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Original poster

Blackheads that are not blackheads?!

88 replies

Vanillarose1 · 23/12/2023 14:33

My pre-teen DD has had these blackheads on her nose for over a year. I've tried everything I can think of to help her get rid of them - face masks with charcoal, salicylic acid, face washes, nose strips etc but they are not getting any better.

Ive had a go at squeezing them but she has a low pain threshold (to put it mildly!) so I haven't had much success there.

She is so self conscious of them and now covers them with make-up each day. Does anyone have any suggestions I haven't tried? Or might they be something other than blackheads?

Blackheads that are not blackheads?!
OP posts:
ChateauDuMont · 23/12/2023 14:36

Warm flannel. Pat dry and a manual extraction using a metal black head ex tractor which you push down gently over the blackhead.

Tip is to push more on one side.

To keep from reoccurring use benzoyl peroxide and a salicylic acid toner.

ChateauDuMont · 23/12/2023 14:36

Extractor. ^

Judd · 23/12/2023 14:39

Hi I would suggest joining Caroline Hirons Skincare Freaks on FB and searching sebaceous filaments. Look like blackheads but aren't! Loads of suggestions for treatment xx

ABagLady · 23/12/2023 15:40

Pretty sure those are blackheads, not sebaceous filaments. Honestly the best and quickest way (if you can get your DD to agree) will be to squeeze them out by gently applying pressure downwards and inwards from either side, with your nails, and then dab on some benzoyl peroxide afterwards to sterilise the area. It might reduce the pain if she steams her face first, or if you do it soon after a shower. Do you think she might be able to psych herself to get past the pain, with the promise of not being self-conscious or having to cover up anymore? The makeup won't be helping the blackhead issue, either.

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/12/2023 15:49

They're blackheads. Wash and face and hands. Squeeze gently on skin with flat nail surface (the side you would paint) to the skin. Black-tipped plug will come out. Wash and dry face. Apply benzoyl peroxide cream.

Midnightgrey · 23/12/2023 16:02

It makes a world of difference to do it immediately after a hot shower. Sometimes squeezing with tissue wrapped round the squeezing finger works. Or an extractor - the rounded side goes against the skin and you apply gentle pressure.

TitusMoan · 23/12/2023 16:09

Pre-teens shouldn’t be wearing makeup! It’ll make her skin so much worse.

Cheeesus · 23/12/2023 16:10

My approach would be to pick the top off one, then do the hot flannel thing and try and squeeze.

DisforDarkChocolate · 23/12/2023 16:14

Skin Scrubber, ANLAN Ultrasonic... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B088NJTJZP?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Pain free and effective. You do have to go over an area a few times in my experience.

DisforDarkChocolate · 23/12/2023 16:15

Or Dermalogica fizzy face mask, bloody amazing stuff for blackheads.

Mintygoodness · 23/12/2023 16:17

Sebaceous filaments are completely normal on the nose and most people have them. These are not sebaceous filaments. I would also not press downward or squeeze at all as this just pushes the bacteria into adjacent pores, which is why people often get a breakout that spreads.
If you can afford it and she's had them that long I would quite honestly take her to an aesthetician. If you explain the situation they would probably give you a lower price for a facial for a child.
If you keep messing around at home with nothing working you could aggrevate the situation. Go to someone with plenty of experience.
I am a skincare student in the USA.

Mintygoodness · 23/12/2023 16:24

If you want to buy a tool to try at home as mentioned above, I would recommend Bio-Therapeutics BT Micro as it is professional grade so would be a good investment for the coming teen years.

Icouldbehappy · 23/12/2023 16:25

Sterilise a needle or pin then very gently break the surface of it.
You should then be able to squeeze it out. I’d use something with a flat edge and apply pressure from both sides.
Do not use sharp nails etc.
Failing that, benzoyl peroxide applied religiously will soon knock them on the head.
Literally 😂
Acnecide cream contains benzoyl peroxide.
(it’s great for ingrown hairs, too!)
All hail whoever created OXY 10! Sorted my teenage acne out when everything else had failed!

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/12/2023 16:26

Sterilise a needle or pin then very gently break the surface of it.
Do not do this.

Mintygoodness · 23/12/2023 16:28

I agree 100%

Mintygoodness · 23/12/2023 16:29

With @MerryChristmasToYou

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/12/2023 16:30

@Mintygoodness , I like you. Not often people agree with me on here.

Mintygoodness · 23/12/2023 16:33

You also don't want to give a pre-pubescent child the idea to use needles when you have skin problems.

Mintygoodness · 23/12/2023 16:37

Also if they have been there that long and haven't responded to regular exfoliation and cleaning they are deep and full of bacteria. Please take her to a skincare professional, messing around with needles could give her scarring in the middle of her face. The amount of money you are spending of products and make up would be better spent on a facial.

CreationNat1on · 23/12/2023 16:37

Does she exercise often to the extent her pores open and she sweat a, beads of sweat??

My skin cleared up a lot when I was walking brisquely for about 1 hour over the course of the day.

Another suggestion is to take up swimming and sauna / steam room to open the pores.

PolizeiobermeisterWache · 23/12/2023 16:39

I'd be inclined to take her to a skincare place actually- although when I've had extractions as part of a facial, it's really eye-wateringly painful!

Watch Enilsa (Brown) on facebook. She does fabulous trauma free extractions using (medical grade) cotton buds.
(she softens the skin with a gentle acid wash- salicylic?? and she DOES often prick the top with a fine gauge needle- it allows the blackhead to be extracted with much less pressure, thus causing less trauma to the skin).

ChateauDuMont · 23/12/2023 16:41

DisforDarkChocolate · 23/12/2023 16:14

Skin Scrubber, ANLAN Ultrasonic... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B088NJTJZP?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Pain free and effective. You do have to go over an area a few times in my experience.

Can I confirm that this is battery operated, 1 x AAA battery and not USB?

I don't want anything that uses USB.

Thank you.

Lemonfoxtrot · 23/12/2023 16:45

I agree - these are blackheads…remember well from my teenage years.

the best thing to do - as suggested by a pp- is to book her in for an extraction facial with a beautician.

They’ll do it in a way that is hygienic. They also make sure face is cleansed, will steam the area to open pores and they have a magnifying mirror and proper extraction tools.

its the cost of a facial, but great Xmas present!

Midnightgrey · 23/12/2023 17:10

I had a dermatologist remove some weird blocked pore thing once. He used a manual metal tool - not some kind of weird powered suction device. BTW those definitely are blackheads.