs so can be used daily and usually contain glycolic acid or AHA (Alpha hydroxy acids) to gently break down dead skin cells and reduce pore size.

Retinol

Another form of exfoliation is by using a retinol, these stimulate cellular turnover.

Our skin is made up of many layers of skin cells.

A retinol brings the newer cells from the bottom up to the surface more quickly so the top layer sheds the dead layer, this minimises pores reducing blackheads.

==>Read Here for The Best Retinols<==

Microdermabraision

This is a great way of giving your skin a good exfoliating treatment.

Microdermabraision gently buffs away surface skin cells with a mechanical hand piece.

You can get professional treatments or buy your own devise.

==>Read more about The Best Microderabraision Devices here<==

Chemical peels

Another great form of exfoliation is chemical peeling, these use specific acids such as lactic or glycolic acid to loosen the connection between dead skin cells aiding exfoliation.

They also stimulate cellular turnover and minimize pore size making them a great treatment for blackheads.

Moisturise

Don’t be afraid to moisturise your skin, it will not make your blackheads worse or your skin more oily if you choose the correct moisturiser for your skin type.

Avoiding moisturising oily skin can often makes spots and blackheads worse. Your skin will actually over compensate by producing more oil to over come dehydrating.

Use an oil free moisturiser which is non comodegenic, this will keep your skin hydrated whilst not clogging your pores.

==>Click Here for The Best Moisturisers For Oily Skin<==

Should I squeeze my blackheads?

It’s best not to as squeezing and picking can add more bacteria to your skin making your problems worse, you might even end up scarring yourself.

It’s difficult but try to resist the temptation if you can.

Try blackhead strips instead, these will unplug pores safely and effectively.

How to prevent blackheads

Change your pillowcase regularly

Your pillowcase will harbour bacteria, dead skin cells and dirt that will build up night after night transferring onto your skin.

If possible change your pillowcase every other night and flip it in between so you always have a clean side.

Be consistent with your skincare

Get into a good routine with your cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising ritual, it will soon pay off.

If you fall back into bad habits of leaving your makeup on at bedtime, the blackheads will soon be back to bite your behind.

Give your face an extra cleanse after the gym

Sweat clogs pores, so make sure to give your skin an extra cleanse after hitting the gym.

Minimize sweet treats

Research shows that your sweet tooth could be the cause of excess oil production, keeping sugar down to a minimum could be the key to keeping your skin blackhead free.

Keep your hair clean

Oily hair can be a cause of spotty skin, make sure you keep it clean and off your face. Also, conditioner not been rinsed thoroughly from the skin is a big cause of back acne so give your back an extra cleanse after washing your hair just to be sure.

Clean your make up brushes

You may just be putting your makeup on with makeup brushes harboring tons of pore clogging skin, oil and bacteria, a good soak in some hot water and tea tree oil til the water runs clear works a treat!

Final Thoughts

Absolutely anyone can get blackheads but the key to getting rid of them is daily cleansing and most importantly exfoliating using a chemical exfoliant, this will keep the pores free from oil and dead skin cells preventing new blackheads from forming.

A retinol will boost cellular turnover reduce pore size keeping blackheads at bay.

Don’t forget to moisturise as-well, even oily acne prone skin needs hydration.

If you want to try some extra blackhead busting treatments take a look a microdermabrasion or chemical peels for added exfoliation.

An at home treatment could be added to your routine once a week.

Please leave your comments below if you want to share your thoughts.