Blackheads are small, black spots on your face, most often on the T-zone: nose, chin, and between the eyes, where they most often appear in groups. But these small bumps, also known as open comedones, can appear all over the body, especially the back and shoulders.
The blackheads on nose aren’t the result of skin inflammation
but arise from the impurity accumulation in the pores. They can become trouble if you start popping them. Improper extraction leaves the part of the blackhead in the pore, and then new acne forms again. Plus, dirty hands can trigger irritation and turn blackheads into inflamed pimples.
That’s why it’s important to approach the treatment of nose blackheads with great care. To successfully remove them, you first need to know how they come about. With a little effort and knowing their cause, you can get rid of them naturally, and your face will be clean and shiny again.
What Causes Blackheads on Nose
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Pores are small openings on your skin through which sebum is released, which is necessary to lubricate and hydrate the skin. They also host hair follicles, which get nutrients through the pores.
When the pores become clogged, blackheads and pimples appear. There can be many reasons for this, such as:
- Dirt and oil buildup: Due to excess oil production, dirt, and dead skin cells can accumulate and clog pores. And when the clogged pores are exposed to air, their content oxidizes and changes color. That’s why blackheads on your nose have a dark color.
- Hormonal changes: Hormonal imbalance can occur due to stress, over-exposure to pollutants, and even the wrong skincare routine. It’s the main reason for excessive oil production, which causes clogged pores and blackheads.
- Improper face care: Wrong skincare products, low-quality makeup, and its irregular removal, as well as exposure to pollutants, can also close your pores and cause the appearance of blackheads.
How to Get Rid of Blackheads on the Nose
Whatever the reason for the appearance of blackheads on your nose, you can make them go away. You can rely on quality skincare products, but you can also try some home remedies.
Keep Your Skin Clean
Regular facial hygiene is the best way to remove existing blackheads and prevent new ones. When choosing a facial wash, tonic, or lotion to remove blackheads, it’s important to use a mild facial cleanser that suits your skin type.
Oily skin is especially prone to blackheads, so cleansing products should contain salicylic acid. It’s a beta hydroxy acid, proven to remove excess sebum and dead cells, penetrate deeper skin layers, and remove impurities.
Besides using facial washes with salicylic acid, it’s important to use them regularly. To remove dead cells and unclog your pores, you have to wash your face twice a day with warm water and a suitable cleansing product. If you exercise, make sure to wash your face thoroughly after training to prevent clogged pores from excess sweat.
Apply Home Remedies
Natural remedies for removing blackheads can be as equally effective as commercial products, yet they can be more gentle on your skin. Ingredients you should try are green tea and tea tree oil, which abound in antioxidants that can cleanse your face perfectly.
Green tea can make a light, soothing mask with its anti-oxidative power. Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. You can use it as a facial cleanser, tonic, or moisturizer. Since pure tea tree oil can trigger skin irritation, always mix it with carrier oils, like olive or jojoba oil, before application.
Another natural remedy to try is a simple sugar scrub. Sugar is an excellent natural exfoliator that can cleanse your face deeply. It gently removes dead skin and boosts circulation, thus reducing blackheads on your nose.
Exfoliate Skin
Exfoliation or, more simply, facial peeling is a necessary step to make your complexion glowing and even. It’s also a good method to unclog pores and remove blackheads on the nose, considering that exfoliation eliminates dead cells from the skin’s surface.
Use chemical exfoliators with salicylic acid to scrub dead skin from your face. That way, you clean your skin and make way for other products to act. These products are also safe if you have acne-prone skin, as they won’t irritate it.
These scrubs are effective, but use them with caution. They remove dead skin cells and leave your skin surface exposed. After using chemical exfoliants, you need to take extra care of your facial skin. Use moisturizers and wear sunscreen to avoid dry skin and sunburns.
If you feel chemical exfoliants might be too harsh on your skin, you can try a DIY oatmeal mask to reduce blackheads. Oat contains azelaic acid, which is beneficial for treating various types of acne.
Try Pore Strips
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Pore strips physically remove dead cells and excess oil from your skin. They contain skin-friendly adhesives, which take away all the dirt from your pores. To make them remove most blackheads, use these strips after you steam your face and open your pores.
While pore strips can be an excellent way to get rid of blackheads, they won’t prevent more blackheads and acne from popping up again. Also, these stripes won’t help with deep blackheads and acne.
Use Clay Mask
Bentonite clay is an excellent natural remedy for blackheads, as it can absorb excess oil from the skin surface and thus prevent dirt accumulation that leads to clogged pores. This ingredient is gentle on your skin, making it a better choice than pore strips if you have sensitive skin.
You can apply a clay mask once a week if you have dry skin or twice a week if your oil glands work overtime. That will make blackheads on your nose less visible. Also, clay masks will reduce oil production and eliminate excess sebum.
Go to a Dermatologist
When nothing helps and blackheads on your nose pop up again and again, it’s time to look for expert help. The affected areas might need professional treatment, especially if you have deep blackheads on your nose.
For best results, look for a board-certified dermatologist. Depending on the severity of your blackhead issue, this healthcare professional may recommend oral medicines or topical retinoids. Also, they can help you design a skincare routine for your particular skin type to prevent pore clogging and more breakouts.
What Not to Do to Remove Blackheads
There are many ways to get rid of blackheads on the nose, depending on your skin type and the problem’s severity. But there are also less desirable methods you shouldn’t try:
- Don’t pop blackheads on your nose: Many people do that hoping to remove blackheads and acne once and for all, but this method of using even pressure to squeeze the dirt content out can just make things worse.
- Benzoyl peroxide isn’t necessary: This ingredient has an anti-inflammatory effect, and it can be of great help for acne. But blackheads don’t result from inflammation, so benzoyl peroxide might not help you get rid of blackheads.
- Use harsh scrubs: Granulated scrubs aren’t a way to go if you want to get rid of blackheads. These can disturb your oil glands, making them produce even more oil. You need to exfoliate the skin to remove blackheads but use gentle exfoliants to avoid scarring and redness.
How to Prevent Blackheads on the Nose
Here are some helpful prevention tips:
Remove Makeup Regularly
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Another great tip for preventing blackheads is to regularly take off your makeup. After wearing it on your face all day, your skin can’t wait to breathe, so don’t be lazy. Use gentle makeup erasers or removers and wash your face to remove dirt and dead skin cells that clog pores.
Don’t Use too Many Facial Products
Proper face hygiene is necessary to prevent blackheads. Washing your face every day will keep your pores clean and unclogged. Once you find the product that works for you, stick to it. Trying too many products with different ingredients can dry out your skin, forcing it to secret even more oil and worsen your blackhead problem.
Change Your Diet
Your eating habits don’t have a direct influence on acne and blackheads’ appearance, but they can affect sebum secretion. Too many carbs, meat, and dairy trigger oil over-production, so your pores clog faster. Instead, try an anti-acne diet with foods rich in healthy fatty acids like fish and nuts and nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.
Wrap Up
Acne and blackheads affect all skin types, and their removal can be quite a nuisance. Wrong methods can cause more inflammation that triggers more blackheads. So instead of manual extraction and harsh scrubs, do whatever it takes to prevent acne and rely on proven cleansing products and exfoliators to get rid of blackheads on your nose.