(6) Apply egg whites to your nose. While the smell of raw egg on your face or nose can be unpleasant, egg whites are rich in nutrients and are less drying than other home remedies for blackheads.
(7) Make your own pore strips. Pore strips are made of some sort of adhesive and something to attach the adhesive to your nose or face. When you pull the strip off, you pull the plug of the sebum and dead cells out of the pore, thereby removing the blackhead. Keep in mind pore strips do not prevent blackheads, they only remove them once they have popped up.
Use milk and honey to make your own pore strips that are free of the harmful chemical or fragrances found in store bought pore strips.
Gather together 1 tablespoon of raw honey, 1 teaspoon of milk, and a clean strip of cotton (from a shirt or washcloth).
Mix the raw honey with the milk in a microwave safe bowl. Warm the mixture for 5-10 seconds in the microwave. Stir the mixture to make sure it is well blended.
Test the temperature of the mixture to make sure it is not too hot and then apply a thin layer over your nose.
Pat a cotton strip on your nose gently, pressing down on the strip.
Let it dry for at least 20 minutes, and then carefully peel the strip away.
Rinse your nose with cold water and pat it dry.
Use the pore strips on a regular basis to remove blackheads.
Beauty woman cleaning her health face with cotton swab
(8) Make a natural toner for your face. Toner is great for removing any dead skin cells on your face and reducing any redness or inflammation, especially around your nose. Use a cooling herb like mint to soothe any irritated skin.
Mix together 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 3 tablespoons of crushed fresh mint leaves in a small bottle. Let it sit for 1 week in a cool, dark place.
Strain the mixture and add a cup of water. Store the toner in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
Apply the toner nightly by rinsing your face first with water and then using a clean cotton ball to apply the toner to your nose.
Leave the toner on overnight or for several hours if you have sensitive skin.
Be sure to moisturize your nose after applying the toner.
Blackheads are basically the same as whiteheads, except blackheads have an oxidized fatty deposit, which makes them look dark, giving them their name. They differ from other pimples because they are open, and not enclosed by a layer of skin like most spots or pimples. Check out how to get rid of them once and for all.
(1) Steam your face before you apply a scrub. Facial steam will help to reduce the appearance of your pores by softening them and make it easier to remove blackheads with a scrub
(2) Exfoliate your nose with baking soda. Exfoliation is important because it removes dead skin cells, which prevents these cells from clogging up your pores and creating blackheads. It also revives circulation on your skin and gives you a healthy glow.
(3) Make an oatmeal scrub. The combination of oatmeal, lemon juice and yogurt works well to keep your skin free of blackheads.
(4) Use a clay mask. For a good clay mask, use Bentonite clay, which can be purchased online and at many health food stores. Bentonite clay is a rich in minerals and has been used for centuries to treat a number of ailments, mainly skin related issues. When you apply a clay mask, your skin gets to drink in these minerals while the clay draws out the blackheads.
(5) Apply a sugar scrub. If possible, use jojoba oil for this sugar scrub, as it is the oil that most closely mimics your skin’s sebum. The sebum is an oily substance produced by your body to prevent your skin from drying out. If you don’t have access to jojoba oil, use other oils like grapeseed, olive, and sweet almond as substitutes.
I'm wide awake Yeah, I was in the dark I was falling hard With an open heart I'm wide awake How did I read the stars so wrong
I'm wide awake And now it's clear to me That everything you see Ain't always what it seems I'm wide awake Yeah, I was dreaming for so long
I wish I knew then What I know now Wouldn't dive in Wouldn't bow down Gravity hurts You made it so sweet Till I woke up on On the concrete
[Chorus] Falling from cloud nine Crashing from the high I'm letting go tonight I'm falling from cloud to night,
I'm wide awake Not losing any sleep Picked up every piece And landed on my feet I'm wide awake Need nothing to complete myself, no
I'm wide awake Yeah, I am born again Out of the lion's den I don't have to pretend And it's too late The story's over now, the end
I wish I knew then What I know now Wouldn't dive in Wouldn't bow down Gravity hurts You made it so sweet Till I woke up on On the concrete
[Chorus]
Thunder rumbling Castles crumbling I am trying to hold on God knows that I tried Seeing the bright side But I'm not blind anymore I'm wide awake I'm wide awake
(8) Increase your Vitamin C intake. One dermatologist suggests that 500 mg of Vitamin C, taken as an oral supplement, can help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
For even better results, try using a topical glycolic acid along with Vitamin C.
(9) Laser Treatment
(9) For fresh stretch marks, use a pulsed dye laser (aka vascular laser). A pulsed dye laser set at 585-nm was shown to reduce stretch marks in post-partum Korean women. This sort of treatment can take down the initial redness, and is best used on early marks (that have not yet turned silver).
Be prepared to hand over a chunk of money for vascular laser treatments. Three to six sessions are required, priced around $450 each.
Vascular laser treatments won't be effective for women with darker skin. Much like laser hair removal, the process works best when there's a large contrast between the target (in this case, the red stretch marks) and the pigment of the skin.
(10) Laser Treatment Options
(10) For older stretch marks, try a fractional laser treatment (aka laser resurfacing).For stretch marks that are no longer discolored but are still indented, you can use resurfacing with a "fractional" laser that focuses on small areas. The laser is aimed at the edges of stretch marks, smoothing over the surface of the skin.
You could need up to three fractional laser treatments; each treatment could cost around $1000.
Hyperpigmentation and scarring are potential side effects of fractional laser treatments.
(11) Surgical Options
(11) Get an abdominoplasty (aka tummy tuck). The only certain way to get rid of stretch marks is to — you guessed it — cut them out. If you've tried everything else and can't stand the tiger stripes, a tummy tuck might be the ticket.
Be prepared for the cost. In the United States, an abdominoplasty can run between $4000 and $20,000.
Be aware of the risks. As with any major surgery, there are life-threatening complications that can arise from a tummy tuck.
Plan on a long recovery. You can expect to take 2 to 4 weeks off work, and spend 3 to 6 months before you're fully healed.
(12) Surgical Options
(12) Consider a "mommy makeover," or a combination deal. Some post-partum women get a tummy tuck, a breast lift, and liposuction all in one procedure.
(13) Cocoa butter
(13) Cocoa butter has not been proven to reduce stretch marks. In a double-blind study, cocoa butter was not shown to have any discernible effect on stretch marks. Be wary of marketing schemes that claim otherwise.
(14) Peptide-containing products
(14) Peptide-containing products also haven't been proven to work. "Repair" creams or serums that claim to contain peptides or proteins have not been proven to restore skin damaged by stretch marks.
Stretch marks can occur during sudden changes in body size, such as during pregnancy, puberty, or rapid weight-gain. 90% of pregnant women will get stretch marks around their abdomen, hips and thighs, and unfortunately, they seem to be genetic — if your mom had stretch marks, odds are that you will too.
Fear not, though. There are some things you can do to prevent stretch marks, as well as reducing the appearance of both new and old ones. Check out some of these options, listed from easiest to most difficult to execute.
(1) Use a moisturizer.
(1) Use a moisturizer.A study comparing herbal moisturizers found that people who lotioned-up daily showed significant improvement in skin appearance and elasticity. Think of it this way: if your skin has a lot of stretching to do, it's less likely to tear and create stretch marks if it's hydrated.
Use lotion on new stretch marks, or on areas where you're worried about getting them in the future. Though using lotion on old stretch marks may still improve their appearance, it's probably not as effective as using them on fresh ones.
If you're worried about the chemicals in over-the-counter moisturizers, make your own out of equal parts wheat germ oil, olive oil and aloe vera. The same study showed that this combination created the best DIY moisturizer.
(2) Use Retin-A
(2) Use Retin-A. A study from the University of Michigan suggests that people who use Retin-A (or a retinoic acid cream) on new stretch marks saw huge improvements. Retin-A is thought to boost collagen production, helping skin stretch out and avoid tears.
Note that youshould not use any products containing retinoic acid if you are pregnant or nursing. It can potentially cause birth defects in humans.
Retin-A won't be as effective on old stretch marks.
You'll probably need a prescription to get products such as Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac, and Differin (which all contain retinoic acid).
Limit sun exposure of skin that you're treating with Retin-A. It could be more susceptible to burning.
(3) Use glycolic acid
(3) Use glycolic acid.Glycolic acid used on stretch marks can increase collagen production, as making your skin more elastic overall. As an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), it's in the same family of compounds often used in chemical skin peels.
Glycolic acid is safe to put on your skin during pregnancy.
Take extra care to keep skin that you're treating with glycolic acid out of the sun.
Glycolic acid can be bought in over-the-counter. For a more intense treatment, you can get a stronger dose from a licensed dermatologist.
(4) Combine glycolic acid and Retin-A.
(4) Combine glycolic acid and Retin-A.When used together, glycolic acid and Retin-A can dramatically improve the appearance of stretch marks. If you choose to do this, you might want to "prep" your skin with Retin-A before using a glycolic acid.
Do not use Retin-A if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can cause severe birth defects.
If you need to see a doctor for a Retin-A prescription anyway, ask how he or she would suggest incorporating glycolic acid.
(5) Try Vitamin E oil.
(5) Try Vitamin E oil.Vitamin E oil is often said to be the miracle cure for stretch marks, though one study shows that it's most effective on women who have already been pregnant before, and has not been effective in general use. Still, it can't hurt in moderate doses.
Try mixing your Vitamin E oil with a carrier lotion, such as a regular unscented moisturizer, for better coverage.
(6) Egg Oil.
(6) Egg Oil.Egg Oil if used regularly from the first trimester, can prevent pregnancy related stretch marks from appearing. Gently massage Egg Oil over the entire abdomen including sides and lower abdomen until the pubic area, twice a day starting from the 8th week of pregnancy until 6 months after delivery.
(7) Use essential oils.
(7) Use essential oils.Though there hasn't yet been a peer-reviewed study on how essential oils can heal stretch marks, they are currently used as a home remedy. You can apply them directly onto the skin, or use a carrier (such as coconut oil or an unscented moisturizer) to make application easier. Here are some oils commonly promoted for stretch marks: