Ideas for non traumatic blackhead treatment

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For teenage DS

So far he's tried

washes - non abrasive
a cleanser + muslin cloth
Philosophy - the two stage 'scrub' (it;s a gentle Vit C with a second stage activator)
those strips (which do nothing )
one of those extractors (which he bellyaches about using)

His skin isn't oil, just over his nose. Forehead and chin are fine. But it's really bad on his nose.

He's got Quinoderm cream on now.
I'm >

This idea looks worth a try. I haven't tried it - a fellow MN'er pinned it earlier.

have you ever tried the pads with 2% salycylic acid on them? very drying and makes pores tight.

Is he using the strips properly? They're usually morbidly and fascinatingly amazing.

What about steaming his nose before using a strip or the extractor tool?

I don't think any chemicals will get rid of the blackheads. He needs to physically empty them. Then he can begin a preventative regime.

what preventative regimes are there?

Thanks liberty I'd need to get the Baking Soda and lemon (I've got Baking Powder and bottled Jif lemon but I think that's different )

Sounds along the same lines of the Philosophy treatment. Mildly abrasive and the Vit C to break down the oil.

I've sat him over steam tonight and put a strip on his nose (damp skin, pressed down , wait till dry, 15 minutes, nothing)
I bought the Ultra Biore ones this time (I think he got better results with Regular, no idea why)

He has some round pads in a tub (IIRC Boots)

He has a wash with a Salacylic Acid %

Managed to get him using the metal loop on 2 blackheads but he whinged so blardy much I'd need to anaethetise him to progress .

What teenage boy isn't fascinated by this? 'Tis not normal here.

I have awful trouble with blackheads on my nose so just lurking in case someone has a cure.

I'm sure some kind fellow sporners will be along. probably at your very door

The single best thing about having several younger brothers was that I got to spend hours steaming and squeezing their blackheads when we were teenagers

Oil cleansing method.

Someone suggested sudocreme to me. I didn't stick with it so who knows.

I'm of the opinion that nothing works when it comes to blackheads. I've had 30 years to experiment.

In my zitty years, I found that the best prevention - once I'd cleaned out existing blackheads - was to treat my skin very gently. Wash hands with soap several times a day, then splash face with tepid water. Cut down on cleanser, only use it if I had been wearing makeup/very sweaty/in a dirty place. Use very gentle cleansers. Moisturise-cleanse-rinse-moisturise. Never use toner on non-greasy skin.

If you take away too much of the natural oils on your skin, then your skin will produce more oil in response, leading to more blocked pores and blackheads.

In recent years I have gone fragrance-free, and stopped putting almost all chemicals on my skin. Water only, very occasionally Simple face wash. But I moisturise every day with cold-pressed virgin coconut oil. My skin is in better condition than it has been for years. The pores have shrunk and I never get blackheads any more.

But I am female, and started using FF and coconut oil when I was mid-40s, and therefore my hormones are going to be very different to the OP's ds!

MD Formulations glycolic cleanser shifted mine. I left it on for a minute or so before washing it off

I use witch hazel water from Neals Yard, v good at balancing oily skin.

They also do some tablets and tea for bad skin

dear god

blackhead strips just pull the current plugs of oxidised oil out it will be the same within a day or so
oil cleansing method can murder oily and spotty skin
bha has to be in the right ph for it to work effectively lots of those toners and pads have too much tripe in them to be any use at all
alcohol on anything for his face is not his friend
witch hazel can be v irritating for some and usually contains alcohol

get him to use the olay dry washcloths sensitive - they will foam up with a bit of water clean his face gently and he rinses off with tepid water. that way he cleanses and exfoliates together

bha is what you are after the neurogena one is aces v effective and v cheap

slap on nose and t zone.

then a fragrance free serum mebbe again i like olay their regenerist fragrance free is excellent

do this daily and i promise utterly different nose in 3 weeks
I have recommended to all and sundry and it always works and for nearly nowt money

Dermaflannel.

But really steaming and extraction is the only way. Then daily a face wash with salycic acid like Nutrogena clear pore wash and a light moisturiser if skin is dry or tight. A cheap vitamin e one from Superdrug would do. Less really is more.

If it came to it a facialist would get them out?

I am at the waste of Philosophy on a teen!

Ooooh, can I jump in please OP?

I have a preteen DD who has some corkers blackheads. These are not on her nose though, RonaldMcDonald will the Nuetrogena thing work on the rest of the face do you think? We are abroad and can't Get all the same things but those brands are available.

Sunshine, drinking lots of water and reducing dairy intake should help. Never use anything alcoholic as it can damage the skin's balance permanently. Treat it very gently, use simple cleansers and water and I've just discovered germolene 'healing' cream - not the usual one - which has an antibacterial agent.

What is bha?

We Get plenty of sunshine, twice the amount of radiación as the UK gets.

We need sunblock every day though To prevent sever burning. I think the sunblock may be contributing To the blackheads, plus of course smog as she isn't keen on cleaning her face in the evening. Also she's recently discovered make up and thinks she needs half the pack To look "normal" , she has eased off this week though.

BHAs are beta hydroxy acids, an active ingredient in some skin care. You have to be careful if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because they are contra indicated for those women.

the bha - beta hydroxy acid -or salicylic acid

Thanks, I'll have another look at which Nuetrogena productos they have here. Tried a Biore one but she said it makes her eyes sting without even getting on her face.

great be aware that not all neutrogena is great
actually lots of it is crap which is a pity as there is endless amounts

if you can get your hands on this you are on to a winner ime

I may be back with a list, if they don't have that one. Will look on Monday when I Get shopping. Thanks again.