Blackheads and whiteheads can occur on every type of skin, including oily, combination, dry and aging skin. Blackheads are characterized by the appearance of small, seemingly black, spots on the skin that can cause the skin to look ruddy and sallow. Whiteheads result when sebum and oils inside the pores become infected with bacteria, causing pus to form inside the skin. Fortunately, blackheads and whiteheads can be easily reduced and eliminated, using a few effective treatments.
Step 1
Flush out the pores using a purgative oil, such as castor oil. Massage 1 tbsp. castor oil into your skin for three minutes. Fill a bowl with boiling water, and cover your head with a towel. Lean 12 to 18 inches over the bowl, letting the steam float over your skin. After five minutes, use a wet washcloth to wipe away the oil. Repeat twice per day.
Step 2
Remove dead skin and excess oils using a natural, mildly abrasive exfoliant, such as baking soda. Combine 1 tbsp. baking soda with 1 tsp. water in a small bowl. Spread the mixture onto wet skin, and massage it in gently for two minutes. Rinse your skin off well with water. Repeat twice per day after flushing out your skin with castor oil.
Step 3
Spot treat individual acne pustules using tea tree oil. Dip a cotton swab into tea tree oil. Dip it into water. Spread the diluted oil onto acne breakouts up to three times per day after exfoliating the skin with baking soda.
Tips and Warnings
- Castor oil is a purgative and non-comedogenic that can be used to flush out impurities form the pores more easily than soap can. The castor oil connects to the sebum and bacteria inside the pores, allowing them to drain from the skin more readily when steam or heat is applied. Because castor oil is a non-comedogenic oil, it will not clog the pores when used on the skin. Baking soda is an alkaline substance that can be used on the skin as a gentle, mildly abrasive scrub to remove dead skin cell without causing irritation. Once these dead skin cells are removed regularly, the pores can remain more clear and acne-free. Tea tree is an antimicrobial oil that kills off the acne-causing bacteria inside the skin. According to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's Department of Dermatology, tea tree oil is as effective in eliminating acne breakouts as benzoyl peroxide, but it will not cause the skin to exhibit side effects, like burning or redness.
Things You'll Need
- Castor oil
- Bowl
- Water
- Washcloth
- Towel
- Baking soda
- Tea tree oil
- Cotton swab
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