How to Get Rid of Whiteheads on the Face

Not all of us are lucky to have blemish-free skin. But, if the causes of facial spots are something to do with whiteheads, you can certainly follow some home treatments for removing them. As they occur due to excess oil secretion, the prime focus is addressing oily skin. Whiteheads may appear on any part of the body, though the nose, chin, cheeks, forehead, and shoulder are the commonly affected areas.

A few instances of whiteheads are caused due to poor hygiene and lack of skin care. But, gentle washing of face for two times daily is indicated for all people having these less prominent forms of acne. The objective is to remove excess oil as soon as it builds up, which otherwise trigger whiteheads. Always wash face with a mild soap, and at the same time, avoid using perfume laden soaps.

As aforementioned, one of the triggering factors is plugging of the follicles and skin pores. Thus, letting them open is a prompt step for removing the deposited material from the pores. Taking steam is a simple tip to unclog them, before you try other methods. Take a bowl of hot water and add a few drops of tea tree oil in it. Cover your head with a towel and steam face, 2 - 3 times in a week.

Many people get prompt results in acne treatment by using baking soda. For the same, you will need 2 teaspoons of baking soda and ½ cup hot water. Prior to applying this mixture, consider taking steam for a few minutes to open up the skin pores. Apply warm baking soda mixture over the affected areas, and leave it like that for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and apply a moisturizer.

Skin exfoliation is effectual to remove clogged sebum and dead skins that fill up the follicles. So, consider exfoliating the skin at regular intervals (3 times a week) with a facial scrub. Using a mild antibacterial cleanser for the face helps in minimizing the risks of skin infections and further worsening of the whiteheads. However, do not scrub excessively, or the skin will become irritated and painful.

Another method is by using an extractor. To start with, steam therapy is taken for not more 5 minutes to warm facial skin and open the plugged follicles. Gently press the loop of extractor over the whitehead, and it will come out. No doubt, it actually works in getting rid of unwanted milia. But, the downside is leaving behind red skin and scars, which are again a problem.

Another tip is to use skin care products, especially, formulated for whitehead removal. They contain tretinoin, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or some other chemicals. These active ingredients work by clearing the clogged skin pores. Follow the directions mentioned on the leaflet to get good results. Frequent use of these products is associated with side effects, especially, in case of sensitive skin.

The best approach for getting rid of whiteheads is treating the cause, not only the symptoms. Otherwise, the unsightly white spots will return within a matter of a few weeks or a months time. Pay attention to reducing your stress level, as it aggravates oil secretion and acne outbreaks. Also, plan your diet properly with limited serving of oily foods, follow a good skin care regimen, and surely you will flaunt blemish-free skin very soon.