A lot of you ladies found my advice on blackhead prevention and removal in a previous post simply wasn’t enough to rid your skin of the tricky little buggers you’ve already got. Not to worry! I’ve created a guide specifically meant to get rid of the blackheads that plague your face already. Here are a few different methods of removing blackheads yourself at home:
- Squeezing blackheads:
- On freshly washed skin, place a washcloth dampened with warm water over your face for 10 minutes or so. Pat the skin dry.
- Put a tissue over each of your index fingers to avoid damaging your skin while you squeeze.
- Apply even, soft pressure to the sides of the blackhead, gently pressing up and down. Do this once or twice only. If nothing happens, the blackhead isn’t loose enough to come out yet, and continuing will damage your skin and cause scarring.
- Exfoliate blackheads away:
- Crush two tablets of aspirin into powder. Combine with lemon juice (a natural astringent) until the mixture has a slightly watery consistency.
- Dip a clean washcloth in the mixture, then rub in a circular motion over the blemished area. Leave it on for about 15 minutes. (This may sting due to the lemon juice’s acidity.)
- Using the same washcloth, massage the mixture off of your face until it’s clean. You’ll notice your blackheads coming right out!
- Extractions:
- For this method, you’ll need a metal blackhead removal tool like Sephora’s Double-Ended Blemish Extractor.
- Use a warm, damp washcloth the same way as described in the squeezing method. Pat the skin dry.
- Cover one end of the extractor with a tissue. Place the opening over the blackhead and apply gentle pressure downward. The tool will “scoop” the blackhead up and out of your pores.
- Pore strips: Warning: these are often ineffective and the adhesives can damage your skin. If you must use them, here are some tips -
- Soak the area with a warm washcloth first; it’ll make the skin more pliable so that the strips can easily “grab” the blackheads.
- Use toner after removing the strip to ensure no adhesive is still clinging to your skin.
- I prefer the original pioneers of the pore cleansing strip, Biore.
- See a dermatologist – If all else fails, a dermatologist can help. They can prescribe Retin-A, antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide creams, all of which can help with blackheads. Derms can also use procedures like microdermabrasion or perform extractions themselves in the office.
After you remove the blackhead, you should cleanse the area to prevent infection. A Q-tip dipped in toner will do the trick.
Photo source: Derm-Aesthetics
Awesome followup to part 1.
I loved you professionalism and follow thru to the less attractive posts made on the first part of this topic. =)
[...] Check out Part 2: How To Get Rid of Blackheads [...]
nice.. tnx for the help.. like ur post :]
Is it safe to use asprin on your skin like that? I don’t mean in the “nothing bad ever happened to me from it” way, but overall? For that matter, any clue why the asprin works for this? Just wondering.
What’s in asprin, that makes the blackhead come out so easy?
i think it’s because aspirin is a kind of salicylate…and it’s anti-inflammatory. It’s kind of like the salicylic acid you find in cleansers, except you’re giving it to your skin in a more concentrated dose. I haven’t tried putting crushed aspirin on my face, but i’m gonna try now! :]
strangely enough I found the strips tended clog my pores more than they cleared (there’s something like a hairspray on them? or so I heard once…) I’m curious about the aspirin… i’ve also heard good things about the new tanda (and other led theraphy devices) which is something I’m hoping to afford in the next year (i believe it is cheaper from the shopping channel than sephora.) I’ve been reading up on the medical research and it appears to do what it claims (and do much more) At first I wondered if led light theraphy was snake oil. A cheaper option might be hanging out at traffic lights, but people may get the wrong impression. (-:
I use a facial steamer and then gently use a rounded metal tweaser in the same motion and the device sold by sephora.. but have to be very careful to not bruise the skin and get carried away. I also use plain yogurt masks for about five minutes. It really is a cure all and very inexpensive. It exfoliates, tones, plumps up fine lines and moisturizes, and the zinc prevents breakouts. I swear it takes at least five years off me for the day, and calms my skin… I use plain low fat yogurt as a cleanser and toner, but have to only use once or twice a day, and sometimes give my face a rest as it can burn if used too often for exfoliation or left on for too long. I hear mixing cucumber, and/or white tea in can also be good… but a bit messier.)
I really wanna try the aspirin soultion..but im not sure on whether it is really safe to use on the skin..doesn’t it damage the skin when applied??
aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. with the acetyl group attached, aspirin is easier on the digestive system, but the part of the molecule that is active in pain, inflammation, and fever relief is the salicylic acid. so, in other words, YES it’s safe to use on your skin. I’m sure most of you put salicylic acid on your face daily, since it’s an extremely common over the counter acne medication. and you might say, what about that acetyl group? well, the acetyl dissociates from the salicylic acid in water (or lemon juice), so it really is the same difference.
Great to find one of those extractors:) I’m using natural methods to finally fix my face at 36 – honey, oatmeal scrub, etc. You can save your money and not bother with a dermatologist; I saw one for all of my teen years, dutifully took the tetracycline, endlessly smeared on the retin-a, saw zero results, and so here we are now…
‘Forgot – I’d better add that the natural methods ARE working; at present honey many times a day, and Dawn dish soap (this is ONLY for “bacon pan” faces like mine, it devours oil, but it’s extremely aggressive) with crushed oatmeal as a scrub. The extractor should be exactly what I need on and around my nose (used the eye of a needle successfully before, but I of course would like something with an actual handle). At this rate, I may even procreate someday! LOL
My friend on Facebook shared this link and I’m not dissapointed that I came here.
Tried the asprin,.great idea.
Iv got a pretty bad lot of blackheads. How often should I use the asprin scrub??