Witch Hazel for Blackheads

Blackheads on nose? Tried everything but nothing works?

Many people want to know how to get rid of blackheads. There are many natural acne treatment options available to treat blackheads instead of using harsh chemicals. One of these options is witch hazel.

What is Witch Hazel?

Technically, witch hazel is a plant. But the name is also used to refer to the astringent which is produced from the leaves and bark. By the way, an astringent is a chemical compound substance which causes body tissue to shrink or constrict. This is very important to know about witch hazel, as we will see below.


Common Uses for Witch Hazel

Because witch hazel helps to constrict the skin, it is primarily used on inflamed skin. It can be very helpful with the following:

• bruising and swelling
• acne (including blackheads)
• psoriasis
• eczema
• insect bites
• varicose veins
• hemmorrhoids

Witch hazel is also found in many beauty spa's across the country. If your purse won't allow you to visit one, try some in-home pampering instead!

How Does Witch Hazel Help Blackheads?

Blackheads are not really black. It is actually an illusion of oxidation. Sebum (Bacteria and oil) build up in the follicle around a hair. This sebum, which is off-white in colour, then appears black as the light reflects off it.

Remember I mentioned above that witch hazel is an astringent that helps to shrink or constrict the skin? Well, when a witch hazel hydrosol is applied lightly to the skin on a daily basis, it helps to clean out the pores on the skin. The witch hazel then helps to constrict the pores around the hair follicles, so they are not as noticeable. This also makes the pores less susceptible too becoming clogged with bacteria and oil.

Many people develop blackheads because their skin is producing too much oil. I certainly have this problem on my nose. Using witch hazel helps to balance out the oils in my skin and helps to minimise the frequency of blackheads.

Is Witch Hazel for You?

Unfortunately, as everyone's skin is different I can't answer that. I don't have an overly concerning problem with blackheads, so I couldn't say if it would help the more extreme cases out there. Also, I'm not a skincare professional, so it would be irresponsible for me to say yes or no.

However I can tell you this. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try it out for a month or so. As with any natural remedy, it doesn't work as quickly as the man-made counterparts. Witch hazel will certainly not make your blackheads worse. Though use it sparingly, as using too much can dry out the skin and cause a whole new set of problems. Just put a few drops onto a cotton make-up pad and gently apply to the affected areas.

If you don't think witch hazel is for you, check out these other natural ways to fight oily skin.

Have you tried witch hazel control blackheads and have you had any success? Can you suggest any other home remedies to get rid of blackheads?