How to Remove Blackheads

Medically reviewed by R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH

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 easy adjustments to your skin care regimen, you can have the clear skin you've always wanted (and deserve).

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Popping Blackheads and Avoiding Worsening Your Skin

1
Only pick or pop your blackheads after thorough hand washing. It's possible to pop blackheads without scarring, as long as you do it cleanly and carefully. When done correctly, this popping method is a fast, effective way to clear up your pores.

Popping a Blackhead Safely
Shower first. A warm shower will open up your pores and make it easier to pop the blackheads. You can also do a 10-15 minute steam treatment to get the same effect.
Wash your hands thoroughly. Use soap and water and wash for 20 seconds. Popping a blackhead with dirty fingers will only add more bacteria to your pores.
Dab an astringent onto your skin. You can buy an inexpensive bottle of astringent at a pharmacy or beauty store. Wet the blackhead area with just a small amount of it.
Squeeze the blackhead with a cotton ball to pop it. Squeeze gently on either side of the blackhead to extract the dirt from your pore.
Wash your skin with water and astringent. Splash your face with cool water, then dab a small amount of astringent on once more. Wash your hands afterwards.
2
Don't use your own blackhead removal tools. Many stores now sell blackhead removing instruments so that you can 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.

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3
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.
4
Wash your face twice daily. A good face-cleansing routine is essential to prevent blackheads from forming in the first place. Talk to a dermatologist and experiment to see what works best for your skin.

Using an Effective Face Washing Routine
Remove makeup before washing your face. Makeup will quickly clog up your pores if left on, so it's important to take it off every night with makeup-removing wipes or cleanser.
Wash your face in the morning and at night. Washing your face in the morning will freshen you up for the day, while cleansing at night removes accumulated dirt from the day.
Use a gentle, acne-fighting cleanser. Choose a cleanser for your skin type, aiming for one that will remove oil and clear out your pores.
Follow up with a gentle facial moisturizer.^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} A good moisturizer keeps your skin from producing too much oil, which causes blackheads.
5
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.
6
Don't touch your face. Even if you aren't picking at your blackheads, touching your face transfers bacteria from your hands to your face. 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.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Cleansing to Remove Blackheads

1
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. Make sure to wash your hands before you start applying the mask.
2
Try an egg-white mask. Egg whites help to tighten pores and pull out any clogged dirt, giving you smooth, clear skin. A simple egg white mask is a great way to remove blackheads and help your skin feel fresh and clean.

Creating an Easy Egg-White Mask
Remove the yolks from 2 eggs. Crack each egg into a funnel, a slotted spoon, or your hands and let the whites run out into a separate bowl.
Smear the whites onto your face in 2 layers. Use your fingers to apply a thin layer of whites to your whole face. Let it dry for 2 minutes, then apply the rest in a second layer.
Let the mask dry for 10-15 minutes. Allow the mask to set until your skin feels tight and the whites are smooth to the touch.
Rinse your face with warm water to remove the mask.
3
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.^{[2]
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4
Cleanse with oatmeal and yogurt. The lactic acid in yogurt and the calming qualities of oatmeal mix to create an effective blackhead-blocking formula. Use this simple mask once a week to keep your skin clear and fresh.

Cleansing with an Oatmeal and Yogurt Mask
Mix together:
3 tbsp (1.6 oz) of plain yogurt
2 tbsp (11.25 g) of whole oats
3-4 drops of lemon juice
3-4 drops of olive oil
Dab the mixture onto your face. Mix up your paste fully and make sure to fully cover any areas that are prone to blackheads or oil.
Let it set for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
5
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.
6
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.
7
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.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Exfoliating to Clean Your Pores

1
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.
2
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.
3
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 is perfect for clearing away dead skin cells.

Making a Baking Soda Exfoliating Mask
Create a paste with baking soda and water. Spoon a bit of baking soda into a few inches of water and stir until you get a thick, gloopy mixture.
Scrub your face with the mixture. Use your hands to scrub the mixture into your skin with gentle, circular motions.
Apply extra to areas prone to blackheads. Dab a thick coating of paste onto parts of your face with particularly stubborn blackheads. Let it dry for 5-10 minutes.
Wash your face with warm water to remove.
4
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.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Academy of Dermatology
Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
Go to source} Rinse the soap and cornmeal off with warm water.
5
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.^{[4]
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6
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.

How Often Should You Exfoliate?
Oily or combination skin: 3-5 times a week
Dry or sensitive skin: once a week
Normal skin: Daily
Tip: No matter your skin type, always exfoliate gently. Pay attention to how your skin reacts and scale back if necessary.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Spa and Chemical Treatments

1
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.^{[5]
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2
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.^{[6]
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Expert Source

R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH
Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.}
3
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.^{[7]
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4
Use a retinoid cream. Retinoid creams are packed full of skin-approved vitamin A, which helps to
improve skin growth and prevent oil buildup.
You can find retinoid 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.^{[8]
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Expert Source

R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH
Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 14 May 2021.}^{[9]
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Research source}
5
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.^{[10]
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