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?

Normalise is usually understood as to make something normal, not return to normal. Normalising skin problems would mean accepting the skin problem as normal. No wonder there’s confusion on this thread!
I still have scars from bad blackhead experiences so I wouldn’t recommend using fingernails or a needle! But those ultrasound skin cleaners look amazing so I’ve just bought one. Thanks for the tip! Merry Christmas!

Love all the beauticians etc telling you you can't possibly deal with a blackhead at home and need to pay their lot a load of money for it

WTF is an "aesthetician" when its at home. I've had a few facials and have always come away feeling they don't have any skills whatsoever that I don't already have, and I'm not particularly into beauty or skin care. I buy good quality products, always use steam/heat to open pores, then clean the skin and have never had any issues dealing with even quite stubborn blackheads at home.

Our skins are coated with millions of bacteria, which are fine as long as they stay on the surface, but which can cause serious infections if introduced under the skin. A dangerous infection is unlikely (though possible), but there is a significant risk of creating a local infected cyst within the blackhead, which then leads to permanent scarring.

You are basically taking a minor temporary blemish (blackhead) and turning it into a lifelong scar.

@Bingobatman , that's the word meaning in a different context.

For example, a retailer could use models with bad acne in its marketing, and that would normalise skin problems.

This seems a bit full on, breaking the surface of the blackhead carefully with a clean needle, washing the face before and after is no different to removing a splinter, and we don’t go to the doctor for that. Are you really suggesting a trip to a medical professional for a few blackheads?

@FastingBitchFace , how many times have you needed to remove a splinter from someone's nose?
A splinter left in the skin can lead to septicaemia.

Not at all. I'm saying don't stick a needle into a blemish that is prone to cystic scarring, because you will convert a temporary problem into a permanent one.

People get infections from foreign bodies like splinters all the time. Cleaning the needle does little to reduce the risk of infection because the infection almost always comes from bacteria on the skin being pushed under the skin by the foreign body.

I'm not sure that doctors know how to remove simple splinters.

Well never, but it's the same idea, obviously. Sticking a needle into skin gently, it's not difficult.

@FastingBitchFace , I would use a needle on a whitehead on my own face
I wouldn't on a blackhead.

What might work is to clean the skin with sanitiser and press the skin gently but firmly around the blackhead. It should pop out. If it does, and comes out cleanly, wipe it off and sanitise it. If it doesn't come out, sanitise it again and leave it alone.

On a preteen I would not put anything harsh on the skin. Sudocrem, savlon or germolene would be my recommendations.

personally I always popped my own pimples wherever they were.

@Benibidibici I am in the USA and an esthetician is a licensed professional in skincare here. So that means you have training and have passed state licensing tests, which you keep current. I am studying to be a Master Esthetician which means I will be licensed to work under the supervision of Doctors and other health professionals in medispas, offering treatments which go below the epidermis (the top layer of skin) to the dermis with medium peels, lasers and other treatments (examples would be removing sun-damage, acne scarring or tattoos, improving skin texture and encouraging the skin to produce more collagen & elastin).
You are absolutely free to take care of your skin at home and never see a professional. Likewise, everyone is welcome to contribute to this thread including professionals who work on skin everyday and have a lot of education and experience.