Skin
Blackheads (Open Comedones)
Clear blackheads by gently extracting with a proper remover, using herbal blood-purifier teas (burdock, dandelion, red clover, echinacea), avoiding fats and greasy foods, and applying a gentle herbal facial rinse.
Also known as: comedones, open comedones, clogged pores, anemia (definition: insufficient red blood cells)
📝 At a glance
Likely root causes: Oil gland ducts become plugged with partially oxidized oil mixed with dust or dirt.; Digestive problems, constipation, underactive thyroid, anemia, and hormonal factors contribute.; Overeating, high-fat diet, and junk food worsen the condition..
First thing to try: Remove gently: Use a blackhead extractor (available in drugstores) — never use your fingers.
See a doctor if: See a doctor if symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, or if you are unsure — natural supports are meant to complement, not replace, professional care.
🔎 Start with the cause
Lasting relief rarely comes from covering a symptom. First find what is feeding the problem, change what you can, and then help the body do what it was designed to do — heal.
Likely root causes
- Oil gland ducts become plugged with partially oxidized oil mixed with dust or dirt.
- Digestive problems, constipation, underactive thyroid, anemia, and hormonal factors contribute.
- Overeating, high-fat diet, and junk food worsen the condition.
Change what you can
- Remove gently: Use a blackhead extractor (available in drugstores) — never use your fingers.
- Squeeze very gently.
- Wash the area with mild soap and water afterward.
- Herbal blood purifier (internal): Make a teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → of 1 part burdock, 1 part dandelion, 1 part sarsaparilla, ½ part licorice.
- Simmer 1 oz. herbs in 1 pint water for 30 minutes.
- Take 1 cup 3 times daily.
- Alternatively, fill capsules with a mixture of red clover, kelp, echinacea, dandelion root, and burdock and take 2 capsules every 2 hours until condition improves.
- TopicalSomething you put on your skin rather than swallow. More → washes: Rinse face with a mild herbal teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → such as calendula or chamomile.
- Apply teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → tree oil to sores 3 times daily.
- Apply a poulticeMashed plant material applied right on the skin. How to make a poultice → of dandelion or yellow dock root mixed with water — leave for a short time, then rinse.
- Steam the face: Cover head with a towel and lean over a bowl of steaming herbal teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → (red clover, strawberry leaf, and lavender OR eucalyptus and elder flowers).
- Do this weekly to open pores.
🌿 Then assist nature: remedies & protocols
With the cause being addressed, these are the actual things people do for this — ranked by the community. Vote ▲ on what helped you and ▼ on what didn't, and open How to do it for the steps. Each shows two quick signals: Evidence (how much science backs it) and Gentleness (how safe and in keeping with whole, natural health).
★ Start here — our first-line pick, pinned for safety
This is the safest, most foundational habit — gentle and unlikely to cause the scarring or infection that finger-picking can cause.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Washing removes surface oil and debris before it oxidizes and hardens in the pore; gentle mechanical extraction with a proper tool clears a blocked pore without introducing bacteria from fingers.
- Wash the face gently with mild soap and warm water twice daily.
- If extracting, use a clean blackhead extractor tool — never fingernails — and apply only very gentle pressure.
- Wash the area again with mild soap and water after extraction.
- Avoid picking or re-extracting the same spot repeatedly.
5 minutes · Twice daily washing; extraction no more than weekly
Caution: Never use fingers or fingernails to squeeze blackheads — this introduces bacteria and can cause scarring or worsen infection. Stop if the skin becomes red, swollen, or painful, which can signal infection rather than a simple blackhead. Over-washing or over-extracting can irritate skin and worsen oil production.
When to get help: See a physician if the area becomes increasingly red, warm, swollen, or painful, which may indicate a skin infection needing treatment.
Source: Traditional skin care practice
Comments & experiences ▾
Also helps — ranked by the community (vote to reorder)
A gentle, whole-body support alongside gentle cleansing — not a quick fix.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Traditional naturopathic thinking links overeating, high-fat diets, and constipation to worsened skin oil production; a lighter diet and regular elimination are thought to support skin health, though evidence is modest.
- Reduce fried, greasy, and heavily processed foods in the diet.
- Add more fresh vegetables, fruit, and whole grains at meals.
- Drink adequate water throughout the day to support regular bowel movements.
- Get daily physical activity, which also supports digestion.
Ongoing · Daily
Caution: Diet changes alone will not resolve blackheads caused by hormonal or genetic factors. Persistent or worsening acne with blackheads should be evaluated by a dermatologist for additional treatment options.
When to get help: See a physician if acne becomes cystic, painful, or scarring, as this needs medical-grade treatment.
Source: Traditional naturopathic practice
Comments & experiences ▾
A relaxing weekly addition to regular gentle cleansing, not a substitute for it.
How to do it ▾
Why it works: Warm steam softens the outer skin layer and the oxidized oil plugging pores, making gentle cleansing more effective afterward.
- Steep herbs in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes if using them.
- Drape a towel over your head and lean over the bowl, keeping your face a safe 10-12 inches from the water to avoid burns.
- Let the steam reach your face for 5-8 minutes.
- Follow with a gentle wash using mild soap and cool water to close pores.
5-8 minutes · Weekly
Caution: Keep a safe distance from hot water to avoid steam burns to the face. Not recommended for those with rosacea or very sensitive skin, as heat can worsen redness. Never leave water unattended near children during preparation.
When to get help: Seek medical care for any burn, or if skin becomes increasingly inflamed after steaming.
Source: Traditional herbal steam practice
Comments & experiences ▾
How the numbers work: a weighted voting system — trusted published sources cast endorsement votes for each protocol, and your ▲/▼ adds to them. Not medical advice.
🩺 When to see a doctor
- See a doctor if symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, or if you are unsure — natural supports are meant to complement, not replace, professional care.
🌿 The seven pathways to health
Seven pathways for your blackheads (open comedones) — tap the circle to check one off (saved on your device), or ask Remy for help.
“Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health... In case of sickness 1cause should be ascertained, 2go to work intelligently to remove the disease. 3Unhealthful conditions should be changed, 4wrong habits corrected. 5Then nature is to be assisted in her effort 6to expel impurities and 7to re-establish right conditions in the system.”
🌿 Overview
Blackheads are small plugs formed in the pores by the accumulation of oil and bacteria. They are black at the exposed end because of oxidation — not the presence of germs. They generally cause no itching or pain, but are unsightly. Most occur between ages 12 and 30. Problems with digestionHow your body breaks food down into pieces small enough to use for energy. More →, constipation, underactive thyroid, and anemia are contributing factors. Though germs do not cause them, blackheads can become infected if not cared for properly.
Blackheads (open comedones) are small plugs that form when a hair follicle becomes clogged with oil and dead skin cells; the surface stays open, and the material darkens on exposure to air (it is oxidation, not trapped dirt). They are a common, mild form of acne, appearing most on the nose, chin, and forehead where oil glands are plentiful.
Gentle, consistent skin care manages them best: cleansing twice daily without harsh scrubbing (which irritates and can worsen things), and ingredients like salicylic acid that help unclog pores, along with not picking or squeezing, which can cause inflammationThe body's natural response to injury — like redness, swelling, or heat around a sore spot. More → and scarring. A whole-food, lower-sugar diet supports clearer skin from within. Patience matters, as improvement is gradual. Stubborn, widespread, or inflamed acne, or blackheads accompanied by painful spots and cysts, can be helped by a doctor or dermatologist, who can offer more effective treatments and prevent scarring, so persistent or distressing acne is worth professional advice.
Common signs
- Small, dark-tipped plugs visible in the pores of the skin, especially on the nose and face.
- The center is dark due to oxidation (not dirt).
- No pain or itch.
- May become infected if squeezed improperly.
🍃 Supporting foods & habits
The gentle, everyday foods and supports that help in the background — secondary to the active remedies above. Vote on what helped you.
A nourishing diet and good skin habits matter most; don't over-scrub, which worsens oil and irritation.780
How the numbers work: this is a weighted voting system — every published book or article recommending a remedy counts as an endorsement vote, and your ▲/▼ counts too. Not medical advice. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit, eight-laws alignment).
🍽️ Eating to help
Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.
Do not overeat. Avoid fats, fried foods, ice cream, cream, butter, chocolate, pastry, and sweets. Eat nutritious vegetables. Moderate protein (nuts and legumes). Supplement with vitamins A, B complex, and zinc. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine.
⚖️ Good to know
- Never use fingers to squeeze blackheads — fingers introduce bacteria and worsen infection.
- Sunlight temporarily kills surface bacteria but can also stimulate oil glands and worsen the condition later.
- Persistent, inflamed, or cystic acne with blackheads requires additional treatment — see the acne section.
- Obtain adequate rest and keep the bowels regular, as these affect skin condition.
⚕️ What a doctor may offerConventional treatments for this condition — for your information.Show ▾
RemedyRank's heart is natural healing — and honest information. Here is what conventional medical care commonly involves for this condition, listed to inform, never to promote. Decisions about treatment belong with you and your own physician.
Blackheads are a mild acne form treated with topical retinoids and good skin care.
Commonly offered
- Topical retinoids (the most effective) and salicylic acid–
- Gentle, non-comedogenic skincare–
- Professional extraction by an esthetician/dermatologist–
- Avoiding harsh scrubbing and squeezing–
Worth knowing
- Squeezing can cause scarring and infection.
- Persistent or severe acne benefits from dermatology care.
- Be patient — topicals take weeks to work.
👍/👎 shares whether a treatment helped you — community experience, not medical advice. For full professional details, see the sources under “Learn more” below.
📚 Learn more
Sources for further reading. These open in a new tab.
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