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Original poster

Blackheads on nose making my miserable, have tried everything :(

40 replies

laurab2 · 03/04/2023 13:16

I'm tried just about everything I can think of to get rid of blackheads on my nose. I'm very pale so they show up badly. At any given times there are dozens of them, all over my nose.
I'm going on a date this weekend and feeling so self-conscious about them. I feel they ruin my image. I usually spend about an hour every evening extracting them with a tool I have but they seems to have come back with the vengence by morning :(
I've tried the strips, facial scrubs, exfolliants and similar but nothing works.
I eat healthy, exercise a lot and have a careful cleansing routine.
Anyone else have similar issues with blackheards?

OP posts:
JaneJeffer · 03/04/2023 13:18

Have you tried salicylic acid?

Denise82 · 03/04/2023 13:26

Have you tried using those pore strips in the mornings? They work on my nose but I don't have the same issues you have described, it seems quite bad for you. Sorry not much help x

Iguanainanigloo · 03/04/2023 13:31

My husband used to get loads of blackheads on his nose, what we found worked best was getting them out with the blackhead tool, using a clay mask with salicylic acid, and then using loads of pore shrinking products. It's the open pores that cause it, so minimising them is key. But obviously make sure they're completely cleaned out first, otherwise you'll have trapped dirt and other worse sorts of break outs! Do you wear makeup? I'd also suggest getting a really good primer that smooths out the pores before applying foundation as that will really help to cover when on a date for example.

Pollyputthepeleton · 03/04/2023 13:33

Retinol, Paula’s choice BHA and facial steaming all work for me!

stevalnamechanger · 03/04/2023 13:36

Hydra facial is a temporary fix

Long term see a dermatologist

AnnaMagnani · 03/04/2023 13:37

When you say you have tried 'everything' - have you tried salicylic acid.

Strips look nice when you take them off but basically do nothing. Scrubs don't work either - if they could actually scrub down inside your pores they would be damaging your skin.

Paula's Choice 2% BHA is a classic product because it works.

UpToonGirl · 03/04/2023 13:40

Have a Google of sebaceous filliments, which are slightly different to blackheads and can't be squeezed away (although I still try!).

Apparently, as pp said Paul's choice bha helps. Coincidentally I've just started using this and its broken me out so be aware!

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 03/04/2023 13:56

They’re not blackheads, it’s a sebaceous filaments. Pisses me off too.

MrsPerfect12 · 03/04/2023 14:00

BHA cleanser is what you need. Morning and night. You will have to start slowly and work up. I only use on my nose and chin leave on whilst I brush my teeth then wash off and use a normal cleanser there after. At night I cleanse with my normal cleanser then use the Bha as a treatment then wash off. Now I use once per day once I had it under control.

PixiePirate · 03/04/2023 14:01

As per pp, they sound like sebaceous filaments.

I find salicylic acid helpful but they never go completely.

Do you wear make up? If so, I find the Boots No. 7 Pore Minimising primer helpful at getting a good base finish without causing more problems/blockages. It creates a smooth base for the application of foundation and blurs the pores without clogging them.

Christmascracker0 · 03/04/2023 14:04

Hydrafacials are great for blackheads, but they are expensive.

Try to stay away from the strips. An acid toner should help. Use hyaluronic acid twice a day for moisturising.

The Fresh! Sugar scrub is a really good scrub for blackheads.

Reluctantadult · 03/04/2023 14:12

I have problems with the filament things too. Best I've managed to get is by regular use of salicylic acid and also using micellar water every night.

I'm looking for a tinted moisturiser or bb / cc that provides a bit of coverage of anyone can suggest one...

ScentOfAMemory · 03/04/2023 14:17

As above salicylic.
Effaclar, Nip & Fab, various own brands have 2% salicylic like PC. SA works by penetrating into the skin in a different way to other acids.

JaneJeffer · 03/04/2023 16:38

@Reluctantadult Natural Collection tinted moisturiser is good, lightweight and cheap!

Squirrelsnut · 03/04/2023 16:42

I found sweating really cleared my skin; could you try gently steaming in conjunction with a gentle salicylic acid product?
Don't batter your skin; the 'black' isn't dirt.

PinkFootstool · 03/04/2023 16:43

Seems v unlikely they are blackheads then... Are they sebaceous filaments? Open pores?

Workawayxx · 03/04/2023 16:50

i get skin and me every month. It’s a bit less than £30 a month I think so quite an outlay but you only need a basic moisturiser and cleanser with it so is probably a saving for me on what I used to spend on random skincare. you get retin-a (also called tretinoin) plus other ingredients, mine has an acid (starts with Az but I can’t remember how to spell it!) and niacinimide and has helped my skin texture and sebaceous filaments lots.

declutteringmymind · 03/04/2023 17:56

Paula's choice bha. Use for six weeks.

OatMilkLattes · 03/04/2023 20:47

The only thing that helped me temporarily was roacutane, which I was prescribed when I was in my early 20s for acne. They’ve since come back and I feel like people must look at me and think I’m dirty and don’t wash, because I constantly have these horrible clogged pores.

I really sympathise!

ThedaBara · 03/04/2023 21:14

Give your skin a break from the extractor tool. There's a YouTuber called James Welsh who has a whole series on how he got rid of hIs blackheads, and it's helped me. Basically use an oil cleanser rather than gel or foam, and one of those silicone textured pads to work it in. Oil dissolves oil, and the pad is a physical exfoliator. Use a chemical exfoliator, like Paula's choice BHA. Wash your face as soon as you can after excersise. Moisturise properly. And give it a few weeks.
Also, don't compare yourself to people online, they all use filters. Everyone's skin has a texture

AnnaMagnani · 03/04/2023 21:52

Also, don't compare yourself to people online, they all use filters. Everyone's skin has a texture

Absolutely this. Look at your pores from the distance another person would see them, not inches away from the mirror - suddenly they don't look so bad!

Spend some time looking at other people's noses and you will find everyone has open pores and sebaceous filaments.

You might not like yours better but at least it gets them into a bit of perspective, instead of thinking you have abnormally hideous ones.

EggBlanket · 03/04/2023 21:58

They’re probably not blackheads. They’re more likely to be Sebaceous filaments and if you keep squeezing them because you think they’re blackheads the they will only get bigger.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24571-sebaceous-filaments

Sebaceous Filaments: Difference From Blackheads & Treatment

Sebaceous filaments may look like blackheads, but they allow oil to travel across your skin and keep it hydrated.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24571-sebaceous-filaments

TheFlis12345 · 03/04/2023 22:10

Nip Fab pads completely sorted the sebaceous filaments on my nose, the pores visibly reduced fairly quickly and then after approx 6 months of use never returned.

LittleMrsPerfect · 03/04/2023 22:29

Have you tried a microdermabrasion?

I have tried lots of products since a teenager but nothing works as well as this facial?

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