Deep blackhead on DS's forehead. Ideas for removal

[sunshinechaser]

My DS is 14 and has started getting bumpy, slightly spotty skin as he's going through puberty. He had a raised bump on his forehead which has now fallen off but it's left a really deep black mark that I presume is a blackhead. He's a bit self conscious about it so I wondered if anyone had recommendations for skincare for teens that might help.
He currently uses Cerave blemish face wash that contains salicylic acid and niacinamide and applies salicylic acid lotion twice daily. This usually keeps his skin in good condition but not sure how long this will continue to work as his skin gets spottier with age.

I don't think it is a pore of winer. It's completely flat.
I have a good The Ordinary Salicylic charcoal face mask that I'll put on each night for the next few nights and also sign him up to Dermatica.
Thanks for all the info everyone. I can't actually believe after about a decade on MN my most popular post was about a blackhead 🫨

🤣🤣🤣

who’d have thought there were so many pimple popper fans !

Why do these threads always attract the prissy 'take him to the GP!' replies?

Just squeeze it OP! My teenage son lets me squeeze his blackheads all the time and has no scars

I dont know how so many people are at risk of scars in any case, what do you all do if you bang yourself, cut yourself, burn yourself, are you absolutely covered in scars from them?

Squeezing a spot or blackhead hasnt every resulted in scarring as far as I know

If it’s a blackhead you have to squeeze it. It won’t go away on its own or with skincare. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it take him to a beautician. It’s unlikely to scar unless he’s prone to scarring, I’ve squeezed loads of spots and don’t have any scarring. Although if you leave it too long he might be left with a hole where the pore has stretched. I’d get it out assp tbh.

Just to add, I’d improve his skincare going forward, and use suitable acids etc which should help prevent further blackheads etc forming.

Steam his face to open the pores then use a blackhead tool. You can get those facial vacuum things too which suck the sebum out of pores. Could work on blackheads.

Blackhead need to come out otherwise it will grow. Squeeze it out using cotton buds to ease any pain. Make sure the area is clean before you begin. Do not squeeze acne, it will scar, but blackhead leave no scars

Did anyone mention the oil cleansing method yet? Oil dissolves oil. Then steam.

@ManyATrueWord good idea! I use oil as my first cleanse each night so I'll get him to do this tonight

This does not warrant a GP's appointment. Take him to any pharmacist who will have all the right meds immediately available. No wonder no- one can get a GP appointment with all the crazies telling you to see a doctor! If the pharmacist thinks you need to go to a doctor they will tell you so.

Are you sure it's not a mole?

I want to have a go at this so badly. Will travel

Are you sure it's a blackhead and not blood that has dried black? The black bits you can see in verrucas are actually dried blood and apparently you can get them on your face. Are you sure it's not a verruca?

I definitely wouldn't be squeezing it without knowing what it is.

@MaroonedinWales I am a pharmacist (hospital pharmacist). He doesn't need a GP appointment and I'm happy to get him sorted with a private online prescription. A community pharmacist isn't really great for accessing specialist, prescription only acne treatments.
@BettyBardMacDonald definitely not a mole

Yes, me, but only shallow ones

My late, large cat used to get absolutely enormous blackheads on his chin. I would hold a warm wet flannel to them for about 15 minutes (he loved it) and then quickly press and they would pop out. Black tips with long yellow cores.

Good old Jester.

@NamechangeRugby yes I take Lymecycline regularly on and off for a few months at a time. I'm a female 46 and suffered hormonal acne since age 13. They work but once I stop it's back within 2 months. I have very persistent mild acne I would say. However if it's normal teen acne it might just be enough to break the cycle for a few months or a year even, until they come out the other side if that makes sense? They may have then grown out of it. If one of my DDs shows any sign of the same happening I won't be leaving the GP without a derm referral. It ruined my mental health for a few years when at its worst in my early 20s.

And yes OP I would also be squeezing it ha ha.

As a mother of lads looking at your son’s skin, aside from the blackhead; his skin looks rather good tbh.
i started my sons at an early age on Clinique. They do a clarifying lotion. It comes in different strengths for different types of skin (I’d go for oily/combination). Each night he would just have to wipe his face with this lotion on a cotton pad. It exfoliates and cleans. It’s brilliant. I’ve used it all my life from 17 and as my lads got older I changed them to the men’s Clinique.
as for the blackhead have use tried facial steaming, it opens the pores.

Please tell me you have photos.

You can get magnesium paste, my waxer recommends for ingrown hairs.

Oh @BettyBardMacDonald good old Jester indeed.

I think I might lose an arm if I tried to pin one of my DCats down with a wet flannel. (But I will try to get a sneaky pore inspection in next time one of them is sleepy and docile)

Have you tried zinc paste or even a bit of sudocreme over night

@linsey2581 I think I've still got some sudocreme from when DS was a baby so I'll try that too. Thanks

Watch enlisa on YouTube. Black head remover extraordinaire!!!