Blackheads on Nose? Are they Acne? Your Questions Answered

There is no other way around it. Blackheads are a pain in the butt. Some would say it is impossible to get rid of these pesky invaders. They always seem to pop up in the middle of your face, mostly on the nose. Blackheads on the nose are a type of acne, and they should be eliminated in that spirit.

To put it simply, blackheads are clogged pores or hair follicles that collect sebum, dirt, skin cells, and bacteria. And when pores are clogged, the surface turns black, which then results in a blackhead.

Why do they always appear on your nose? Why do they not appear on the rest of the face? The answer is simple and obvious, it has everything to do with oil. The nose, if you didn’t know, has lots of oil glands, more than the rest of the face.

But bear in mind, not every black spot on the nose is a blackhead. Some are just sebaceous filaments, which may look like blackheads, but they are not.

It is possible to get rid of blackheads?

Yes, but with a lot of patience. It will take a lot of patience and effort to get rid of blackheads. The simplest way is to wash your face once per day. But that is not enough. You need to invest in some good quality products for blackheads.

There are a number of home remedies that will keep blackheads at bay. Exfoliating is one of the surefire ways to reduce the appearance of blackheads and eliminate them. You can choose between chemical or physical exfoliant.

Topical acids also work, and most of them are vitamin A derivatives that will cause cell turnover, resulting in less dead skin cells clogging the pores. 

How to get rid of blackheads

If you have the patience to get rid of blackheads effectively, try any of the remedies below. If you want to get rid of them as soon as possible, you need to check a dermatologist, and look for a more “instant solution”. With that in mind, here are some natural remedies for blackheads.

Wash your face

This probably is not the first time you’ve heard that washing your face can help with skin health. But despite the obvious, many people still forget to clean and wash their face. It is best that you wash your face once in the morning to remove dirt and bacteria from the night, and once in the evening before going to bed. This way, you ensure your face is clean. You might also want to consider employing a schedule for washing and changing your pillowcase.

Just be careful, you do not want to over-wash or over-cleanse your face. That will strip the skin from the natural oils, and cause more oil production as a result. What you will experience is oily skin, more clogged pores, and even more problems.

Stick to two times per day, and one bonus washing after exercising. You can also use a face cleansing wipe after a workout. You do not want sweat trapped in your pores. 

Pore strips

These over the counter products temporarily remove a layer of skin, and along with it, the dirt and dead skin cells causing blackheads.

Pore strips will not prevent blackheads from coming back. They do not regulate oil production. However, they will remove any blackheads you have at the time being.

Steam your face before using pore strips.

Exfoliate

In addition to washing your face, exfoliating is the most important step in the treatment and prevention of blackheads. You need to exfoliate your face once per week. Anything more than that can cause more harm than good.

There are different chemical and physical exfoliators on the market. Some folks even use natural exfoliators, like oatmeal, for example. All of those home remedies and natural exfoliators can do the trick.

If you are looking for a chemical exfoliator, try some of the BHAs and AHAs based products. These gentle acids remove dead skin cells, both from the surface and from deep within the skin.

Use oil-free sunscreen

This is more of a prevention measure than a treatment, but it is worth noting. You want a sunscreen without any excess oil. You should always wear sunscreen, no matter if you have oily, dry, or sensitive skin.

Just make sure you use sunscreen for your skin type, and one without oils.

Clay face mask

Clay is one of the best gentle ingredients that help with skin exfoliation. Clay has been used for centuries, dating back to ancient times.

As a gentle exfoliator, clay helps get rid of excess oil, dirt, and other impurities. Prepare a face mask with clay at home. It works better than pore strips. If you buy an over the counter clay mask, make sure to do a patch test before applying to the face. Some commercial clay masks contain sulfur, and many people are allergic to sulfur.

For a DIY home clay mask, mix some bentonite clay with honey and powdered herbs, and then add enough water to form a thin paste. Apply to the face, leave for 10 to 15 minutes, and then rinse off.

Try charcoal mask

Clay mask is not the only one that helps with blackheads. You can also try a charcoal face mask. Same as clay masks, these are available over the counter, or you can make one at home.

Charcoal is a great detoxifier, and it helps extract toxins out of the skin. It will draw out all of the impurities on the surface of your skin.

For a homemade charcoal mask, mix crushed activated charcoal, baking soda, coconut oil, and some water in a bowl. Add more or less water to achieve a thick consistency. Apply on the face, leave for 15 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.

Apply salicylic acid

Being that blackheads are a type of acne, you can use acne-fighting products. And one of the best is salicylic acid. It helps dissolve the keratin that clogs your pores. Salicylic acid is available in different forms and shave, but the gel works the best.

Try red light therapy

 Another popular remedy is red light therapy for acne, red light therapy has a huge list of benefits and is great for your skin.

How to prevent blackheads

If you follow the practices above, including washing your face and exfoliating on a regular basis, you are less likely to have blackheads. Those two measures are both for prevention and treatment of blackheads. But there are also some other important prevention tips.

    ❤ Do not use self-tanners, as they can make blackheads look even darker. They can also clog your pores

    ❤ Do not overuse products

    ❤ Avoid using too many products at once, even if they are designed to fight off acne or blackheads

    ❤ Use moisturizer regularly to hydrate your skin

    ❤ Avoid benzoyl peroxide, as blackheads are not inflammatory acne

Do not manually remove a pimple by putting pressure directly on the spot.