Blackheads

[Blossum123]

I have a lot of black heads on my chin . I use a face scrub but have found it's dried the rest if my skin and still isn't getting rid of them- the only way seems to be to squeeze them - how can I reduce black. Heads and pore size ?

[Kundry]

First question are you totally sure they are blackheads and not sebaceous filaments? As if they are sebaceous filaments they are normal and you won't get rid of them and will slowly drive yourself insane trying (thank-you mumsnet for telling me about them - I had both and couldn't understand why the last blackheads wouldn't go!)

Ok - so they are blackheads. You can't scrub them off as the black colour is deeper in the pores than you can scrub. So no more scrubbing. You need a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil or Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser.

Next is the key bit - you need salicylic acid. This will exfoliate but dissolves in the pores and cleans out the black bits. It's in lots of spot products like Effaclar Duo and Vichy Normaderm ranges. I use Paula's Choice 2% BHA and love it but have also used Efflaclar and Normaderm and liked them too. The key thing is a product you leave on your skin so the ingredients can do their job - not in a cleanser where you have wahed them off before they get in the pores.

Finally an oil-free non-comedogenic moisturiser - Cetaphil, Effaclar, Normaderm or Avene Cleanance all make them. The last 3 also will have extra spot and blackhead fighting ingredients such as glycolic or retinaldehyde in them eg Avene Triacneal or Vichy Normaderm Night Detox.

[Blossum123]

How do u know if they are filaments ? They do squeeze .i will look for some cream with the ingredients In - thankyou for that I'm really sick of the,m x

[321zerobaby]

Thankyou Kundry, I didn't know about sebaceous filaments. I have now googled the difference and realised I don't have blackheads after all!

Unfortunately my googling led down the spot porn route, here's one I couldn't look away from,

[Kundry]

Sebaceous filaments are not as dark (they are white or yellow) but they can be squeezed out - but they then refill again by the next day. If you've ever done one of those nose strips, most of what comes out is sebaceous filament. They are usually on your nose and chin.

This blog is really clear (although it has some gruesome pore strip picks!):
www.brightestbulbinthebox.com/2014/01/theyre-called-sebaceous-filaments-and.html

A salicylic acid product will make them less obvious but they can be eradicated as they a part of normal skin.

Convincing us they were abnormal was sheer marketing genius on behalf of the beauty industry they can sell endless product as the problem will never be fixed!

[AgathaHannigan]

Kundry, you seem to know lots about this! What about open pores, mine are terrible of late, what can I do?

[millytilly]

Beware. Sebaceous filaments grow bigger if left and are generally unsightly, normal as they may be (ever seen a nose filled with them? Yuk!). I do not leave them be. I use pore strips, oil cleansing method and tweezerman blackhead remover tool. They now only seem to pop up every few days.

[Kundry]

OK, I'm really going to depress you - pores are not doors, they do not open and close. They are the shape that they are and you can't 'close' them.

So, dose of reality out of the way, what can you do? AHAs (glycolic, mandelic and lactic acids) + BHAs (salicylic acid) will exfoliate and make the skin around them look better so over all they look smaller - this is definitely the case for me since using the salicylic. Basically if you have blackheads use salicylic, otherwise use AHAs.

Other option is retinol - it also exfoliates but also thickens the skin and supports the pores, also making them look smaller. This is usually the special ingredient in night creams as it makes you more sensitive to the sun.

Neither of these are a miracle but they do do something. Helpfully they are also the things that work for spots and anti-ageing so you get both effects as well! If you use either you must use SPF!

Things I've tried are LRP Effaclar, Avene ystheal or Triacneal, Vichy Normaderm (liked them all). Things I want to try - Bravura london, Alpha-H. Favourite mega cheap option - SR Skincare. No frills internet brand (again recommended by someone on here, wish I knew who to say thank-you to) - I use their 10% Salicylic peel weekly and it's brilliant.

[Kundry]

Also practically everything I know about skin care comes from Dr Sam Bunting's blog and her Q&As on here which are fabulously informative.

Best piece of advice ever from her blog - look at your skin how other's see it ie from 1 metre away from the mirror. Suddenly your pores look a whole lot better

[Blossum123]

Sebaceous filaments are not as dark (they are white or yellow) but they can be squeezed out - but they then refill again by the next day. If you've ever done one of those nose strips, most of what comes out is sebaceous filament. They are usually on your nose and chin.

This blog is really clear (although it has some gruesome pore strip picks!):
//www.brightestbulbinthebox.com/2014/01/theyre-called-sebaceous-filaments-and.html

A salicylic acid product will make them less obvious but they can be eradicated as they a part of normal skin.

Convincing us they were abnormal was sheer marketing genius on behalf of the beauty industry they can sell endless product as the problem will never be fixed!

Oh gosh most of mine aren't black heads !im
Really shocked - iv had facials and they'v never told me this ! Thankyou x

[Kundry]

That's OK - it was someone on here who told me what mine were! I'd never heard of them.

Have realised I miss typed and obviously meant to say 'can't be eradicated'.

You can make them less obvious but all the extractions etc is just a way of convincing you there is a problem when there is not

[StupidFlanders]

I just started using Paula's choice products and I noticed an improvement the second day. You can shop for skin conditions. I don't think mine were really bad though.

[Chopsypie]

I have lots of sebaceous filaments and since I started oil cleansing they are a lot less visable.
I was pretty upset the day I realised what they were and that all of the money and time I had spent tryin to get rid of them was a massive waste!

[AttitudeOfGratitude]

I am assuming that this is what I have although I'd never heard of this term until recently. I have tried a multitude of products but the only things that help (ie targeted blackhead products) tend to dry out or aggravate my skin. Pore strips do at least help to clear the worst of them for a short while. It sort of doesn't matter what they technically are, everyone assumes they are blackheads (as I did) and they are still unsightly. For me the only time they clear is when I'm away somewhere with soft water and that's within a couple of days. Unfortunately I live in an area with particularly hard water. I went for a facial at a very well known London salon and the therapist spent the entire time telling me how unhealthy my skin was, like it was my fault, so it seems even the so-called professionals don't know the difference either.

[Blossum123]

Is benzoyl peroxide any good ? Says it contains silica?

[StupidFlanders]

kundry I just realised I researched Paula's choice after you mentioned it in another thread! Thank you!

[Cuteypatootey]

Yeaaargh! That blog is brilliant. Thanks for sharing. (now I want pore strips!)

[Kundry]

Thank-you Stupid Flanders - I found them as a friend recommends them to anyone who will listen. Her Beautypedia site is really helpful for making sense of overblown claims as well.

[mom1983]

Argh I just spent a fortune on blackhead treatments..!!

Thank you though, very informative!

[Kundry]

Benzoyl peroxide is more of a spot treatment (for which it's very good) than a blackhead treatment.

[Blossum123]

Benzoyl peroxide is more of a spot treatment (for which it's very good) than a blackhead treatment.

Iv been googling it and asprin face masks have the same stuff in - will that work on the non black heads ?

[Kundry]

Aspirin more or less equals salicylic acid so as many people have both spots and blackheads, it's not surprising products have both.

Benzoyl peroxide can be irritant so I'd give it a go if you are interested in the product but watch out for irritation. There are loads of products with just one of the ingredients.

I forgot you need 2% salicylic acid in the product for it to work - so if it's last on the ingredients list, ignore the product as it won't work, they've just put it in as a sales gimmick.

[Shonajay]

I had proper blackheads until I got a clarisonic face brush. I'd say they're 90% gone now.

[zapata99]

Another more affordable step you can take is exfoliation. Exfoliating cleansers, face scrubs, or even a mixture of baking soda and water can be used to cut through grease, oil, and dead skin cells. I also recommend investing in a Clarisonic brush, which will help remove dirt, oil, and makeup while gently exfoliating your skin. Exfoliate at least once or twice a week to keep blackheads at bay.
For more information, i suggest to you this blog : blackheadextractors.blogspot.com

[Playbook]

I don't really get the difference in blackheads and sebaceous filaments. I think they're both a natural part of adult skin, albeit one generally disliked.

Both are oily / detritus type blockages that are common, sometimes unsightly and generally reappear soon after extraction, and that can be occasionally improved with acids?

So, although interesting, not sure I get the big 'aha moment' about the difference.

[AttitudeOfGratitude]

Totally agree playbook, and of course I exfoliate. It helps but does not eliminate them. I bought a clarisonic and found it quite harsh even though the brusheads are supposedly for sensitive skin.