Kushneet Kukreja
ISSA Certified Specialist in Fitness & Nutrition
As if blackheads weren’t enough trouble, we also get whiteheads that look plain ugly on the skin. For the lucky few, whiteheads last for short periods during adolescence. However, for the unfortunate ones, it can be a lifelong struggle to get rid of them. We are here to help! Read this article to know how to bid goodbye to whiteheads with some east and wonderful home remedies.
Whiteheads are comedones that are formed due to clogging of the skin pores with dead skin cells, oils, grime, and/or bacteria. They appear white or yellowish in color and are firm. The problem of whiteheads can easily deteriorate one’s self-esteem and confidence. They can pop up anywhere and anytime, and ruin your look. Your search for the perfect remedy for these comes to an end here, with this article. It is your lucky day today!!
Let us tell you exactly how these whiteheads form and how you can get rid of them below.
What Causes Whiteheads?
Clogged pores are the primary cause of whiteheads appearing on your skin. This blockage can occur due to various reasons like –
- Excessive production of oil (sebum)
- Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menstruation
- Birth control pills
- High levels of humidity in the environment
- Sweating
- Certain cosmetics or products meant for facial use
- Eating greasy foods
- Genetic predisposition
Some of these factors are under our control while some are not. You must avoid what you can! If you still develop whiteheads, then the remedies below will be a saving grace.
Let’s have a look at the best home remedies for whiteheads.
How To Get Rid Of Whiteheads On The Face And Nose
- Baking Soda
- Tea Tree Oil
- Toothpaste
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Honey
- Salicylic Acid
- Aloe Vera
- Clay Mask
- Coconut Oil
- Witch Hazel
- Aspirin
- Rose Water
- Oatmeal Scrub
- Sugar Scrub
- Turmeric
- Egg White
- Steam
- Green Tea
- Garlic
- Jojoba Oil
- Potato Juice
- Lime Juice
- Tomato Juice
- Olive Oil
- Fenugreek Leaves
Home Remedies For Whiteheads
1. Baking Soda For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 2-3 teaspoons baking soda
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Make a paste with the baking soda and apply on the entire face or just on the whiteheads.
- Let it dry for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash it off with lukewarm water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once or twice a week until the whiteheads go away completely.
Why This Works
Baking soda works as an astringent and exfoliant. It removes all the impurities that are clogging the pores and cleanses them. It is also a pH neutralizer and can help to bring the skin’s sebum production under control (1, 2).
2. Tea Tree Oil For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- Tea tree oil
- Cotton swab
What You Have To Do
Dip a cotton swab in the essential oil and apply it on the whitehead. If you have sensitive skin, dip the cotton swab in water (after dipping in the oil) and then apply.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply tea tree oil twice a day.
Why This Works
The antimicrobial properties of this oil help in removing the bacteria that is clogging the pores and causing whiteheads (3).
3. Toothpaste For Whiteheads
You Will Need
Toothpaste
What You Have To Do
- Cover the whitehead with a little amount of toothpaste and leave it on for half an hour.
- After this, wash your face properly to eliminate all the unwanted build-ups.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once or twice a day.
Why This Works
Application of toothpaste (excluding the gel ones) can dry up whiteheads within a couple of hours (4).
4. Apple Cider Vinegar For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- Few drops of apple cider vinegar
- Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
- Take the ACV on the cotton ball and apply directly to the whiteheads.
- Let it dry naturally for a few minutes. There is no need to rinse it off.
Alternate Method
- To three teaspoons of cornstarch, add a teaspoon of ACV. Add some water to get a thin paste.
- Apply this on the affected skin and wait for at least 15 minutes before wiping it off with a cloth dipped in warm water.
How Often You Should Do This
Doing this 2-3 times over a fortnight will show effective results in getting rid of the whiteheads.
Why This Works
The acidic properties of the vinegar will clear the whiteheads by drying it up and also killing the bacteria present in the clogged pores (5).
5. Honey For Whiteheads
You Will Need
1 teaspoon raw honey (preferably organic)
What You Have To Do
- Lightly warm up the honey and apply it on the affected areas of your face.
- Let it sit for 20 minutes and then wash it off with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every alternate day until the whiteheads go away completely.
Why This Works
The antibacterial properties of honey will ward off whiteheads effectively. Honey is also very soothing and moisturizing to the skin (6).
6. Salicylic Acid For Whiteheads
You Will Need
Salicylic acid cream
What You Have To Do
- Apply the cream as directed on the tube.
- Follow it up with an oil-free moisturizer as salicylic acid can be drying for the skin.
How Often You Should Do This
Using it on a daily basis is recommended to keep whiteheads and acne under control.
Why This Works
Salicylic acid is beta hydroxy acid that is known to remove the accumulated dead cells from the skin and cleanse the pores (7).
7. Aloe Vera For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- An aloe leaf
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
What You Have To Do
- Scoop out a tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel from the aloe leaf. Mash this well.
- Add the lemon juice to this and blend thoroughly.
- Massage the affected skin with this gently for 3-4 minutes.
- Leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash your face with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this twice or thrice a week.
Why This Works
Aloe has excellent skin cleansing properties that help in eliminating whiteheads (8). Lemon acts as an astringent and an antimicrobial agent (9).
[ Read: How To Remove Pimples Overnight ]
8. Clay Mask For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 1-2 tablespoons bentonite clay
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Make a thick paste by adding enough water to the clay powder and honey.
- Apply this evenly on the face and let it dry for a couple of minutes.
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water.
How Often You Should Do This
Use this face mask twice a week.
Why This Works
Bentonite clay is a highly absorbent compound that efficiently removes impurities, dirt, grime, and excess oil from the skin pores. This results in their unclogging and elimination of whiteheads eventually (10).
9. Coconut Oil For Whiteheads
You Will Need
Organic virgin coconut oil
What You Have To Do
- Take a 1-2 drops of the oil on a clean finger and massage the affected skin with it.
- Leave it on for a few hours.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every night, before going to bed.
Why This Works
Applying coconut oil on whiteheads may seem frightening, but it can actually do wonders for you. It acts as a cleanser and moisturizer at the same time (11).
10. Witch Hazel For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- Witch hazel solution
- Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
- Dip the cotton ball in witch hazel and apply on the whiteheads.
- Let it dry naturally.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply witch hazel twice a day.
Why This Works
Witch hazel is an astringent often used to tone the skin and control oil production (12). These properties can help you get rid of whiteheads with regular usage.
11. Aspirin For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 2-3 aspirin tablets
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Crush the tablets and add water to make a paste.
- Apply this on the nose and other areas on the face that have whiteheads.
- Scrub gently for a minute or two.
- Then leave the paste on for 7-8 minutes before rinsing it off.
- Pat your skin dry and apply an oil-free moisturizer.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this up to twice a week.
Why This Works
Aspirin contains salicylic acid which we know can help dry up the whiteheads by removing the impurities clogging the pores (13).
12. Rose Water For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon rose water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
- Mix the rose water and lemon juice together.
- Apply on the affected skin with some cotton and leave it on for 10-12 minutes.
- Rinse your face with water.
A mixture of sandalwood powder and rose water can also give you good results in treating whiteheads. Make the paste by mixing an equal measure of them both and apply on your face once every week. Wait for 20 minutes before washing with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every alternate day.
Why This Works
Lemon juice has great skin cleansing properties, while rose water opens up clogged pores. It balances the skin’s pH and also promotes healthy circulation (14).
13. Oatmeal Scrub For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 2 tablespoons oatmeal powder
- Rose water
What You Have To Do
- Make a paste using the rose water and oatmeal powder to get a medium consistency.
- Apply it on the whiteheads and wash it off after 20 minutes.
Additional ingredients that can be combined with this pack include olive oil, lemon juice, yogurt, and milk (if you are not allergic to dairy).
How Often You Should Do This
This pack can be applied up to thrice a week.
Why This Works
This is another highly effective facial mask that can be used to fade whiteheads away. Oatmeal is the pore-cleansing ingredient in this pack, while the other ingredients can help to tone, moisturize, and disinfect the skin (15).
[ Read: Simple Remedies For Pimples On Forehead ]
14. Sugar Scrub For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Few drops of lemon juice
What You Have To Do
- Mix everything together and scrub your face with this using circular motions.
- Keep scrubbing for a few minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply this scrub twice a week.
Why This Works
Sugar granules exfoliate the skin and remove the dead skin cells accumulated in the whiteheads. The scrubbing action also improves circulation and skin texture (16).
15. Turmeric For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- Water or honey
What You Have To Do
- Make a paste of the turmeric powder and apply on the whiteheads.
- Leave this on for 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once or twice a day.
Why This Works
The antimicrobial and healing properties of turmeric will clear out the whiteheads in no time (17).
Caution
Be careful while handling turmeric as it can easily stain your clothes.
16. Egg White For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
What You Have To Do
- Separate the egg white from the egg yolk carefully and beat it until it becomes frothy.
- Add honey and mix well.
- Apply this as a mask on the face. You can even apply it on your neck for some skin-tightening action.
- Rinse it off after 15 minutes with tepid water.
How Often You Should Do This
Apply this twice a week initially and then continue to apply once in every 15 days.
Why This Works
Your pores will tighten up, and whiteheads will go away with this face mask. The proteins found in egg white are responsible for this action (18).
[ Read: Home Remedies For Blackheads ]
17. Steam For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- A bowl of hot water
- A towel
What You Have To Do
- Place the towel over your head and let the steam from the hot water come into contact with your face.
- Stay in this position for 5-8 minutes.
- Once done, pat your skin dry.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once a week ideally. People with oily skin can repeat this twice a week.
Why This Works
The warmth from the steam opens up the skin pores and cleanses them. Circulation to the skin surface also improves because of this indirect heat application (19).
18. Green Tea For Whiteheads
You Will Need
A used green tea bag
What You Have To Do
Simply place the used tea bag on the whiteheads for 10-15 minutes.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once or twice a day and you will notice a vast difference by the end of the week.
Why This Works
Tea bags can tone the skin by opening up the pores. As a result, we can get rid of whiteheads. It also contains plenty of antioxidants that reverse the free radical damage that the skin has suffered (20).
19. Garlic For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 2-3 garlic cloves
- 1-2 tablespoons water
- Rose water
- Cotton pad
What You Have To Do
- Crush the garlic in the water and leave this aside for a few minutes.
- Apply this water on the whiteheads and keep it on for 4-5 minutes.
- Using the cotton pad, wipe away the garlic water with rose water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this once in every 2-3 days.
Why This Works
Garlic is a natural antiseptic that can get rid of bacteria present in the whiteheads and unclog them (21).
20. Jojoba Oil For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 1 teaspoon jojoba oil
- 1-2 drops tea tree oil
What You Have To Do
- Mix the oils together and massage this on your entire face.
- Leave this on overnight.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this every night, before going to bed.
Why This Works
Jojoba oil is often used in acne, blackhead, and whitehead treatment because of its close resemblance to our skin’s naturally produced oils. Applying this oil will reduce the amount of natural sebum that clogs your pores and causes whiteheads to prop up (22).
21. Potato Juice For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 1 small potato
- Cotton ball
What You Have To Do
- Grate the raw potato and squeeze out the juice present in it.
- Apply this on the skin with the cotton ball.
- Leave it on for 10-12 minutes and then wash it off.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this once every day for effective results in a week.
Why This Works
Potato not only eliminates acne and whiteheads but also prevents them with its antimicrobial and pore-tightening properties (23, 24).
22. Lime Juice For Whiteheads
You Will Need
A lime wedge
What You Have To Do
- Rub the lime on the whiteheads and leave the juice on for 5-7 minutes.
- Rinse it off with water.
How Often You Should Do This
Do this thrice a week.
Why This Works
The acid in the lime juice will remove excess sebum and open up your pores, thereby clearing whiteheads. The dead skin cells will also be exfoliated and not have a chance to clog your pores (25).
23. Tomato Juice For Whiteheads
You Will Need
A small ripe tomato
What You Have To Do
- Peel and mash the tomato nicely (deseeding is not mandatory).
- Apply the pulp all over your face and wait until it dries (you can also keep it overnight on your skin if you wish).
- Then, wash off with lukewarm water.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat a few times in the week.
Why This Works
Being a natural antiseptic, astringent, and antioxidant, tomato helps keep the skin clean. Moreover, it is a great source of lycopene, which drives whiteheads away with its acidic nature (26, 27).
24. Olive Oil For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
What You Have To Do
- Mix the two ingredients together and use this as a scrub.
- Massage the whitehead affected parts of your skin with it slowly. You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush for this purpose or simply use your fingertips to create circular motion.
- Scrub for a few minutes and then rinse it off with warm water.
How Often You Should Do This
This scrub can be used up to twice a week.
Why This Works
While the sugar exfoliates the dead skin cells and unclogs the pores in this process, the olive oil moisturizes and hydrates the skin (28). Moisturizing in the right proportion can bring the oil production under control.
 25. Fenugreek Leaves For Whiteheads
You Will Need
- 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves
- Water
What You Have To Do
- Add some water to the dried leaves and make a smooth paste of medium consistency.
- Apply this on the troubled parts of the face and leave it on for 15 minutes.
- Wash this off and pat your skin dry.
How Often You Should Do This
Repeat this 2-3 times in a week until the whiteheads go away.
Why This Works
The antimicrobial properties of fenugreek come into play when used for whitehead treatment. The bacteria present in the pores and on the skin surface will be killed and eliminated (29).
Once you have gotten rid of the whiteheads with these remedies, incorporating certain tips in your skincare and diet regimen can keep these annoying comedones at bay. Simple changes into our lifestyle is all that is required. Read on further for an insight into the preventive tips for whiteheads.
Preventive Measures To Avoid Whiteheads
A. Dietary Suggestions For Treatment And Prevention Of Whiteheads
- The primary rule for good skincare is sufficient intake of water and for many of you who substitute packaged fruit drinks or aerated drinks with water, you should know that this won’t help at all.
- Over-consumption of aerated drinks or packaged fruit drinks with artificial flavors and preservatives are often a leading factor behind constant outbreaks of whiteheads.
- It is also important to abide by certain restrictions as far as the food we eat is concerned. Spicy, oily, junk food can often result in excess oil secretion from the pores of our skin resulting in whitehead outbreaks.
- Homemade fruit juices, salads, and light soups have quite a positive effect in preventing and treating whiteheads.
- According to Ayurveda, consumption of too much meat can also heat up the system, resulting in whiteheads and other skin afflictions. So it’s best to avoid consuming too much meat and eggs.
B. Bowel Movements
Long term constipation or poor bowel movements can also result in whiteheads or other skin ailments. It’s best to resort to natural laxatives to prevent or treat constipation before it starts showing on our skin. As mentioned earlier, merely drinking enough water could effectively prevent whiteheads and other forms of acne only because apart from flushing out the toxins in our systems, water also helps regulate bowel movements.
[ Read: Blackheads And Whiteheads ]
C. Cleansing And Exfoliation
Whiteheads are caused when oil, dust, and grime or bacteria gets trapped under closed pores. Hence, it is important to incorporate a daily face cleansing and exfoliation routine into our lives. It’s important to thoroughly cleanse your face after spending long hours outdoors as our skin is always exposed to dust and grime out in the open. Exfoliation is the process of coercing impurities from under your skin pores out via facial packs or scrubs. Use the right facial cleanser for your skin type. Natural scrubs such as the sugar scrubs mentioned above can be used on a regular basis to keep whiteheads at bay.
Whiteheads look ugly, and that’s putting it mildly. But, now you know how to get rid of these unsightly blemishes from your face without breaking a sweat. Hope the above-mentioned treatments for whiteheads are helpful. If the problem persists, consider visiting a good dermatologist who will assess your skin conditions and also a general physician to detect if any hormonal problems are causing it.
Now that you know how to get of whiteheads naturally, what are you waiting for? Do give these remedies a try and let us know which one worked for you by commenting below.
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