Top 20 Doctor-Approved Home Remedies For Whiteheads On Face, Nose, Lips, And Eyes

Not only blackheads are obsessive, whiteheads are something that can also ruin your look and steal your confidence. Surely no one wants to wear a defective face to meet partners, colleagues, friends, and especially his or her beloved. So how to eradicate these annoying traces without putting a damned thick layer of makeup on the face? The answers will be right here in this article. Keep reading and find out.

• Top 5 effective tips to prevent blackheads from coming back
• Top 34 natural and effective treatments for blackheads

20 Home Remedies For Whiteheads On Face, Nose, Lips, And Eyes

The recipes we've focused on are traditional home remedies that can be used alongside usual medical treatment. Always consult your doctor before using them.

I. Effective Remedies

1. Baking Soda

Why?

Baking soda is an astringent that works to tighten pores and purge out all impurities inside them. It is also an exfoliator and pH neutralizer that can control the activity of sebaceous glands and eliminate dead skin cells from the skin^[1] [2].

What do you need?

• Baking soda
• Water

How to do?

• Take 2 to 3 teaspoons of baking soda and mix it with water to form a paste.
• Apply the paste to your face and wait for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse off with warm water.
• Repeat once or twice a week.

Warnings/Side Effects

Most people do not know they are allergic to baking soda until they apply it to the skin. Baking soda can cause redness, rash, or even burns for people with sensitive skin. Try to put the mixture on the wrist or behind the ear to check the reaction before using for your face.

2. Tea Tree Oil

Why?

With antimicrobial, disinfecting and soothing properties, tea tree oil deals well with all types of pimples, including whiteheads^[3]. Just a couple of drops of tea tree oil can deeply penetrate the skin to exert its qualities.

What do you need?

• Tea tree oil
• Carrier oil

How to do?

• Mix tea tree oil with several drops of coconut oil or olive oil.
• Soak a cotton ball into the mixture and apply to your whiteheads.
• Do this twice a day until whiteheads disappear.

Warnings/Side Effects

Undiluted tea tree oil will burn your skin, making it dry, red, and itchy. Combining tea tree oil with a carrier oil is the best way to avoid these problems.

3. Aloe Vera

Why?

Aloe vera is a good friend of various skin issues^[4]. It has astringent, cooling, and healing abilities that do great jobs in getting rid of whiteheads^[5]. It also contains certain enzymes, which help reduce inflammation of whiteheads.

What do you need?

• Aloe vera gel
• Lemon juice

How to do?

• Peel an aloe vera leaf, take 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel and blend with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
• Apply the paste to your skin, massage for 3 minutes, and then leave it on for 10 more minutes.
• Rinse off with water.
• Repeat the process twice or thrice a week.

Warnings/Side Effects

Up to now, there are no noteworthy side effects reported with the use of aloe vera on the skin.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Why?

The acidity of apple cider vinegar (ACV) lends a hand to regulate the amount of oil on the surface of the skin and dry out whiteheads. After being absorbed, ACV helps to prevent infection within the pores as it has antiseptic and antibacterial properties^[6].

Remedy 1: Raw ACV

What do you need?

• Apple cider vinegar
• Cotton ball

How to do?

• Dribble some drops of ACV to a cotton ball and dab it on the affected skin.
• Let the vinegar dry naturally.
• Reduplicate during the day.

Remedy 2: ACV & Cornstarch

What do you need?

• Apple cider vinegar
• Cornstarch
• Water

How to do?

• Combine 1 teaspoon of ACV with 3 teaspoons of cornstarch and an adequate amount of water to form a paste.
• Spread a thin layer of this mixture on your face and wait for 15 minutes.
• Cleanse with lukewarm water.
• Do this 2 to 3 times over two weeks.

Warnings/Side Effects

Whiteheads treatment with ACV may be counterproductive if you overdo it because acids in ACV probably cause dryness and irritation to the skin.

5. Lemon

Why?

Lemon is one of the most excellent home remedies for whiteheads. Lemon is full of vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acid, and citric acid that play vital roles in exfoliating, collagen synthesis, and skin tissue regeneration, all of which contribute to diminishing whiteheads^[7]. And thanks to the acidity, lemon also cleans up excess sebum on the skin.

What do you need?

• Lemon juice
• Cotton ball

How to do?

• Squeeze a lemon for its juice.
• Dip a cotton ball to the lemon juice, then dab on the whiteheads.
• Let it stay for 10 to 15 minutes, then wash off.
• Do this once every other day.
• You can replace lemon juice with lime juice for the same effect.

Warnings/Side Effects

Just like ACV, the acidity of lemon can both be a hero and a sinner depending on the dosage. Strictly follow the directions for the most satisfactory results.

6. Oatmeals

Why?

In this recipe, oatmeal acts as an excellent exfoliator and pore-purifying agent, while other ingredients work to moisturize, soften, and hydrate the skin, bringing it a blemish-free and glossy appearance^[8].

Remedy 1: Oatmeal Scrub

What do you need?

• Oatmeal powder
• Rosewater

How to do?

• Make a scrub mixture with oatmeal powder and rosewater.
• Apply it to your affected areas for 10 minutes and scrub to exfoliate all the dead skin cells and impurities.
• Wash off with cool water.
• Perform this thrice weekly.

Remedy 2: Oatmeal Mask

What do you need?

• Oatmeal powder
• Yogurt
• Lemon juice
• Honey

How to do?

• Create an oatmeal mask pack by using 4 tablespoons of oatmeal powder, 2 tablespoons of yogurt, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of honey.
• Apply the combination to your face and wait for 20 minutes before rinsing.
• Follow this home treatment 2 to 3 times a week.

Warnings/Side Effects

Oatmeal is a friendly ingredient to the skin, and you will not have to be afraid to use it for whiteheads treatment.

7. Sugar Scrub

Why?

Granular sugar helps exfoliate the skin and abolish all dead skin cells gathering in the pores^[9]. And with the presence of honey, you will not have to worry about getting dry skin after exfoliation.

What do you need?

• Sugar
• Honey
• Lemon juice

How to do?

• Add 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of honey and some drops of lemon juice to a bowl, mix well.
• Gently scrub your face with the mixture in circular motions for about 5 minutes.
• Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
• Perform this once or twice a week.

Warnings/Side Effects

While eating much sugar may accelerate the aging process and aggravate acne condition, scrubbing with sugar brings benefits. The only thing you ought to note is not to pick sugar with a large size of a grain to avoid damaging the skin.

8. Honey

Why?

Honey is an emollient that has soothing, antibacterial properties, and enzymes fighting against bacteria, causing whiteheads. Moisturizing characteristics of honey^[10] also avoid sebum overproduction.

What do you need?

• Raw, organic honey

How to do?

• Warm up 1 teaspoon of organic honey and apply directly to the whiteheads.
• Let it stay for 20 minutes, then wash off.
• Do this once every second day.

Warnings/Side Effects

You must be careful when choosing honey for the remedy since there are many types of fake honey or mixtures of honey with other ingredients on the market today. Those will cause severe irritation to the skin, such as burning, itching, or swelling.

9. Olive Oil

Why?

When olive oil penetrates into the skin, its antibacterial and antioxidant abilities allow it to kill bacteria and cleanse away pore-clogging toxins^[11].

What do you need?

• Olive oil
• Brown sugar

How to do?

• Mix 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and brown sugar.
• Slowly use your fingers to massage your face with this mixture for a few minutes.
• Rinse off with warm water, then pat your skin dry.
• Continue with this method for no more than twice a week.

Warnings/Side Effects

Every beneficial substance has some drawbacks; olive oil is no exception. According to studies, oleic acid in this oil may inhibit the natural moisturizing feature of the skin. Therefore, people with dry skin type should not use olive oil for skin care.

10. Jojoba Oil

Why?

Jojoba oil clears all dead skin cells and sebum blocking pores, reducing the number of whiteheads on the skin^[12]. This oil is very mild and benign, which people with any skin type can use. In this remedy, we integrate jojoba oil with tea tree oil to enhance the treatment effect.

What do you need?

• Jojoba oil
• Tea tree oil

How to do?

• Combine 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil and 1-2 drops of tea tree oil.
• Apply the oil mixture to your affected skin.
• Leave it overnight and cleanse the next morning.
• Rehash every day.

Warnings/Side Effects

As mentioned, everybody can use jojoba oil topically. Only in rare cases rash and redness appear as allergic reactions. Otherwise, jojoba oil is not safe if taken by mouth.

11. Coconut Oil

Why?

Coconut oil helps keep your skin hydrating and restoring itself when applying as it contains some essential medium-chain fatty acids. It also may help remove toxins on the skin and substances causing whiteheads^[13].

What do you need?

• Coconut oil

How to do?

• For the coconut oil to fully promote its efficacy, massage your face with it every evening, then leave it on for 2 hours before wiping with a clean towel.

Warnings/Side effects:

Coconut oil is not harmful to both your skin and general health when you utilize a moderate quantity. Go with organic, raw, or virgin coconut oil to achieve all the best.

12. Garlic

Why?

Antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of garlic are effective for ridding the skin of whiteheads and preventing them from reoccurring^[14] [15].

What do you need?

• Garlic cloves
• Water
• Rosewater

How to do?

• Crush 2 to 3 garlic cloves and dip them in 2 tablespoons of water for a few minutes.
• Apply the garlic water to the skin areas with whiteheads and let it stay for 5 minutes.
• Drop rosewater on a soft cloth and rub your skin to get rid of the garlic smell.
• Do this once on alternate days.

Warnings/Side Effects

Garlic may cause rashes or brown marks for people who are allergic to this ingredient or those with sensitive skin, so pay attention to your skin status when using it.

13. Green Tea

Why?

Green tea is one of the most powerful home treatments for various skin problems.

Green tea helps open pores and make them highly refined by totally taking out accumulated dirt and grease, which results in no longer the existence of whiteheads. It is also rich in antioxidants^[16] that guard the skin against harmful free radicals and other environmental factors worsening skin condition^[17].

What do you need?

• Green tea bag
• Water

How to do?

• Take a green tea bag and soak it in hot water for several minutes.
• Take out and wait for it to cool down.
• Place the tea bag on your whiteheads for 15 minutes.
• Repeat the procedure twice a day.

Warnings/Side Effect

Most side effects of green tea are present only when taken orally. Feel free to use it topically for skin care.

14. Witch Hazel

Why?

Many facial and body cleansers involve witch hazel since it is an astringent that can shrink pores and push out trapped substances. It also helps manage the skin’s sebum amount^[18], thus being effective in treating whiteheads.

What do you need?

• Witch hazel
• Cotton ball

How to do?

• Dip a cotton ball into witch hazel solution and dab on the affected skin.
• Leave it to dry by itself.
• Apply this once or twice a day, depending on how your skin reacts to the solution.

Warnings/Side Effects

Witch hazel is safe for most children and adults when applied directly to the skin. However, it may cause dryness or slight irritation to some individuals. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, there is no concrete evidence of witch hazel’s safety, so it is better not to use.

15. Egg White

Why?

Similar to witch hazel, egg white removes whiteheads by tightening pores as it possesses astringent properties and proteins^[19]. Apart from that, egg white works well in nourishing the skin and evening out skin tone.

What do you need?

• Egg white
• Honey (optional)

How to do?

• Whip 1 egg white until its surface is full of small bubbles.
• Add 1 tablespoon of honey (of choice), stir, and then use the mixture as a facial mask.
• Wait for 15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
• In the first week, apply this remedy twice. After that, maintain a regular basis of once every 2 weeks.

Warnings/Side Effects

For people with sensitive skin, egg white can increase sensitivity. Moreover, raw egg white contains an adverse bacterium called salmonella, so make sure you choose fresh eggs with guaranteed origins for this recipe.

16. Fenugreek Leaves

Why?

Fenugreek helps treat whiteheads due to its antibacterial content, which destroys bacteria grown in the pores and on the skin surface^[20].

What do you need?

• Fenugreek leaves
• Water

How to do?

• Pour lightly warm water into a bowl of dry fenugreek leaves and blend to form a smooth paste.
• Apply it to the affected parts and let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Cleanse with water.
• Follow this method twice to thrice a week.

Warnings/Side Effects

Normally, fenugreek is safe to use on the skin. Nevertheless, there are some reports of minor side effects, such as redness or eruption. Hence it is better to have a test before considering it as your whiteheads remedy.

17. Bentonite Clay

Why?

Bentonite clay is known for its healing abilities. It is a powerful absorbing material that can expel excess oil and dirt quickly, alongside it also unclogs pores and contracts them, thereby improving whitehead situation^[21] [22].

What do you need?

• Bentonite clay
• Honey
• Water

How to do?

• Make a masking mixture of 2 tablespoons of bentonite clay, 1 teaspoon of raw honey, and water.
• Cover your face with the paste and let it dry naturally.
• Wash off with tepid water.
• Do this twice weekly.

Warnings/Side Effects

A huge disadvantage of bentonite clay is that it can be contaminated by arsenic and lead, both of which are toxic substances to the body as they provide a high risk of developing skin cancer. It is necessary to find a believable distributor to ensure the quality of the clay.

18. Tomato

Why?

Tomato is an astringent, antiseptic, and antioxidant that can tighten pores, eject impurities, and keep the skin clear. The chemical compound responsible for the antioxidant effect of tomato is lycopene – a type of carotene. Lycopene has been used for a long time in the cosmetic field to freshen, soften, and even the skin^[23] [24].

What do you need?

• Ripe tomato

How to do?

• Peel a ripe tomato and mash it.
• Apply the mashed fruit to your face and wait until it dry.
• Rinse off with warm water.
• Repeat this method 2 to 3 times a week.

Warnings/Side Effects

Tomato is likely safe for the skin, but for some people with very sensitive skin, it can cause a rash and other irritation. In a recent study, scientists have found that if one uses tomato remedy along with vitamin E therapy, lycopene in tomato will interact with vitamin E and lead to the degradation of collagen.

II. How-To Tips

1. Facial Steam

Steam or sauna allows your pores to open while softening the surface of your skin, helping you to easily peel off dead skin cells and dirt^[25]. This is the method that everyone can follow without thinking.

Direction:

• Prepare a pot with boiling water, place your face over it.
• Cover your head with a large towel to avoid the steam to spread all around.
• Fit the position for 8 to 10 minutes and pat your skin dry.
• Do this once weekly.
• Another option is to coat your face with a hot towel for a couple of minutes before taking out and repeating the process twice at a time.

2. Change Pillowcase Regularly

Every night when you sleep, your face comes in contact with the pillowcase, that means your facial sebum has a high chance to transfer to the case. Plus, it is not difficult for your pillowcase to expose to surrounding dust and other noxious factors. So if you can not remember the last time you changed the pillowcase, do immediately because you will not want all the awful things on it retransfer to your face and cause even more intense problems than whiteheads.

3. Deal With Greasy Hair

If you have an oily scalp, you are likely to have an oily face. Wash your hair every two days to control the amount of oil on your scalp. In the case you are too busy, you can bring a bottle of dry shampoo with you to spray on your hair whenever needed.

III. Facts About Whiteheads

Whiteheads are a type of pimples that form beneath the pores clogged by excess oil, dead skin cells, dirt, and bacteria. In contrast to blackheads – black-colored pimples occurring due to the melanin oxidation, whiteheads appear white or slightly yellowish. We usually see whiteheads on the nose, cheeks, forehead, under the eyes, and around the mouth.

Besides the main cause is the overproduction of sebum, whiteheads also have chances to develop in the below circumstances:

• Hormonal changes because of birth control pills use or during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
• Use inappropriate cosmetics for the skin or do not remove makeup after applying.
• Air humidity is too high.
• Sweat glands are overactive.
• Consume too many greasy foods over a long period or often cook with grease and cooking oil.

Several studies have demonstrated the relationship between genetics and the growth of pimples in general and whiteheads in particular. In other words, if any of your family members are whitehead sufferers, you are more prone to them.

IV. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Whiteheads Heal Themselves?

Unlike blackheads, whiteheads can heal on their own only with a reasonable skin care routine and lifestyle as they do not usually go with inflammation. This does not mean whiteheads are less troublesome. Do not delay but practice the remedies and follow the tips in this article to get rid of them faster and prevent them from exposing again.

2. Do Natural Remedies Affect The Fetus If Applied On Pregnant Women?

Many professionals do not recommend herbal or other natural remedies for pregnant women since their safety has so far not been verified. Although most side effects of natural remedies come when used orally, pregnant women discuss with their doctors before applying any recipe to avoid serious consequences such as premature birth, miscarriage, or children born with deformities.

3. How Long Does It Take To Recovery From The Condition?

Generally, whiteheads do not last long. They often heal after 2 to 8 weeks based on how you adhere to the remedy guidelines and skin care regimen. If your whiteheads last longer than 2 months, you should go to dermatologists for further consultations because that situation sounds like something else than normal whiteheads or pimples.

V. Prevent From Starting

1. Wash Your Face

This is the leading requirement for a perfect skin condition. Choose a mild cleanser and wash your face at least twice a day. You may need to do the job more if you sweat a lot or have to work out. In the evening, you should perform a double cleansing, which means to wash your face with makeup removers first (whether or not you have put on makeup layers), then re-cleanse as usual.

2. Review Your Cosmetics

• Check your cosmetics and throw in the trash all the oil-rich products. Just keep those stating “oil-free” or “non-comedogenic” to limit clog pores.
• Also, throw away expired makeup products or old ones that you have not used for a long time. They will irritate your skin, making it itchy, red, and rash.
• Do not use too heavy sunscreens or body sunscreens for your face because these types can block pores as well as make you sweat more.

3. Do Exfoliation

Exfoliating with a scrub twice a week helps peel dead skin and release pores from dirt and particles that clog them, but rehashing too much will probably cause irritation and further skin complications.

VI. Advice After Treated

1. Diet Suggestions

It is crucial to know which foods you should and should not consume after recovering from whiteheads because what you eat is what you are, the nutritional compositions of food not only affect the structure and function of organs within the body but also influence the external appearance.

Since hormonal changes are related to sebum overproduction, which is the primary cause of whiteheads, hormone-filled foods are the first food group you need to avoid. Dairy products such as cow’s milk or cheese are representative of this group. If you have yet been worried that your body will lack calcium when there is no supplement from dairy products, it will not be a problem anymore as you can always find alternatives from soy milk or almond milk, leafy green vegetables, broccoli, tofu, and so on.

You should also limit the consumption of foods with high levels of sugar, carbohydrates, and saturated fat in daily meals. Although they are not directly associated with sebaceous glands’ activity, they are the starting points for the body’s oil production process. What to keep your eyes on are sweets, soda, chips, snacks, bread, pasta, carbonated beverages, and meats.

In addition to foods that are detrimental to the skin condition, some indeed provide you with a flawless complexion. Experts recommend that people after treating whiteheads as well as other skin breakouts should have a daily intake of the following foods:

• Antioxidant-rich foods: Dark chocolate, berries, artichoke, kale, red cabbage, beans, spinach, etc.
• Fiber-rich foods: Whole grains, barley, sweet potato, corn, Brussel sprout, banana, etc.
• Probiotic-rich foods: Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, miso, etc.
• Foods that help to balance hormones: Green tea, oily fish, turmeric, ginger, nuts, etc.

An unforgettable step in the care and preservation of healthy skin is to drink enough water for a day. Eight cups (or approximately 2 liters) of water daily is the lowest border if you are an office worker. In the case you have a lot of outdoor activities, more fluid is needed. You can choose to drink smoothies or fruit juices instead of just sticking to a bottle of water throughout the day.

2. Stay Away From Stimulants

Stimulants like alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine affect your skin badly since they deplete many vital, beneficial vitamins and nutrients. The consumption of stimulants also alters hormone levels in the body, leading to the overproduction of oil and resulting in whiteheads. Not only whiteheads, quitting stimulants is the key to protect your skin from premature aging and numerous other issues.

3. Keep Good Face Hygiene

This is what you must do before, during, or after curing whiteheads. Retain the habit of washing and exfoliating as brought up above in the “Prevent From Starting” section. When going out, wear a gauze mask to minimize contact between your skin and the air, avoiding dust and dirt clinging to your skin, causing whiteheads to recur.

Any type of pimples and acne is the thing being at the top of the list that women do not want. Fortunately, whiteheads have a short lifespan and do not encourage unfavorable outcomes. Remedies and tips in this article have fully shown you how to get rid of whiteheads in the simplest and most convenient ways. If you know other home remedies for whiteheads, or if you would like to share with us your experience, leave a comment in the box below.

All contents provided are for informational & educational purposes. We recommend you consult a healthcare professional to determine which method is appropriate for you.

Read more: Top 16 Worth-Trying Tips To Get Beautiful Skin. This article was medically reviewed/fact checked by Sarah Brewer MSc , MA (Cantab), MB, BChir, RNutr, MBANT, CNHC.

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