Blackheads are dark bumps visible on the surface of the skin. While they are medically harmless, their appearance can be embarrassing and distressing for the person involved. Blackheads are most common in “the T Zone,” an area of skin on the face covering the forehead, nose and chin. Sometimes the affected area can also spread across the cheeks. On the body, blackheads are most common on the chest and back. Blackheads are a form of acne vulgaris, and may co-occur with the other skin lesions associated with acne.

Your sebaceous glands are structures in the deeper layers of skin that release sebum, an oily substance that is made up of fat, wax and dead skin cells. This functions to moisturize and waterproof the skin. If a constant flow of sebum is not maintained, the sebum becomes stuck in the sebaceous gland's duct. Oxygen in the air reacts with the sebum and darkens it, forming a dark plug of matter called a blackhead or open comedo.

Blackheads are very common in people with oily or combination skin, especially in cooler climates. In warm climates the flow of sebum remains almost constant, and so the sebum does not remain in the duct long enough to be oxidized. Although inadequate cleansing can cause blackheads to form, most people with blackheads get them because of their oily skin type, no matter how good a cleansing regime they have. As adolescents are more likely to have oily skin than older people, they are the population most likely to have blackheads.

Cornstarch and vinegar is a commonly used home treatment for blackheads. Pour ¼ to ½ cup of cornstarch into a bowl and add vinegar slowly while stirring. Add the vinegar until the mixture forms a thick paste. Apply the mixture to the blackhead affected areas on your face and leave on for 20 minutes. The mixture will dry to a hard plaster-like substance in the meantime. Rinse it off with warm water, and follow this with a cold water rinse to close the pores.

Cornstarch is a mild astringent, reducing the amount of oil produced temporarily. It also absorbs a large proportion of the oil that is on the surface of the skin at the time of application. Vinegar is an acid, and acids can reverse oxidation. In other words, vinegar can bleach the blackheads, turning them to their original pale clear/yellow color. For best effects, use this mixture two to three times per week.

This mixture is not suitable for people with sensitive skin. You should do a patch test at least 24 hours before applying the face mask, and do not use this remedy if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.