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.

@FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee they're disgusting! I could actually feel my mouth filling with saliva and getting ready to vomit just looking at the photos 🤮

I know this might be a bad idea for a teenager with greasy skin but...instead of using products to dry out/shrink the blackhead, how about trying some olive oil to soften it and ease its passage out?

My exH had a monster blackhead in his ear that he'd had for years, I put olive oil on it for a couple of days and was able to squeeze it out. Oh the satisfaction!

Worth a try?

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21796-dilated-pore-of-winer

I've just watched a video on YouTube. Got, the things you learn on Mumsnet. Definitely a job for a dermatologist especially as it's on his forehead. Local anaesthetic was required, let's leave it there.

The reason I asked about moles is I am very moley and still have new ones arrive from time to time. So if you are under supervision then it's possible it's just a brand new one that's so small it's most obvious test and picking away at it would be rather a bad idea.

Either way, I'd take him to your dermatologist.

Thanks all. I'm a bit stuck when it comes to a private dermatologist. I'm in Glasgow. The one I go to has just retired. When I look online for private paediatric dermatologists there's a couple in Glasgow but the website says they don't do 'surgery' on anyone under 17. My son is 14. Ugh!

Sometimes you just have to wait OP. No amount of lotion, picking and squeezing will extra a blackhead that is simply not ready. It does take several months and then all of a sudden, you’ll see it’s on the surface and it comes out very easily.

For similar my son steamed his face and then put a clay mask on, then a hot shower. Using a blackhead tool and gentle prodding, it popped out...it went so deep, he used a dab of alcohol to seal it.
When it healed up he would put a bit of a light cream on after his shower and rub it for a minute.
Within a month the pore hole had vanished.
Clay masks are great.

. He explains some of the different extraction methods, and there is a good aul sporny bit. Dunno where my hyperlink text went but it said 'this one's good.'

Apologies if I’ve missed something (I have read all of your comments but maybe I skipped something) but have you tried steam/a hot compress, then dig the point of one of the sharp tools* (or needle) in - at least 1 mm but honestly I’d go to 2/3mm - wiggle it about, gently stab it in and out a bit, then steam/hot press again, needle point again and finally push with one of the circle tools?

When I use one of the circle tools I apply pressure so it’s all the way down and around the blackhead, and then kind of circulate it so the pressure moves around it as well (if that makes any sense).

That has worked for a particularly large stubborn one on one of my teens. And I am sorry if you have done exactly that already, it’s annoying when people don’t read the thread properly!

Also have you phoned any dermatologists to ask if they can do a zoom call? I know it’s not ideal but maybe they can give you a few suggestions without actually having to make the trek to see one?

*I am assuming you bought something similar to one of the Amazon tool boxes though (I love mine - although my kids hate it…).

@Leoislazy he stabbed it a little bit but don't think he went down 1-2mm deep. Think it might have been too sore.
I've now got some sterile needles from Amazon so we can try that again soon.
I've looked at some dermatologists who offer video calls but they say they don't see patients aged under 16 (my DS is 14).

Thats odd re the dermatologists - one of mine had terrible skin and saw one as he needed to go on to roaccutane. He was 14 at the time. Mind you we had a gp referral, I don’t know if that helped.

Did your son do the stabbing? I get mine to lay down on the couch and shine their phone torch on to the spot, and I do all the ‘doctoring’. I trust my judgment more!

BTW... I have a black spot on my ankle. It's not a mole and it's been there for over twenty years ...

Me again! The bloody blackhead is still there! I think the problem is it's not 'open' like the blackheads I have on my nose. I have open pores on my nose that are sometimes black but his isn't like this.
My DS's single blackhead on his forehead is actually under his skin. It's deeply embedded under the skin so I think that's why we've not managed to squeeze it out at all. There is fresh, clean skin over it so it's impossible to get the black bit out.
He's just started using Differin cream in the last week and I'm not sure if this is making any difference yet.
Google tells me laser treatment might work so wondered if anyone has tried this or has any other tips for an embedded blackhead under the skin.

I was just wondering about this yesterday.

Are you absolutely positive it's a pore and not a growth?

If you're sure, I'd be tempted to open it up with a big needle! Or a little scalpel. 🤪

I also wonder if it’s a mole. I have one on my cheek bone that I was convinced was a blackhead as it came from nowhere but is actually a mole.

This is totally triggering my urge to go on YouTube and watch blackhead removal videos. I once started scrolling and suddenly it was light outside! There is a lady called Enlissa who removes teenagers blackheads. She is in Texas, but she has a fantastic technique and advises what stuff to use to close the pore and prevent scarring.

It's is 100% not a mole. It's black and under the skin. He has lots of little spots on his forehead now around it and the skin is getting slightly greasy so it's definitely occurring due to puberty.

Did you have a go with a needle OP? You need to break the skin to get it out.

You can use a bit of Bonjella to numb the skin first.

I have a black dot on my ankle. No idea where it came from. It looks like a very dull tattoo.

If there's skin over it, you have to break the skin and then puncture the blackhead. Like you're digging out a splinter, you know, how you prick the top layer of skin and lift it away.

Did you used to do that trend at school where you pushed needles under the skin on your hand.

You don't go deep enough to bleed, it's just the very top layer. But honestly, I'd take him to private dermatologist. They'll get it out. If it was me, I'd go to town with a needle and get it out but since it's a child, I'd let a professional do it.

Yes i agree with pp you have to break the skin.

Moles can be black…I have a couple of small dot like black moles that are completely flat and look like they are under the skin.

Beauty spot is a more common name for the type of mole it can be.

We've got sterile needles from Amazon and he's been piercing it with a fresh needle maybe twice a week, steaming his face then applying a clay mask. I think we need to maybe start doing this every night.
The private paediatric dermatologists I googled in my area state they don't do 'surgery' on under 18s. Plus I can't really afford their fee for 1 solitary blackhead.

You need to gently break the skin, then steam or hot compress, then squeeze. Squeeze from further away than you think, a good couple of mm away from the blackhead rather than right at its edges.

I wish I could have a go tbh!

Piercing it may not be enough if there is a whole layer of skin over it, as a pinprick size hole won’t let it come out especially if it’s quite solid. You may need to lift away that whole layer of skin across the blackhead - obviously as little damage as possible but enough to expose the full lump underneath.

Thanks @minipie. I might have a go tonight.