Getting rid of whiteheads overnight on your nose, chin or cheeks usually starts by following the right daily skin care regimen that includes the use of exfoliants, cleansers, and astringents. Today, we will talk about what whiteheads are and how to get rid of whiteheads on nose naturally at home.
What are whiteheads?
A whitehead, also called a closed comedone, is a form of acne. It’s similar to a blackhead, but the only difference is a whitehead develops below the surface of a closed pore. It doesn’t oxidize and change color. And as you might have guessed, it usually appears on the nose but can also be on the chin or cheeks.
What causes whiteheads on nose?
- Ironically, excessive or daily skin exfoliation could be one reason. This could leave you with a dry skin, which is prone to developing whiteheads.
- Another reason is having an oily skin. Sebum, a wax-like or oily matter, protects and keeps your skin moist. But if there’s an excess production, you’ll end up with clogged pores.
- Surprisingly, dehydration could be another culprit. If our bodies are not well hydrated, they won’t be able to flush out impurities that could cause different skin issues.
- For the ladies, hormonal changes expose their skin to zits, blackheads, and whiteheads.
How to get rid of whiteheads naturally
Here we have listed proven steps for removing whiteheads on your nose:
Step 1. Use astringents or toners.
Toners and astringents are must-have cleansing agents. They help remove deep-seated bacteria and dirt that can cause pimples, acne, blackheads, and whiteheads. They contain tannins (polyphenols) that cause your pores to shrink and tighten.
Should you use toners or astringents?
Well, it really depends on your skin type. If you have acne-prone or oily skin, an astringent is a good choice. But if you have dry or sensitive skin, toners are best for you because they’re milder and mostly contain natural ingredients, like caffeine, tomato extract, and green tea.
If you prefer to slather organic stuff on your skin, here are some herbs and plants that function as astringents:
1.) Witch hazel (Hemamelis virginiana)
Witch hazel is a shrub that’s native to North America. It’s used to fight off inflammation, viruses, and bacteria. It’s also a well-known astringent and a favorite ingredient in many skin care products because of its different components, such as gallic acid, tannins, catechins, saponins, and flavonoids, among others.
What’s great about witch hazel is it’s both a good excess oil remover and moisturizer. Thus, it’s a perfect natural astringent for people with oily or combination skin.
Using witch hazel for your whiteheads is practically a breeze. Simply mix 1 part distilled witch hazel with 3 parts of water. Soak a cotton ball in the infusion, and then gently swipe on your nose. That’s it.
You can easily buy this at your local health food store or pharmacy in its tea, tincture, and distilled forms. It’s most likely safe to use on the skin, but if you have sensitive skin, it may cause slight skin irritation.
2.) Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Sandalwood, with its powerful sweet and woody scent, has been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for ages to calm the mind, beat depression, and treat a variety of skin conditions, like stretch marks, dry or oily skin, itching, acne, inflammation, and scars. Thus, it’s extensively used in many skin care preparations.
It’s also believed to be a mild form of astringent, antiseptic, and antibacterial thanks to its tannin components. What’s great about it is it’s able to remove excess oil from your skin without causing dryness, or vice versa.
How to prevent whiteheads using sandalwood
First of all, you need to thoroughly wash your face using warm water to open up your pores. If you decide to use the essential oil, simply mix 2 teaspoons of carrier oil (hazelnut oil, safflower oil, walnut oil, etc.). Alternatively, you can mix 1 tablespoon of sandalwood powder with enough rosewater to make a thick paste.
Apply the resulting mixture onto your nose, forehead, chin, and other affected areas. Leave it for approximately twenty to thirty minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
3.) Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lemon balm, also called as balm mint, is part of the mint family. It’s widely known for its calming effects. That’s why it’s the perfect herb to use when you’re feeling restless and find it hard to sleep.
Aside from being a calming herb, lemon balm is also considered an antiviral, antibacterial, and astringent. Some of its major components are tannins, caffeic acid, thymol, eugenol, catechins, and citronellal (an astringent).
Lemon balm can be purchased in different forms: oil, extract, tincture, tea, cream, ointment, and capsule. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, you can apply lemon balm cream on your skin thrice a day. Another way is to dip a cotton ball into lemon balm tea, and then gently swipe it on your nose.
Is it safe? Well, there’s really not enough information regarding the long-term effects of lemon balm. To avoid any irritation, make sure to test any topical lemon balm preparation on the skin of your inner forearm.
Step 2. Strip off the whiteheads on your nose using pore strips and facial masks.
As you may already know, facial masks and pore strips deeply cleanse your skin by drawing out trapped dirt, oil, and bacteria in your pores. They keep your skin clean and clear by helping it shed dead skin. All of these help unclog the skin on your nose, so you’ll be free from any skin issues, like whiteheads.
Of course, let’s be realistic here. Facial masks and pore strips are not 100% foolproof, but they do help a lot in lessening the appearance of acne, whiteheads, and blackheads.
There are a variety of ready-to-use pore strips and facial masks products out there. To give you more ideas, here are two simple skin care recipes you could immediately try at home.
Recipe 1. Papaya Facial Cleansing Mask
Some people believe that papaya whitens the skin, but that’s not actually true. Papaya (Carica papaya) lightens your skin complexion because of its enzyme called papain, which is a natural exfoliant that’s found in unripe papayas.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup of raw coconut oil
- ½ slice of large papaya
- Diluted chamomile essential oil (2 teaspoons of carrier oil mixed with 3 drops of chamomile essential oil)
1.) Chop and mash the papaya flesh in a small bowl. Then pour just enough coconut oil into the mashed papaya to make a smooth paste.
2.) Add your diluted chamomile essential oil.
3.) Apply evenly to your entire face, except the skin around your eyes. Leave it for approximately 15 minutes before rinsing your face with warm water.
Caveat: If you have latex allergies, avoid applying unripe papayas on your skin.
Recipe #2: Basic Nose Pore Strips
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of liquid milk or yogurt
- 1 ½ tablespoons of plain gelatin
1.) Mix the two ingredients in the appropriate pot, and then heat it for a few minutes using a low fire. Alternatively, you could use your microwave to heat the mixture for 10 to 15 seconds.
2.) Allow it to cool down, enough that it doesn’t burn your skin.
3.) Apply a thin layer on your nose, forehead, and chin. Leave it for 10 minutes. Then slowly peel off the pore strip once it has completely dried out.
4.) Finish off by splashing rosewater, an astringent, on your skin.
Step 3. Find a deep-cleansing facial wash that’s appropriate for your skin type.
This is actually one of the best things you could do to prevent and get rid of whiteheads on your nose. There’s no solid rule, but washing your face twice a day is a good rule to follow.
But the real question is: Are you using the appropriate deep-cleansing facial wash? Unfortunately, many people fail to do that.
It’s really a no-brainer. If you have an oily skin, choose facial cleansers that are foamy or gel-based. If you have a dry or sensitive skin, a moisturizing and fragrance-free cleanser with glycerin and hyaluronic acid is best for you. Or if you have a combination skin, choose a mild, water-based cleanser.
Finding the right cleanser for your face is really a trial and error process. Fortunately, you won’t run out of choices because there are many commercial and herbal facial washes you could use at your disposal.
If you’re interested, here are two herbal alternatives, as well as recipes, you could check out.
Skin Benefits of Thyme and Oregon Grape
Commercial anti-acne products can be effective. But the only problem is they’re often associated with many side effects. Benzoyl peroxide, for instance, may irritate the skin and cause burning sensations. Although not totally free from side effects, herbal preparations are often considered gentler on the skin because of their soothing and anti-inflammatory activities.
1.) Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme is a potent antiseptic, skin tonic, and antibacterial agent. In fact, researchers from Leeds Metropolitan University said that thyme tincture has a greater bacteria-killing action than the conventional anti-acne med benzoyl peroxide.
Well, myrrh and marigold tinctures are good options too. Based on the study, they were also able to kill the acne bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) right after five minutes. However, thyme was the best among the three herbs.
Thyme Facial Cleanser
Ingredients
- ½ cup of boiled water
- 1 teaspoon of raw honey (pollen-free)
- 1 ½ teaspoons of fresh thyme (chopped)
1.) Infuse the chopped fresh thyme in boiling water. Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
2.) After the mixture has cooled down, strain it in a small bowl. Add the pure honey then mix everything thoroughly to make a smooth paste.
3.) Apply evenly on your nose and other problem areas. Let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
2.) Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium or Berberis aquifolium)
Oregon grape is a favorite of many homeopaths trying to get rid of acne. But scientific studies mostly focused on its effects on psoriasis, a skin disorder characterized by defined reddish patches that are enclosed with white scaly skin.
The active compounds in Oregon grape are believed to fight off infections caused by bacteria and fungi. Two of these are berberine and jatrorrhizine. Interestingly, topical preparations of Oregon grape is said to lessen sebum production.
How to remove whiteheads on nose with oregon grape
- Oregon grape is available in cream and gel forms. You can use ointments with 10-percent extract of Oregon grape three times or more daily.
- Infusion: Combine 3 teaspoons of its dried roots (chopped) and 2 cups of boiled water. Let it steep for 15 minutes. Strain it and then let it cool down. Dip a clean cotton ball or a cotton swab in the infusion, swipe it on your nose. Wash the area with warm water.
Does it have any side effects?
Generally, it doesn’t cause serious side effects when applied directly on the skin. Some of its side effects are itching and burning of the skin. Pregnant women are advised not to use Oregon grape preparations.
How to prevent whiteheads?
A strict skin care regimen is the best way to avoid any skin issues, such as blackheads and whiteheads. Of course, hydration and proper diet are also important.
Avoid touching your face with dirty hands. The germs on the hands will worsen the skin problem.
Avoid squeezing your whiteheads or using a comedone extractor tool. If you add too much force, it may involuntarily cause a permanent red scarring and infection.
Avoid smoking. Smoking will dehydrate the skin and make the skin condition worse.
Drink plenty of water to hydrate the skin. Good hydration will improve acne and other skin problems.
References:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14623578
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0972060X.2009.10643701#.VSLPMdyUcfU
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120327215951.htm
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.1517/abstract
http://www.scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=rjmp.2011.650.669
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