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.

My 19 year old has one like that on his nose - it won't squeeze out, is not affected by heat or potions and lotions. Every now and then he hoicks it out with a needle or the hook that came in a set of blackhead removers. Unfortunately the hole refills as he doesn't do after care because he can just poke it out later.

I wonder if a good beautician would get it out rather than the expense of a dermatologist.

@CerealPosterHere I posted on the thread earlier that I took him to a beautician who is known for her blackhead extractions. We went twice but she couldn't get it out and didn't want to keep taking my money as she said it won't budge.

This is the only paediatric dermatologist near us that seems to have any availability and his bio states that he only does surgical procedures on patients aged 17+. I'm not sure if blackhead extraction would be classed as a surgical procedure but I certainly don't want to pay £300+ to find out.

I don’t think this is a dermatologist’s thing really. Unless you are unsure what it is.

This might sound weird but I had a verruca years ago that wouldn't shift. Went and paid for it to be frozen, bazooka/home treatments, all sorts. Nothing worked. Finally after 2 years a podiatrist said he was not going to do another round of freezing because he had already done longer than he was meant to, but to leave a blister plaster (compeed style) on for as long as possible, just replacing it when it fell off without letting it "breathe". He said 1 month would work best to be on the safe side. I did and it worked! Not suggesting you do it for a month, but maybe a thick non-breathable plaster over the top overnight or on a weekend would pull it out when removed?
If not another good exfoliant for skin is glycolic acid which might work better?

@JeanPaulGagtier maybe a hydrocolloid plaster. You can get them for spots. It should help soften the skin that's covering it and draw the blackhead out or at least make it easier to squeeze

Acids-he washes his face daily with Cerave salicylic acid face wash and then applies a salicylic acid toner 10% then a light moisturiser. He has also started using Differin cream (adapalene) which I think is an acid too. He has no dryness from all these acids but they’re not doing anything to the bloody blackhead!
Hydrocolloids-we have Dots for Spots which I think are hydrocolloid but he has only used them once or twice. I’ll maybe get him to wear one each night but not sure of that will draw out the Differin cream…

Whenever my DC has something that won’t budge or evolve into something we can deal with I tell him to hassle it, and it’ll give itself up. So, give it a little tug every day. Annoy it. Every time we do this he eventually wakes up with a blackhead that’s turned yellow or green and then it can be squeezed out.

Or, there is a cream that specifically draws things out. I can’t remember what it’s called but you apply it, cover with a plaster for a couple of days and it draws out deep gunk. I had a spot on my leg for 6 months. They thought it was something nasty, then tried this, and it was gone in 2 days. It was a bite with poison deep in my skin.

@RunningScaredStiff yes I think daily steaming and squeezing is the way to go.

Oooh, sporn in style and beauty section, excellent!

Magnesium Sulphate paste, good stuff, ask the pharmacist.

Yes, that is it.

Niacinimide?

It's probably been mentioned, but Adapalane is what you are looking for.
Pharmacies sell it for £12, but it's a prescription.
www.monderma.co.uk/

Paula's choice bha toner

www.paulaschoice.co.uk/skin-perfecting-bha-liquid-exfoliant/2016.html?src=2016&aw_account=1510415071&aw_campaign=20765025568&aw_adgroup=155087964843&aw_creative=680216203600&aw_dev=m&aw_target=pla-391780012499&aw_type=search&aw_keyword=&aw_matchtype=&aw_pos=&utm_content=shopping&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADiNfSk22l_yl5NQjKvrOPcs_Q37n&gclid=CjwKCAjwp8--BhBREiwAj7og1yTuG20eWZVBIH1WxOni6hiHY1VEW3u4SVWqUS2kq2qb7uwB3AdEuBoCvv4QAvD_BwE

Look- honestly, all this advice is all well and good but the real question is .. OP, when it pops can you please pretty please film it and post on here!!

@rumkar you probably missed it as this thread is so long but he’s using adapalene each night. I tried to get it on the Superdrug online acne service first of all but the request was refused. I think this is because he really only has 1 blackhead and the rest of his skin is pretty clear. I then managed to get it from a company called Pharmica after answering a few questions about his skin. He’s only started using it in the last week/10 days but I think it’s working well so far.

@Christmasbear1 I don’t think this is strong enough. He tried it for a while and it didn’t help so I got him a 10% salicylic acid peel toner and that really helps keep spots at bay. If he forgets this for a night or two he’s got lots of bumpy skin afterwards. Thanks anyway.

Can you scratch the skin very slightly so a tiny scab forms over the blackhead.
When the scab falls off it may take the top layer of skin with it making the blackhead easier to remove.

This is going to sound really weird @sunshinechaser, but I was laying in bed last night, unable to sleep, and I was thinking about your DS's blackhead problem (I told you it was going to sound weird!) Anyway, I think if it was one of my DC and it was really bothering them, I would pop a bit of numbing cream over the area, then very carefully, using a sanitised scalpel, make a tiny incision in the skin, maybe 2 or 3mm long and similarly deep. Then try extracting with a blackhead remover. It worked most satisfactorily in my minds eye, so thought I'd share my late night musings!

@OliveWah 😂 I’m glad you were thinking about me and my DS-that’s very kind of you but yes weird! He’s been steaming his forehead every day and the blackhead is slowly rising to the surface so I’m hoping to avoid any scalpel work. My eyesight isn’t good enough to go near his face with anything sharp!

I love this and eagerly opened the thread looking for an update from OP (and photos)!

Oh my goodness it’s still there 😁 Use the needle not just to pierce the skin but to do a little rummage. Don’t be nervous!

Yeah i would definitely get digging.