When blackheads and other forms of acne appear, it's tempting to reach for strong chemical formulas to blast the unsightly bumps away. Yet topical and oral herbal formulas may treat the problem more gently, without stripping your skin or causing digestive problems. Talk to your dermatologist or doctor about whether an herbal remedy may prove effective for your skin condition and skin type.
Causes
When hair follicles on your face, neck, chest or back become clogged, various forms of acne may result. Usually oil and dead skin cells are the cause of pimples, both whiteheads and blackheads. A blackhead is a clogged follicle which turns dark at the center. Blackheads are a common complaint among teens, but hormone fluctuations and factors such as medications, pore-clogging makeup and tight-fitting clothes can also cause blackheads in both teens and adults.
Topical Essential Oils
Some people find essential oils helpful for blackheads. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that tea tree oil may be as effective as benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer reports of skin irritation. Tea tree oil has disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties. Lavender essential oil is also an antimicrobial that may be useful on acne. Apply tea tree oil and lavender oil directly to the affected skin with cotton balls once or twice a day. Herbalist Jeanne Rose additionally recommends adding 5 drops each of chamomile, juniper berry and bergamot essential oils to 9 oz. of a base oil, such as wheat germ or olive oil. Apply a small amount of the herbal oil to the affected areas, or mix with clay to create a weekly face mask.
Topical Herbs
Many of the botanicals useful as essential oils also provide acne relief in the form of dried or fresh herbs, especially for facial blackheads. To prepare a facial steam or facial hot pack, pour boiling water into a large basin and add a large handful of herbs. Use two handfuls if using fresh herbs. Ideal herbs to treat blemishes include lavender, chamomile, juniper berries, rose petals, bergamot, lemon peel, thyme, sage, yarrow or rosemary. Steam your face several inches from the basin for about 10 minutes, with a towel draped over your head and the basin. Rinse your face with cool water. Alternatively, prepare a facial hot pack. Dip clean cloths or towels into slightly cooled herbal water and cover your face with the warm cloth, leaving your nose and mouth exposed. Reapply using fresh cloths when the first one has cooled. Allow at least 20 minutes for resting with the herbal hot packs on your face.
Herbal Medicine
UMMC and MayoClinic.com both mention the herb guggul as a possible oral herbal medicine to treat blackheads. Guggul comes from the resinous plant Commiphora mukul and is popular in Indian medicine. UMMC cites research that found the herb to be as effective as the prescription acne medicine tetracycline. Like prescription medication, guggul may have side effects or drug interactions. It may influence your hormone levels, so don't take it if you have a family history of hormone-related cancers, warns UMMC. Pregnant and nursing women should also avoid it. While the mineral zinc and the mineral-rich supplement brewer's yeast aren't herbs, they are natural substances which MayoClinic.com says may help blackheads when taken orally.
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