You may have already used Himalayan Mountain Salt as a natural, healthy and flavorful alternative to manufactured table salt, but did you know that the pretty pink crystals also come in great big slabs that you can use for cooking?

Himalayan salt blocks are causing a stir in cooking circles today and with good reason. Thanks to their incredible thermal properties, they’ll hold any temperature. You can cook on them – on the stovetop, outdoor grill, or in the oven. Or chill a salt block to serve up cold food, you can even freeze them. They’re perfect for caramelizing food too. And any food cooked or served on salt blocks picks up a delicate flavor and benefits from the healthy minerals that give Himalayan Salts their amazing color.

*Trivia Alert* – The ancients were well aware of the necessity of salt and valued it highly. Salt is frequently referenced in the bible and ready access to salt was a prerequisite of civilization. Roman legions were sometimes paid in salt, which is where the word salary comes from. It’s also the origin of the phrase “worth his salt”. Closer to home, in the 1800’s salt was worth four times as much as beef on the frontier. Imagine that!

Here’s a quick look at the benefits of using a Himalayan Salt Block

• Adds healthy minerals to food
• Has a more complex flavor than table salt
• Is a naturally anti-microbial surface
• Has high temperature resistance
• Distributes heat evenly
• Can be used hot or cold
• Cures food through contact
• Blocks make stylish and tasty serving platters

What’s So Great About Himalayan Mountain Salt Anyway?

Isn’t salt, just salt? Short answer, NO! Unlike table salt, Himalayan Mountain Salt is 100% natural and very, very good for you. Salt is essential for life, and it makes sense to choose a salt that supports your life instead of one that shortens it.

Read on for the terrible truth about table salt.

Table salt isn’t true salt. It’s a manufactured form of sodium called sodium chloride and has synthetic chemicals added to it. Chemicals like, fluoride, potassium iodide and aluminum. To stop the salt from caking and to make it flow nicely, Ferrocyanide, talc, and silica aluminate are added. Aluminum – has been linked to neurological defects. It bioaccumulates in the body over time and leads to degeneration.

Talc is a known carcinogen banned from all other food products. The FDA however gives salt manufacturers a pass and allows up to 2% talc to be added to table salt.

Do you ever get the feeling that the FDA sometimes drops the ball?

Table salt is purposely stripped of its minerals during the manufacturing process. Those minerals are then sold on to supplement manufacturing companies. And it’s those minerals which are necessary for healthy circulation and stable blood pressure. The nerve of these people!

When salt was identified as a contributor to high blood pressure, the health profession didn’t distinguish between healthy natural salts, and the poor imitations packing supermarketing shelves across the nation.

These same health professionals then recommend a low sodium diet, and food manufacturers, ever quick to respond to demand, cooked up a plethora of low sodium, processed foods. Which was another face slap to the public because these foods are usually loaded with the excitotoxin, monosodium glutamate. MSG provides the flavor that’s missing once the salt has been removed.

MSG is a thoroughly nasty little beast and should never be consumed – but that’s a discussion for another day. For now, suffice to say that MSG can cause heart attacks in people who are deficient in magnesium. And it’s thought to be a possible reason why young healthy athletes sometimes drop down dead after competing at sporting events. Their excessive sweating causes a further imbalance in their electrolyte levels and bam!

Natural salt isn’t white, it’s off-white, gray or pink. The reason table salt is pure white is because it get’s bleached with chlorine. And if everything I’ve told you so far isn’t enough to send you scurrying into your pantry to toss your table salt into the trash can, then maybe this will. The raw material that is the starting point for table salt manufacture often comes as a byproduct of digging for oil!

Okay enough about cruddy table salt, let’s talk about Himalayan Mountain Salt!

This gorgeous pink salt is the purest salt on the planet, uncontaminated with toxins or pollutants. It’s over 250 million years old and it’s been locked away, safely untouched by the barrage pollutants that we’ve hurled into our environment. Its long isolation is just one of the reasons that it’s superior to other natural salts.

Himalayan salt is mined and washed by hand. Under an electron microscope it has perfect crystalline structure and is immune to damage from electromagnetic fields. Unlike table salt it never clumps and has no need for the addition of silica.

Steeped in history, Himalayan Mountain Salt is obtained from The Khewra Salt Mine. The Khewra salt mine is Pakistan’s largest and oldest salt mine and the second largest salt mine in the world. The Khewra salt deposit was first discovered by Alexander The Great’s troops in 320 BC.

The Khewra mine is 288 meters (945 feet) above sea level and begins about 730 meters (2400 feet) into the mountain from the mine entrance. The underground mine covers an area of 110 km2 (43 sq. miles).

The mine at Khewra is a major tourist attraction, where a quarter of a million visitors a year marvel at its amazing caverns, hewn through the beautiful white, pink and red salt formations. It’s so large that it houses a mosque and an electric railway. There’s even an asthma clinic set deep in the mine where it’s believed that the antibacterial salt particles in the air help to clear the lung passages. So if you’re ever in Pakistan go and visit!

Himalayan Mountain Salt contains at least 84 naturally occurring trace elements. The Fresenius Institute in Europe analyzed the composition of Himalayan Mountain Salt and found that it contains a wide array of vital trace minerals and elements, including potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

The health benefits of natural Himalayan Salt include

• Balancing the water content in your body
• Regulating pH balance in your cells, particularly your brain cells
• Stabilizing blood sugar
• Aiding the absorption of food particles through your intestinal tract
• Improving respiratory health
• Promoting sinus health
• Prevention of muscle cramps
• Promoting bone strength
• Regulating your sleep
• Improving vascular health
• Maintaining a healthy blood pressure

So you can see why incorporating this salt into your diet is a really good idea! And one unique way to gain the health benefits of Himalayan Mountain Salt is to prepare your food on a Salt Block, which also gives the food an incredible flavor. Himalayan Mountain Salt has a more delicate and far more complex flavor than table salt – slightly sweet and slightly salty.

Himalayan Salt Blocks are stunning to look at – slabs of luscious translucent pink crystal salt – and will be a talking point at your dinner table when you serve food to guests. They come in all sizes ranging from a tiny piece to hold a pat of butter to side plates and serving platters, to large food preparation and cooking blocks.

Aside from their ability to impart healthy  minerals and a unique flavor to your food, salt blocks can also be used to compress food due to their weight.

For example, you can heat up your salt block on the grill, then place some butterflied chicken underneath the hot salt block. It will press it and sear it with the delicate salt at the same time.

How To Choose A Himalayan Salt Block

Since Himalayan Salt Blocks are a natural product, they do of course come with imperfections, so it’s important to choose the right grade of Himalayan Salt Block for your needs. If you want to chill, cure, or serve food on a salt block platter, then you can select a lower grade, which has more crystalline irregularities.

However those same irregularities and imperfections would soon become fractures if you attempted to heat a low grade salt block to a high temperature. So for cooking make sure that you look for ‘cookware grade’ salt blocks, which have high crystalline uniformity.

The higher number of irregularities in the lower grade make them a delight to serve on because those imperfections are what gives the Himalayan Salt Blocks their stunning good looks!

The more uniform and ‘boring’ looking the salt block, the better it will stand up to high temperatures. The highest purity salt blocks have been tested and found to be able to withstand temperatures of 900℉, but for home use with cooking grade Himalayan salt blocks 450℉ is the recommended upper limit.

Thickness is important. For the structural support needed for high temperature cooking choose a block that is at least 2 inches thick. Thinner blocks are more likely to contain fissures which make them more prone to cracking.

Cooking On A Himalayan Salt Block

Salt blocks need to be tempered before use.  This is what you do:

Place the salt block in your oven on a low rack

Turn to the lowest heat setting (usually 170 degrees)

Heat for 30 minutes at this temperature

Raise the temperature by 50 degrees and heat for another 30 minutes

Repeat this process, a 50 degree temperature increase every 30 minutes, until it reaches a temperature over 500 degrees

Turn the oven off and leave the salt block to cool in the oven with the door closed. When it has cooled to room temperature it is tempered and ready for use.

You won’t have to temper your salt block more than once but you will have to bring it up to temperature slowly each time you cook with it.

In Salt Block Cooking Mark Bitterman offers the following advice for beginners

• Salt blocks can crack if heated too rapidly. So heat them slowly.
• Salt blocks can pop and fracture. Only use cookware-graded blocks.
• Salt blocks get very hot. Handle them only very briefly and wear high-temperature oven mitts.
• Salt blocks hold enormous energy. Protect your counters and tables with temperature resistant mats before setting a hot salt block down.

Bitterman recommends heating Himalayan Salt Blocks on the stove at a rate of 15 minutes on low heat, then 15 minutes on a medium heat and finally 15 minutes on high.

If you have a laser thermometer, point it at the salt block and check that it registers 500℉. No fancy thermometer? Then just sprinkle a few drops of water onto the surface and see if they sizzle and evaporate on contact.

You also need to gently pre-heat before using the salt block in the oven or on grills.

An oven or gas grill preheat follows the same procedure as the slow increase in temperature used on the stove top. For charcoal grills the method is a little different. Put the charcoal on one side of the grill and the salt block on the other. Heat output on charcoal grills is pretty unpredictable so keep a close eye on how the temperature of the salt block is progressing.

Don’t place a salt block directly onto an electric cook top. The salt block will need to be raised up a little to allow airflow underneath. A wok or tart ring is ideal for this. But note that if you raise it too high, it will take much longer to heat up.

Given this fairly long pre-heat time make sure that you take the extra time into account when you plan your cooking. You can also use the time to prep your meat, seafood and veggies.

Let food come up to room temperature before you start to cook it on the block, and don’t add oil to the surface. Oil will work into the microscopic cracks and holes where it will lurk and slowly turn rancid, which will spoil the flavor of your salt block.

Remember to heat your salt block slowly, then remove it from the heat source. Now you’re ready to cook.

Lightly toss your meats, seafood and vegetables in oil, herbs and spices, then place directly on the salt block and cook until done. Stir and move around as they cook as you would when using any grilling method. The salt block will retain its cooking temperature for about half an hour.

To protect your countertops or tables, my advice is to have a wooden cutting board on hand that’s a little bigger than the salt block you intend to use for cooking. That way you can quickly don some oven mitts and transfer the hot block to the board before safely carrying it to the table. Because salt blocks are smooth, with no grooves or hand holds, you really want to spend as little time as possible handling the hot block. You have less chance of dropping it that way.

Some Foods To Cook, Cure or Serve Chilled On A Salt Block

Choose foods that are quick to cook. A salt block is not the place to slow cook a roast chicken. Things like steak, thin cuts of chicken or pork and scallops, shrimps and seafood work well. Vegetables should be ones that cook quickly, so anything that you would normally quickly sear in a pan before serving. Peppers, zucchini, asparagus, mushrooms, etc.

In the oven, cook pizza, scones, dinner rolls and flat breads.

Use chilled to serve, sushi, cold cuts, shellfish, cheeses, fruits, crudites, cold dips, salads, cold appetizers, ice cream, and chilled desserts.

A salt block is perfect for serving cheese and crackers, since it will add a hint of salt to the moist cheese but won’t add to the saltiness of the crackers.

Cure thinly sliced tuna, salmon or other fish, shrimp, prawns, scallops and carpaccio with ease on a salt block.

How To Cure Food on A Himalayan Salt Block

When left on the Himalayan Salt Block for an extended period of time, room temperature, thin slices of meat and fish – salmon, tuna and cod etc, will start to cure due to the salt, which acts as a preservative.

There are 2 kinds of cure. Partial cures draw out up to 10% of the moisture and add just enough salt to the food to extend its life for a short while.

Gravlax is an example of a partial cure.

Full cures, which extract more moisture – upwards of 30% – increase the salinity of food, allowing it to last a lot longer. Beef Jerky is an example of a full cure.

Simply chill your salt block in the refrigerator for several hours, then place the thin strips of meat or fish directly onto the block.

How To Clean Your Himalayan Salt Block

Never, never ever put your salt block into the dishwasher! Unless you want to make a big salty soup in there, of course.

Let your salt block cool to room temperature before attempting to clean it. Don’t use dish soap or antibacterial sprays. Salt is naturally antibacterial, and needs no help from you to bust bugs.

Use a slightly damp sponge or scourer to remove any food residue, then give a final wipe over with a damp cloth. Towel dry, then leave it to fully air dry.

You have to wait for 24 hours before you can use your Himalayan salt block again. Otherwise residual moisture could expand and cause your block to crack upon heating or chilling.

Vitamin E is vital for the healthy functioning of your body’s organs and your skin is your body’s largest organ! Vitamin E oil keeps your skin soft and youthful while offering powerful protection from free radical damage.

If you take a look at the ingredient labels on your personal care products, you’ll see vitamin E listed on most of them.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and in its natural form, a powerful antioxidant which makes it super important for your skin. This vitamin helps to reduce free radical damage, inside your body and on your skin – double plus good! – and naturally slows the aging process.

Your skin’s ability to  produce free radical neutralizing antioxidants, weakens as you get older. And in times of stress your skin actually produces PROOXIDANTS. Yikes!

Having a dry scalp is a hugely irritating and embarrassing condition. You get pesky white flakes smothering your hair and showering your shoulders with their ugly selves. Not a good look on anyone! And to add insult to injury, the itch drives you mad and you scratch, scratch, scratch. People think you’re riddled with fleas or head lice or some other contagious malady and keep their distance.

Shampooing doesn’t work and dandruff treatments don’t do a thing to help.

Okay, let’s find out why that is.

Flawless skin is a sign of youth, wellness and health. A smooth glowing complexion can be the envy of every dinner party guest, if you have it. If you don’t, you may be familiar with the constant battle against the blackhead. Among the medical community blackheads are classified as a widened hair follicle that becomes filled with skin debris and clogged with bacteria and oil (called sebum). The result? Nasty dark spots in all the places you do not want them.

Most commonly blackheads are formed when a clog or plug develops in the opening of the hair follicles in your skin. A small gland, known as a sebaceous gland, is found at the base of each hair. These glands secrete sebum, an oil intended to keep your skin supple and soft. But when dead skin cells accumulate in the tiny crevice of the sebaceous gland, oil builds up and the area becomes blocked. This results in a blackhead. So how do you prevent this chain reaction from taking over your face.

You may be unaware of your daily habits and regular surroundings that contribute to your growing facial blackhead population. Excessive smoking, too much alcohol, caffeine and heavy makeup are a few common causes of blackheads. We took the time to research for you the most commonly occurring reasons for blackheads popping up on your face, because a little awareness will do your skin some good!

5 most common causes of blackheads

Stress

Are you struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance?  Are you working late nights just to pay the bills? Stress is a sign of our busy lives and times, and unfortunately it causes a cascade of health issues. It’s not just grey hairs that will result from our daily dose of stressing; blackheads are known to appear when you are suffering with stress and your skin will be the first to take the strain. Studies have indicated that stressful life situations can make a person more prone to acne and other skin conditions.  

Diet

Familiar with the saying “you are what you eat?”. This is an inescapable fact. The food you put into your body (good or bad) Is going to affect your body, and usually the first place is your skin. A healthy glowing complexion is common in people who follow a consistently healthy diet low in processed sugars and hydrogenated vegetable oils. The direct relationship between the food you eat and blackheads is not only proven, it makes perfect sense. If you notice that your blackheads and acne tend to flare up when you eat foods like chocolate, fries, ice-cream and donuts, you know where to cut down. This is also supported by numerous studies that conclude that foods with a high glycemic load such as white grains (bread, rice, pasta) and sweets have been linked to acne and blackhead formation.

Lazy make-up removers

It is quite frankly a crime against your skin to fall asleep with makeup left on overnight. Foundation (and dirt from the day) left on your skin while you sleep clogs pores. This can be the primary cause of your blackheads despite eating well and having a stress-free lifestyle.

Smoking

If you have one New Year’s resolution you want to stick to, ceasing smoking should be it. Not only is this addictive habit a potential cause for cancer, smoking also blocks your pores, leading to acne, blackheads and other skin related disorders. The reasoning behind this is the fine tar, ash and chemical compounds found in cigarette smoke. As you puff away, these irritants damage the surface of your skin, create more dead skin cells and ultimately result in more blocked pores. You do the math.  

Hormones and menstruation

Our hormones control every single process within our body’s. A fine balance is required to facilitate the optimal functioning of your cells and your overall health. Hormonal imbalances (particularly during menstruation) can trigger acne and blackheads. Teenagers are the age group most commonly thought to struggle the most with acne, but dermatologists are finding that late-onset or adult-onset acne is becoming increasingly common in women in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s. While this may be out of your control, late onset of unusual skin behaviors should be investigated by your doctor in order to rule out any underlying health issues or triggers.

Nobody wants blackheads. These unwelcome guests on your face need to be exterminated permanently. But if you feel like you are fighting an ongoing battle against acne, you are not alone. According to American Academy of Dermatology, Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually. And it often is the cause of significant physical and psychological problems affecting people of all ages and genders.

Blackhead quick facts:

• Not all blackheads are actually black in color. Surprise! Though most are dark, which is why they get their name, some such blemishes can actually be yellow in color.

• Because blackheads are the result of blocked hair follicles, chances are, if you have blackheads you have blocked pores. This can result in pimples (and even worse yet!) your blackheads can morph into full-blown zits. Gross right?

• Without proper treatment, blackheads will keep returning.

• Contrary to what you may think, scrubbing your skin does not prevent blackheads, in fact it can worsen them.

Nobody really wants to deal with these awful little blemishes. However, no matter how porcelain-perfect your skin is, every girl has to manage blackheads at some stage in her life. There are stacks of skincare products available, all promising to give you fresh, youthful flawless skin and banish the blackheads from your life. But do these really work? You may believe that the quickest fastest method to ridding your face of the dreaded blackhead is to squeeze them out the way. False! This adds only creates trauma to your skin and increases the dead skin cells that caused the blackheads in the first place. So we decided to get some clarity and advice from the professionals. We have compiled the six best methods of preventing and eradicating blackheads from your face. Our list is a mix of home-remedies, prescription advice and over-the-counter methods that will ensure you have victory against your war on blackheads.

Top 6 Blackhead Prevention Strategies

Strategy 1 – Exfoliation

The key to permanently treating and preventing blackheads is to stop your pores from becoming blocked with dead skin debris and oil (sebum). The regular removal of dead skin cells is achieved through gentle and regular exfoliation of the skin. Exfoliation is an effective method of minimizing the appearance of blackheads and polishing your skin so it shines. A variety of exfoliating cleaners, brushes and sponges are available. It is important to use a gentle exfoliator if you are going to use it more than twice a week. Over exfoliating can be harmful to the skin and irritate the skin, causing it to become red and inflamed. Baking soda is often used in microdermabrasion salon treatments. Baking soda is alkaline and when mixed with water, forms a gentle scrubbing paste that can be applied to your skin. You can also add apple cider vinegar to your baking soda mix instead of water). Apple cider vinegar has astringent and antibacterial properties. This is a fabulous natural method of cleansing and unblocking your pores.

Home recipes for exfoliators are effective, inexpensive and give the best results. Mix up your own exfoliating potion once a week. You can add aromatherapy oils for added sensual scenting.

Our list of favorite natural home exfoliant recipes

Lemon and Sugar Face Scrub

• 1/2 fresh lemon 
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp olive oil 
• 1 tbsp organic honey 

Made from fresh lemon juice, sugar, olive oil, and honey. This provides a simple exfoliating face scrubs recipe while moisturizing. The lemon juice may help brighten the skin.

Honey and Oatmeal Facial Scrub 

• 1/2 cup of uncooked oats
• 2 tbsp honey 
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 15 drops lavender essential oil 
• 15 drops melaleuca essential oil 
• 1 tsp dried lavender (optional)

Honey, Oatmeal, Nutmeg, Lavender and Melaleuca essential oils are joined together in this simple exfoliating face scrubs.  It may help to reduce breakouts, even skin tone, and moisturize.

Pumpkin spice sugar scrub recipe

1 cup of granulated sugar

¼ cup of coconut oil

2 T raw honey

8-10 drops each of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger essential oils

Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer but combined with the sugar and honey, leaves the skin feeling clean and fresh. The delicious aromas of pumpkin spice may see you wanting to repeat this recipe every week!

Strategy 2 – Clay masks

Regular use of a clay mask assists in lifting debris and oil from the skin. This is especially effective against deeper blackheads, where surface exfoliation cannot reach the deeper layers of the clogged pore. Clay can have a dehydrating effect on the skin, therefore it is essential to moisturize the skin well after a clay mask. The result of under moisturizing? Your skin will react by overproducing oil in order to compensate for the lack in moisture. This will have the opposite of the desired effect. Because more oil results in more clogged pores and more blackheads. Abrasive pastes, powders and clay masks (with kaolin) have a gentle exfoliating effect and help to absorb existing oil. Masks do need to be used regularly (at least once a week) in order to achieve effectiveness, as the skin will quickly produce oil again after the product is removed.

Strategy 3 – Retinoids

Retinoids have long been used in anti-ageing skincare ranges around the globe. They are chemically related to Vitamin A and are targeted primarily at acne, anti-ageing and pigmentation of the skin. They assist your skin in naturally exfoliating (sloughing) off its top layers at a normal (instead of an increased) rate. This prevents dead skin cells from clogging the pores. Aside from helping your skin shed more normally, retinoids also have some anti-inflammatory effects. It is important to use retinoids for an extended period of time and use them consistently. You may notice an initial breakout or dryness of your skin at the start of your treatment. However, when used consistently, retinoids can keep your skin clear, even out skin tone, repair sun damage, and prevent premature aging. This Vitamin A derivative is the best way to clear clogged pores according to dermatologists. The strength of the preparation is essential to its success. So you may need a prescription from your dermatologist in order to obtain a formulation with a high enough retinoid concentration.

Strategy 4 – Tea Tree Oil

This miracle natural oil will zap your blackheads quicker than you ever imagined. It is truly effective and can prevent blackheads from returning long term. In addition, it is the only treatment that can shrink and permanently eliminate blackheads from your skin with prolonged use. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic. So it removes and kills bacteria that causes blockages in your pores. After applying, the tea tree oil dissolves the sebum in your clogged pores, lifting out the dead skin cells and killing trapped bacteria. The pore is allowed an opportunity to close naturally and over time, shrink. Magic! You can add 2-4 drops of tea tree oil concentrate to your face wash and wash your face with this twice a day. After your bath or shower, apply a diluted tea tree oil formulation to your skin with a cotton pad. Avoid your eye area. Focus specifically on your T-zone (chin, nose and forehead). Wipe outwards (NOT a circular motion). Then apply your usual moisturizer. After just a few days you will see a noticeable improvement in your complexion and your blackheads will miraculously begin to fade.

Caution: When using tea tree oil it is essential to dilute it. Tea Tree Oil is potent and can burn your skin in its concentrated form. This is even more important if you have particularly sensitive skin. Most skincare preparations are already diluted for use on the face. It is best to check the labels of the products you purchase. If it does not indicate whether or not it is diluted, add 3-4 drops of oil to 2 teaspoons of water.

Strategy 5- Facial Steaming

Steaming your face once a week should form part of your ritual for blackhead prevention and removal. Steaming your face can be equated to a spring clean for the pores and the hair follicles. Home steaming is simple and fun. But there are some important rules you need to follow for the steam to be effective and safe. Firstly, do not hold your head over boiling water. This is too harsh and potentially damaging for your skin. Remember this is a gentle steam. Another important tip is to not drape a towel over your head whilst steaming and the pot is still on the burner. There are many stories of people who have started a fire with a towel like this and lost hair. So take the necessary precautions. The steam will soften the blackheads and your pores. The pores will also open up and the trapped dirt and debris will be easily removed.

Strategy 6 – Egg white mask

You may not like the idea of smelly egg whites on your face, but this strategy does work, so it is worth the hassle. Egg white can tighten the pores of your face temporarily, which will not only remove your current blackheads, but also reduce the chances of future blackheads. Egg whites do not dry out the skin and they are rich in nutrients. This is a delicious mask that will feed your skin whilst also evicting the unwanted visitors.

Blackheads develop quickly and easily when the skin produces too much oil. The situation is worsened if you do not clean the skin properly and remove the oil daily. This leads to a buildup of dead skin cells, especially in people who wear a lot of makeup every day. If bacteria starts to invade the pores, blackheads start to turn into pimples.  Though it’s important to remember, as with all skincare regimens, regular maintenance is just as crucial as the ingredients or methods themselves. So once you’ve found the approach that works best for your skin type, sticking with a routine is half the battle.

We also recommend you try to avoid regular caffeine and alcohol intake. Caffeine and alcohol will aggravate your skin and disturb the delicate pH balance of your body. This will also contribute to an increase in blackhead accumulation.

So there you have it. You are now well-equipped to make the necessary change to your lifestyle and your habits in an attempt to lessen blackhead formation. We have given you a list of proven methods to cure and eradicate blackheads from your life, for good! As with any long term treatment plan, consistency is key. Plan a weekly exfoliating, steaming and masking routine so that you don’t miss out on the positive long-term effects of these treatments. Maintain a healthy diet, free of alcohol and minimize your caffeine intake. You should start to see an improvement in your skin’s appearance within 2 weeks. Good luck!