16 Effective Home Remedies For Easy Blackhead Removal

Have you ever felt small, bumpy protrusions on your face? Perhaps you’ve tried popping them to clear out the dirt inside? Chances are, you’re dealing with blackheads. 

Blackheads are a common early stage of acne, appearing as dark or yellowish bumps on the skin caused by clogged hair follicles or pores. They’re most often found on the nose, where improper cleaning or excessive oil production can contribute to their formation.

If left untreated, blackheads can evolve into pimples as dead skin cells continue to accumulate, creating an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. 

Fortunately, these skin concerns can be effectively managed with regular deep cleansing and a variety of other remedies to help reduce and prevent blackhead formation.

Here, we’ve gathered essential information about the causes of blackheads on the nose, along with effective natural remedies to help you eliminate them. Read on to learn more.

How to Remove Blackheads From Your Nose at Home?

Blackheads are a common phenomenon in men and women alike, irrespective of age or lifestyle. There are numerous effective home remedies for blackheads, which include:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a powerful natural remedy with antibacterial and antiseptic properties that help treat blackheads, particularly on the nose. 

It works as a deep pore cleanser, clearing clogged pores, and helps maintain the skin’s pH balance, reducing excess oil production— a common cause of blackhead formation. 

Additionally, its detoxifying properties eliminate impurities and toxins, promoting a cleaner complexion and preventing future blackheads.

Methods of Use

There are two effective methods for using ACV to treat blackheads. Both are easy to follow and can deliver optimal results.

Method 1: ACV and Water Solution

1. Mix half a cup of apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of water in a bowl
2. Soak a clean cotton ball in the mixture
3. Gently place the soaked cotton ball on the blackhead-prone areas of your face
4. Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes, then wash it off with water
5. For faster results, repeat this process 2-3 times a day

Method 2: ACV and Baking Soda Paste

1. Combine two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons of baking soda to create a paste
2. Apply the paste to the affected areas
3. Let the mask sit for 20-30 minutes to allow it to work
4. Rinse your face thoroughly with water
5. If your skin feels dry afterward, apply a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated

2. Baking Soda

Baking soda exfoliates the skin, clears the clogged pores, and removes the dead skin around the area, keeping it clear and clean.

Method:

1. Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with water of diluted apple cider vinegar
2. Make a smooth paste without any lumps
3. Apply the paste to the area around the nose and other parts of the face
4. Leave it on for 10 minutes
5. Wash it off with water and a mild cleanser
6. Repeat this process twice or thrice a day for better results

3. Castor Oil and Coconut Oil

Castor and coconut oils are not only beneficial for your health but also effective in removing facial blackheads. They help minimize the appearance of pores and cleanse clogged pores.

These oils treat the bacteria that cause blackheads and acne, dissolving dirt that can be washed away the next morning with a facial cleanser or mild soap.

Additionally, castor and coconut oil help moisturize the skin and regulate oil production, particularly in the area around the nose.

Method :

1. Boil water in a deep pot
2. Drape a towel over your head and let the steam seep into the skin for a bit
3. Once that’s done for 5 minutes, pat dry the face
4. Apply a good amount of castor oil/coconut oil on the face, especially in the blackhead-prone area. You can also mix in a bit of olive oil
5. Leave it on overnight
6. Wash the oil off your face with a mild cleanser the next morning
7. Repeat this process twice a week

4. Egg White Mask

Egg white tightens the skin on the face, thereby further minimizing blackheads. It also removes dirt clogged inside the pores and follicles, reducing the possibility of blackhead formation. 

Egg whites also contain an active enzyme, Lysozyme, which helps fight the growing percentage of bacteria in the pores.

It simultaneously enriches the face with necessary nutrients, keeping it healthy and moisturized.

Method:

1. Wash your face with lukewarm water to open the pores
2. Separate the egg whites from the yolks and beat the whites well
3. Apply a thin layer of egg whites on the nose 
4. Place a tissue paper over this layer and let it dry for 10-15 minutes
5. Once it dries, peel the tissue paper away carefully
6. Wash off your face with warm water followed by cold water
7. Repeat the process every other day for the best results

5. Honey

The sticky nature of honey, along with its anti-bacterial properties, is perfect for the extraction of blackheads from the face. It deep cleans the face and exfoliates the area to remove the blackheads. 

Honey helps pull out the clogged dirt from within the pores. It also hydrates and moisturizes the skin and provides a natural sheen to the skin. 

The low pH levels help kill the bacterial growth in the pores, which is the primary reason for the increasing number of blackheads on the face and nose.

Read More Benefits of Honey

Method:

1. Warm up one heaped tablespoon of honey in the microwave
2. Apply the warmed honey to your face, focusing on the blackhead-prone areas
3. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes and let it dry
4. Wash your face with warm water followed by cold water
5. Pat dry and repeat this process every other day for the best results

6. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a very effective ingredient for treating blackheads without any side effects. Just make sure to keep it away from hair to avoid bleaching it.

Hydrogen peroxide deep cleans the skin and helps dissolve the blackheads on the face. H2O2 is also very effective in removing the scarring left by blackheads and acne.

Method:

1. Wash your face and deep clean it to remove excess oil and dirt
2. Gently exfoliate the skin near the nose and the blackhead-prone area to open the pores slightly
3. Soak a cotton pad or ball with 3% Hydrogen peroxide and dab it all over the area
4. While the face is still moist, massage some oil onto the skin to dissolve the dirt further
5. Repeat the process once or twice a week

7. Oatmeal Scrub

Any form of scrub helps cleanse the accumulated dirt on the face and other body parts. Oatmeal, particularly, has a gentle effect on the face while cleaning the skin deeply from within.

The coarsely ground oatmeal exfoliates the skin and cleans dirt from clogged pores. Once the dirt is cleaned from the pores, excess oil production from the sebaceous gland ceases, and the area around the nose is left clean.

Method:

1. Take about two heaped tablespoons of uncooked, coarsely ground oatmeal
2. Add two tablespoons of yogurt to the oatmeal and mix it well to form a paste
3. Apply the mixture on the face, focusing on the nose area, and massage in circular motions
4. Leave it on the face for 15 minutes, and then wash your face with cold water
5. Repeat this process twice a week

8. Brown Sugar Scrub

Like coarsely ground oatmeal, brown sugar also helps in deep cleaning and exfoliation of the skin. The brown sugar reaches the nooks and crannies of the crevices near the face and nose area, thus cleaning the clogged pores to eliminate the blackheads.

Brown sugar contains a good percentage of molasses, which nourishes the face with Vitamin B.

Method:

1. Take one tablespoon of brown sugar and mix a tablespoon of honey
2. Make a paste and apply it on the face and the affected areas near the nose
3. Gently massage the area in a circular motion with the fingers
4. Rinse the face with cold water

9. Clay Mask

Clay mask effectively helps ensure the excess oil and dirt are deep cleaned for a cleaner face. This promotes the removal of blackheads from the face.

It also deep cleanses and exfoliates the skin, which helps open the pores and keep them clean and unclogged. Doing this religiously for a few weeks can help get rid of blackheads.

Method:

1. Mix one tablespoon of Fuller’s earth with three to four tablespoons of milk
2. Make a smooth paste and apply it all over your face
3. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes till it dries completely
4. Wash your face with water and pat dry
5. Apply some moisturizer to keep the skin moist and hydrated
6. Repeat this process thrice or four times a week

10. Lemon

Lemon has acidic properties that help stop bacterial growth in the pores. Lemons are rich in vitamin C which effectively helps treat the scarring that is often an aftermath of blackheads and acne. It works effectively to remove dark spots and discoloration on the face.

It nourishes the skin and brings back the brightness on the face. The acidic property of the lemon helps kill the germs and bacteria that start growing in the clogged pores. 

Lemon also keeps the skin hydrated and bright while removing excess oil from the face.

Method:

1. Extract the juice of one lemon
2. Add a bit of water to dilute the juice
3. Soak a cotton pad in the juice and dab it all over the face and nose area
4. Repeat the process every other day

11. Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera, often used in its gel or juice form, is one of the most popular home remedies for blackheads. While many people may be tempted to pop blackheads, it’s important to understand that doing so often makes the problem worse rather than better. Popping blackheads can cause scarring, which is difficult to treat and may lead to even more blackheads.

Aloe vera is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, which can help reduce the bacteria around clogged pores. Its soothing effects make it a gentle treatment, helping to calm irritated skin while addressing the root cause of blackheads.

In addition to its antibacterial benefits, aloe vera has healing and moisturizing properties, which help keep pores clean, open, and hydrated. By maintaining clear and well-moisturized pores, aloe vera can help reduce the future formation of blackheads.

Method:

1. Either cut an aloe vera leaf and apply the extracted pulp on the affected area on the face
2. Or, apply a layer of aloe vera juice all over the face and let it dry
3. Wash it off with cold water, and pat dry the face

12. Activated Charcoal Mask

Activated charcoal is trending on social media platforms and influencers on YouTube and Instagram have been slathering their faces with it. People who have tried this home remedy for the removal of blackheads have got great results.

Activated charcoal actively deep cleans the skin pores. It helps purify the pores and cleans the clogged dirt and oil in them. It ensures that the oil balance in the face is maintained so that the sebaceous glands do not produce excess oil.

Procedure:

1. There are readily available activated charcoal masks in the market
2. Slather a layer over the face, especially around the nose area
3. Let it dry, peel it off, and clean the face with a damp cloth
4. Repeat it once or twice a week

13. Toothpaste

Just as your toothpaste works in your oral cavity to kill the bacteria and give you a clean and fresh breath, it treats the blackheads the same way. 

It helps cleanse clogged pores and ensures that dirt and bacteria don’t encourage the unregulated production of oil by the sebaceous glands.

Toothpaste deep cleans and exfoliates to remove blackheads. The paste seeps into the pores and cleans the accumulated dirt and oils from them, thus leaving them clean and clear off any excess dirt. 

The toothpaste has an ingredient, Triclosan, which helps kill the persisting bacteria in the blackhead-prone area.

Method:

1. Patch test with toothpaste before application
2. Start by applying the toothpaste on a small section near the nose and let it dry
3. If there are no adverse effects upon the application, carry forward with the process by applying to the rest of the area
4. Let the toothpaste sink in
5. Wash it off with a damp cloth

14. Nose Strips

Nose strips are readily available in the market and are a popular and convenient solution. They help to some extent in getting rid of blackheads. They unclog pores and reduce blackheads efficiently.

However, nose strips clean only surface-level impurities and do not prevent blackhead recurrence. Use them regularly, follow a good skincare routine, and maintain clearer pores.

We love these Witch Hazel-infused strips from Bioré! 

Method:

1. Follow package directions 
2. Apply the nose strip on the nose area as mentioned in the instructions
3. Let it sit on the nose for a minute or so
4. Gently peel the strip off of the nose and apply some moisturizer following that

15. Honey and Cinnamon

The mixture of honey and cinnamon is known for its medicinal properties in humans. Both these ingredients work together amazingly well to remove blackheads. 

The honey in the mixture has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which help soothe and clean the blackhead-prone area. 

Cinnamon also helps deep clean and extract excess sebum and dirt from clogged pores, thus removing blackheads.

Method:

1. Mix one teaspoon of cinnamon and one teaspoon of honey to make a thick paste
2. Apply the paste to blackhead-prone areas
3. Allow the paste to dry and set to 10 minutes
4. Wash it off with warm water, followed by cold water to close the pores
5. Repeat this every day for ten consecutive days for best results

16. Green Tea Scrub

Green tea is known for its amazing antioxidant properties, helping get rid of the blackheads from clogged pores. The constituents of green tea deep cleanse and help maintain the oil balance in the skin, which is yet another bonus.

The sugar in the scrub helps deep exfoliate the skin around the face and nose, thus removing all the dirt and excess oil. The green tea in the scrub also helps extract all the toxins from the skin, which is primarily because of the presence of catechins in it.

It also balances oil production in the face, further ensuring that the sebaceous gland doesn’t produce an uncontrolled amount of oil.

Method:

1. Brew 1/3rd cup of green tea in one cup of water
2. Let the tea steep in the hot water and cool it down a bit
3. In a bowl, add two tablespoons of granulated sugar and add the tea gradually
4. Mix until a thick and smooth paste forms
5. Apply this to your face, focusing on the blackhead-prone areas, and massage it gently
6. Wash off with warm water followed by cold water

Conclusion

Effective blackhead removal is an essential step in a healthy skincare routine. Neglecting to address blackheads can lead to unwanted side effects such as pigmentation, pimples, and even acne.

The home remedies mentioned above are not only simple and accessible but also highly effective in helping to eliminate those stubborn black bumps. With consistent use, these remedies can provide noticeable results and contribute to clearer, healthier skin.

• May 2018
  Written by Somapika D
• Dec 2024
  Edited by Lakshmi Gayatri