Blackheads on the nose: Causes and 7 ways to treat acne at home

Are you struggling forever and still can’t get rid of the “ugly” blackheads ? While blackheads on the nose are not harmful, it can be an aesthetic concern on your face.

If you are looking for ways to deal with blackheads on your nose, let’s learn with Hello Bacsi 7 effective ways to treat blackheads below:

Mechanism of formation of blackheads

Many people often think that blackheads are dark in color due to the accumulation of dirt and residue hidden deep in the pores. However, the truth is that excess oil and dead skin cells clog pores and when exposed to air, they oxidize and turn black.

Blackheads usually appear on the face, especially the area around the nose. Anyone can get blackheads, but those with oily skin or a lot of makeup are at a higher risk of developing this type of acne.

Causes of Blackheads

Some of the causes of blackheads on the face are:

• Overactive sebaceous glands: When the sebaceous glands are overactive, they clog pores. Dead cells and excess sebum, dirt and bacteria in the pores gradually dry up, and oxidize when exposed to air, forming blackheads;
• Unhealthy diet: Consuming greasy foods, hot spicy foods, carbonated water and other stimulants such as coffee, beer, alcohol, etc. stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce sebum causing acne
• Not drinking enough water: Water helps keep the skin’s moisture balance, and at the same time removes waste products from the body, making the skin cleaner and healthier. It is necessary to add water to the skin to balance the skin moisture and limit excess oil on the skin
• Toxic lifestyle: Stress, eating disorders that cause hormonal disturbances affecting the menstrual cycle will stimulate uncontrolled acne; Living under a polluted environment, dust, … are the causes of blackheads;
• Arbitrarily using drugs and cosmetics: Abuse of skin care cosmetics containing corticosteroids; At the same time, using the wrong amount of androgen-containing birth control pills, without a doctor’s prescription, can cause the skin to increase sebum production, forming blackheads.

How to effectively treat blackheads without leaving dark scars

1. Wash your face twice a day

Cleansing the skin with a cleanser can help remove dirt and bacteria from forming, thereby helping to prevent breakouts. You should regularly wash your face twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening to ensure that your skin is always clean. However, you should note that you should not abuse facial cleansing too many times because it can cause facial skin to peel off , stimulating the skin to produce more oil to compensate for the moisture lost when washing your face.

In addition, do not forget to wash your pillowcase regularly to prevent bacteria from sticking to your face, preventing bacteria on the pillow from entering your skin.

2. Use an acne patch

With the effect of “pulling” away the dirt, oxidized oil layer on the skin, the blackhead remover mask on the nose can help you temporarily remove blackheads at home. However, this is only a measure to control blackheads in the nose too much, but cannot adjust the mechanism of oil secretion on the skin to help treat the root of the nose.

For maximum effect, you should start steaming your face to help open pores, to remove dirt and impurities more easily. While peel-off patches can remove acne, they also deprive the skin of important natural oils and beneficial hair follicles. This can lead to dryness and skin irritation , so consider carefully before using.

3. Chemical exfoliation for the skin

There are a number of gentle chemical exfoliants containing alpha and beta hydroxy acids ( AHAs and BHAs ) that you can use.

These ingredients in exfoliating products have a better ability to penetrate the skin, thereby helping to unclog pores to remove blackheads without causing damage to skin cells, specifically:

• Glycolic acid and lactic acid are considered forms of AHAs , which are water-soluble and come from natural sources such as milk, fruit, or sugar.
• Acne salicylic acid is a form of BHA . BHA is oil soluble and helps to clean pores effectively

Both AHAs and BHAs exfoliate, which in turn can make skin sensitive and vulnerable to UVA and UVB rays. So, don’t forget to apply sunscreen if you have to go out.

At the same time, you should also not exfoliate too much because it will make the skin dry and stimulate the skin to produce more oil. Ideally, you should only exfoliate 2-3 times a week to help control acne.

>>> Read more: How many times a week should you apply a clay mask?

4. Get rid of blackheads on your nose with a clay mask

Some types of clay masks contain sulfur that has the ability to break down dead skin layers, to minimize the appearance of blackheads. However, sulfur can cause allergies in some people. So if it’s your first time using a clay mask, you should test the product on a small area of skin on your arm to make sure your skin doesn’t get irritated.

>>> You may be interested: 3 ways to treat blackheads at home with natural masks

5. Apply a charcoal mask to treat blackheads on the nose

Charcoal has a great detoxifying effect for the skin , working deep in the pores, helping to draw dirt and other impurities from the surface of the skin. You can make your own activated charcoal mask at home by using bentonite clay , tea tree oil, honey, or filtered water to make a paste and apply it to your skin.

6. Apply topical retinoids

Topical retinoids are derived from vitamin A, and have been shown to improve acne. Depending on the concentration, some retinoids can be purchased over-the-counter or require a prescription from a doctor.

Retinol can stimulate new skin cell renewal, thereby helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles . However, according to 2011 research , extreme caution should be exercised when using retinol products for pregnant women because they can interfere with fetal development. Instead, if you’re pregnant, you should switch to a product containing bakuchiol or rosehip oil instead of retinol for the same skin care benefits.

7. Apply salicylic acid gel

Salicylic acid can help dissolve pore-clogging keratin that causes blackheads.

While this is an effective exfoliator, you should only use it on areas of your body that are suffering from whiteheads, or blackheads on your nose. Applying salicylic acid all over the body can lead to salicylate poisoning .

>>> You may be interested in: How to effectively and safely remove blackheads

Note when treating blackheads on the nose

Some things to note in the process of treating blackheads that you definitely should not ignore:

• Do not treat blackheads with benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is a common active ingredient commonly used in over-the-counter acne products. This ingredient has anti-inflammatory effects, helping to soothe inflammatory acne conditions such as: cystic acne, pustules , papules or nodules. Meanwhile, blackheads or whiteheads are not considered inflammatory acne, so benzoyl peroxide will not have a noticeable acne treatment effect.
• Do not arbitrarily pop pimples. Squeezing is the process of removing acne by applying pressure directly to the pimples. However, squeezing blackheads the wrong way can cause skin redness, irritation, or permanent acne scars. Therefore, you should seek help from dermatologists so that the removal of acne kernels is safe and hygienic for the skin.
• Drink enough water and eat a healthy diet. A scientific diet should contain lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables is what you need to “keep away” from the attack of blackheads. To effectively treat blackheads, you not only need to apply acne products, but also nourish your skin from within.

If you follow the above ways to treat blackheads, the acne will disappear in 6-8 weeks. Therefore, make sure that the skin care products you are using are suitable for your skin. If blackheads don’t improve after 2 months of home treatment , or they may even become painful, worse, contact your doctor right away. Your doctor may prescribe you oral medications or suggest in-office procedures, such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, or laser treatments to improve acne.