Your best blackhead removal tips please!

[lackingimagination]

For the tiny, tiny little ones that cover the whole of my nose and have been there for years ...

They're not even 'black' as such, and are easily forgotten about with makeup on but I'm trying to become less reliant on makeup and improving this area would really help.

My nose is literally covered in them, they're so tiny I'm not sure they're even that noticeable unless somebody is really up close but they give my nose an almost mottled appearance, does anyone have this?

Pore strips are useless. I need to try something else to get the buggers out. Any tips?!

Don't use pore strips! Not only are they crap, but they're bad for your skin and can cause enlarged pores.

Although they can pull out some black heads, the majority of what you'll see on a used strip are sebaceous filaments- you'll get these around your nose regardless. They will always come back, and you can make them look a bit less obvious, but they are totally normal and everyone has them!

If you're saying that they're not very noticeable, very small and all over your nose this is what I'm guessing they are. A good skincare regime might make them look a bit less "obvious", but bear in mind very few people will be looking at your nose as closely and critically as you do!

Thanks dinosaur and I'll stay away from the pore strips. I've actually only ever tried them a couple of times because they've been so useless.

Would sebaceous filaments squeeze out like blackheads? Because mine do pop out if I do try and squeeze them.

Yeah they will- it's satisfying popping them but as I'm sure you've noticed they just come back again in a few days. Squeezing them can again enlarge your pores and make them more obvious when they return.

Just remember that no one has perfect poreless skin- Instagram has a lot to answer for!

Maybe cleansing with oil would help? I have been using Vit E oil (because I happen to have it) and it works. www.theoilcleansingmethod.com

My advice, is
No.1 Leave them alone
No.2 Wash your face in cold water not hot
No.3 Do not wash your face with soap.
Soap clogs up your pores and hot water opens up your pores.
You are making the problem worse.
The more you mess with your skin, the greater your problem will be.

I have the same problem and have been using Paula’s choice bha after seeing it recommended here.
I use it maybe 3 times a week and have seen a huge improvement

www.paulaschoice.co.uk/skin-perfecting-bha-liquid-exfoliant-m2010.html?dwvar_m2010_size=fullsize&cgid=exfoliants-products&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhLvC5tH-1wIVJ7XtCh2BvQJQEAAYASACEgLR8_D_BwE

I use these and mine have minimised drastically
www.gotoskincare.com/natural-skincare/exfoliating-swipeys?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq9z6ktL-1wIVCiO9Ch2REApfEAAYASACEgKXkfD_BwE

I think castor oil works, it is a denser oil than your own skin oil so sort of dissolves the blackheads. You can use the cleansing oil method. But I just rub some on my nose and leave it for half an hour then wipe off with a warm flannel and it seems to help.

As dinosaur says, they sound like sebaceous filaments and not blackheads. I don't know if it's actually possible to get rid of them.

Good skincare routine. I find using a serum and a primer with make-up helps (I use Estee Lauder perfectionist serum and Soap and glory primer).

They do sound like sebaceous filaments. I'd leave well alone with the squeezing.

I've got them but you can't see them under make up.

What everyone else said:

They are sebaceous filaments not blackheads. They will never go away permanently.

Paula's Choice BHA is amazing - it dissolves the black tops off and they disappear. Other salicilic acid products are available but this one is the best.

Thank you everyone, I will look at my options!

I do actually leave them well alone, just every now and again wonder if there's something I could do about them. Never going to be any harm in trying to improve my skincare routine so I will try some of the pointers above

I had this problem too. I agree that Paula's Choice stuff is brilliant and would recommend regularly using a clay based face mask too. The Queen Helene Mint Julep mask which is available on Amazon is great at sorting filaments.

Ooo interesting fluckle I'll have a look!

I wouldn’t leave completely alone, having seen where people have done just that! You need a good skincare routine to keep them under control. Oil cleansing as mentioned and/or AHA.

I've found hot water and exfoliation aren't a problem for mine, provided I then splash with cold water, then use an astringent toner and a very heavy, oily (even greasy) moisturiser over the top.

I've put some of the Paula's Choice stuff mentioned upthread in there too, between the toner and the moisturiser, and my skin seems to like that too.

The principle behind this I think is that the skin with these on it wants more moisture, that's why it refills the pores if you squeeze them.

If you catch them before they fill with oil from within, you can add the moisture yourself, and that calms them down and stops them producing it themselves.

It's weird dealing with an oil-related problem by adding more oil, but it does seem to work. Far more than constantly stripping it out ever does for me, anyway.

Oh yes, and seconding primer, definitely. It didn't occur to me that it would improve these, but it has, quite a lot.

winnerwinner you are an angel got some of the recommended paulas choice and in 2 applications must skin is smoother💜💜💜