Blackheads that are not blackheads?!

[Vanillarose1]

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?

Extractions should NOT be painful, if they are you don't have a good esthetician.

Treat her to a facial that includes extraction, the aesthetician will prep her skin properly first and be skilled in removing them as painlessly as possible. Good for teens to get these regularly anyway - changed my life as a teenager (and continues to do so as a adult with a propensity for blocked pores!)

Extractions are normally at least halfway through a facial once the skin has been properly cleaned, steamed, toned and prepped to open up the pores and disinfect the surface. You should never go at a blackhead on dry, cold skin.

I dont think they are sebaceous filaments, those are blackheads. If she has a low pain threshold then she’s unlikely to let you near her with a blackhead extractor tool etc. id recommend some spot dots for a couple of nights to break the surface and then (or at same time) daily wash with salicylic acid wash (I used the dermatologica one on my son which comes in a little set with a tube of spot treatment gel and moisturiser and it’s been good for my son, not dried his skin out at all.

If she lets you squeeze, please can you post on sporners corner? My sons the same at 11 and I'm dying to get at him but got no chance!

It's USB charging, no batteries.

Blackhead remover tool for a few quid on Amazon. I get loads of white and blackheads and this has been excellent. The set that looks like tweezers has a much more effective shape that using fingers to squeeze them. Would recommend steaming or a hot cloth before squeezing.

Smukdoo Blackhead Remover Tool Set, 5 PCS Curved Tweezer Blackhead Removal Tools, Pimple Spot Popper Removal Tool https://amzn.eu/d/aZpWYVN

@DisforDarkChocolate thank you. On the listing it says 1 x aaa battery so I was confused!

I always seem to have blackheads, rarely breakouts but the blackheads are difficult to shift and I don’t spend enough time on self care (clearly!! Anyway, a few years ago had a medical procedure and part of the post op was steam face minimum 4x a day for at least 15 mins per time. Two weeks later I had ZERO blackheads. Way better result than the hot flannel / extraction beauty treatment I had paid for a few years prior. Honestly, amazing result, not painful and effectively free - what more could you want?! it is a massive PITA to do it, and actually quite time consuming, but as it’s school holidays might be worth a try…

Random tip: if you don't have a specific black head extractor (I kept losing mine) a bobby pin works exactly the same. I would recommend sterilizing anything you use first though.

Blackheads

Book an extraction facial somewhere reputable

Deal with the low pain threshold by taking both ibuprofen and paracetamol, then giving it time to work before extraction.

Take her to a dermatologist first, so she can get proper advice about what to do regarding her skin. Over-the-counter products are only so strong and it might be that something medicated is the way to go. Personally, because she’s so young I wouldn’t book her in for an extraction facial without getting advice first.

It's not necessary to go to a dermatologist for blackheads unless facials don't work. Dermatologists are medical doctors, this doesn't look remotely serious enough to warrant a visit to a dermatologist.

When I was younger I used to steam my face for five minutes, in a bowl of hot water with a towel over my head. They then just popped out when I squeezed them.

I wasn’t aware they were doctors… thank you for telling me. Many dermatologists run cosmetics clinics where they offer all the same services (including facials) as an aesthetician and are able to prescribe if over-the-counter treatments are not working.

Emla cream is a topical skin numbing cream. Put it on the nose. Wait 30 mins, do a nice face steam and wash with a face cloth then gently pop them out.

They are not sebaceous filaments. They are rather large blackheads that need to be extracted as they are increasing the size of the pore underneath the visible black part. I would get her to massage the area with some oil or balm cleanser (even olive oil) for a few
minutes, then wash off the oil with warm water and use two q-tips to gently extract extract them.

JFC, do not do this.

A Doctor.

Have you/she been trying to squeeze them without steaming or a hot cloth first?

If so I would at least try it that way first & with a proper implement!

I wouldn’t touch them I would book her a facial with a skincare professional. It could be that they aren’t blackheads.

Warm flannel for about 5 mins, they will easily come out with a quick prod with fingers wrapped in tissue.

I tried this earlier this year and was really impressed:

https://www.boots.com/hero-mighty-patches-surface-10-10334409

I like to use it overnight and then apply a salicylic acid toner in the morning. I don't think the hydrocolloid patch in itself will get rid of blackheads - I use this as prep for a BHA.

I strongly suggest a skin care specialist. You don’t want her to end up with permanently enlarged pores for the rest of her life and blaming you for touching them.

I am old and have an enlarged pore because I tried to deal with a blackhead in my early teens. Teach your daughter not to do things to her skin that could cause scarring.

As a teen I would regularly steam my face, wash then use a clay mask for spots and blackheads.