How to Get Rid of Whiteheads and Blackheads on the Nose

You’ve probably seen pore strips on an oddly satisfying video compilation on the internet. They’re small strips that stick to your nose area. When removed, they pull out visible strands of dirt, oil, and yellow stuff that comprise a blackhead inside your pores.

Pore strips can quickly remove blackheads, but they won’t do much to prevent them. For that, your skin’s oil production needs to be regulated. 

Keep in mind that pore strips aren’t as great for your skin as you may think. Along with blackheads, they can also pull out essential natural oils and hair follicles that play a crucial role in keeping your skin healthy. Removing natural oils will lead to dryness and skin irritation.

Breakouts are caused by excess oil that accumulates inside plugged pores. It’s not the best idea to add more oil to the mix if you’re already got acne-prone skin. Instead, if you are using oily products, switch to using oil-free skincare products like oil-free sunscreen, oil-free moisturizers, toners, and so on.

One of the most promising ways to prevent blackheads is to wash your face twice a day. 

Among many other causes, bad facial hygiene is one of the most common causes of acne. The more dirt your face collects, the more chances for your pores to get clogged. 

To prevent this, make sure you follow a regular schedule for washing your face. Change your pillowcases promptly. Additionally, make sure you wash your face soon after exercising — ideally before the sweat dries. Sweat can also get trapped inside plugged pores along with oil and dirt, so you want to avoid a buildup where you can.  

Note, however, that it's important not to over-wash your face, as this can strip the natural moisture away from your skin. Dry skin is also a high risk factor for acne, as dead skin cells clog pores.

Charcoal is popular in almost all types of cleansing and cleaning products, from shampoos and detoxifiers to masks and toothbrushes. 

Like pore strips, black charcoal masks were another beauty product to go viral on the internet a couple of years back. 

To use this product, apply it to your face and let it dry off. As you take it off, you should be able to see it pull blackheads out of your pores.

Charcoal has impressive detoxifying properties and can draw dirt and gunk out of your pores like nothing else. If you haven’t tried it yet, an activated charcoal mask is worth a try. 

As well as over-the-counter charcoal masks, you can also try activated charcoal pills. Simply pop them open and mix them up with some water to make a DIY mask for blackheads.

Clay has been used for centuries as a natural agent to remove the skin’s dirt, excess oil, and other matter that clogs pores. 

Generally, clay masks aren’t as rough on the skin as most pore strips. While pore strips pull off an entire layer of the skin, clay masks flow into pores and clean out dirt and oil as you gently wash the mask away. 

Retinoids have proven to be effective against acne when applied topically on affected areas. Most of their success can be attributed to their vitamin A content.

Note that retinoids are not safe to use during pregnancy.

Salicylic acid is one of the best ingredients to have in your skincare cupboard if you struggle with clogged pores, stubborn blackheads, or whiteheads. 

You can buy salicylic acid gel products to apply topically on your blackheads and whiteheads. However, you shouldn't use salicylic acid all over your body like a moisturiser, as it may cause salicylate toxicity.

Exfoliating regularly can be the most effective way to get rid of blackheads for good. You don’t have to do it every day, and exfoliation products don’t have to be rough. In fact, over-exfoliation with rough products can make matters worse due to inflammation. 

Instead, it's best to use gentler exfoliation products and follow a spaced-out schedule to exfoliate your face. Exfoliants are the only skincare product that can remove dead skin cells and keep breakouts at a minimum.