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Original poster

Stubborn blackhead

27 replies

mosaicbrokenhearts · 04/02/2025 20:04

12yr old has a stubborn nose blackhead. It is the only one. Have tried steaming and gently squeezing but it won’t shift. What can we try? Don’t want to use the nose strips or anything harsh. Rest of skin is clear.

OP posts:
Fuzziduck · 04/02/2025 20:32

Magnesium sulphate under a plaster overnight. They gently squeeze in the morning. May take a couple of nights.

UserID59272626 · 04/02/2025 20:33

Come on OP, you know we need photos before dishing out advice

TheOddSocks · 04/02/2025 21:02

UserID59272626 · 04/02/2025 20:33

Come on OP, you know we need photos before dishing out advice

Agreed

Original poster
mosaicbrokenhearts · 04/02/2025 21:05

Ahh sorry. She’s in bed now!

OP posts:
MathsMagpie · 04/02/2025 21:31

Photos are currently disabled from the site.

ChaToilLeam · 04/02/2025 21:33

I had a pesky one - gave it a gentle poke with a needle and it came out on next squeeze.

Temporaryname158 · 04/02/2025 21:34

usethe end of a hair pin to put around it, I do this in my sons outer ears and the blackheads lift out

Techno56 · 04/02/2025 21:39

If it's in a place that's tricky to get a decent squeeze, acnecide face wash (the proper stuff about 10 quid a tube) has eventually dissolved my son's.

Bignanna · 04/02/2025 21:57

Poking around with hairpins and needles is not to be advised- unless you’re using aseptic technique!

Original poster
mosaicbrokenhearts · 04/02/2025 22:01

Forgot to say I have tried using the extractor tool from The Body Shop, but I just left a big mark on the skin, I think the extractor hole size thing was too big

OP posts:
Echobowels · 04/02/2025 22:06

MathsMagpie · 04/02/2025 21:31

Photos are currently disabled from the site.

Bet there's frustration over in sporner corner! 😱

Givemecoffee77 · 04/02/2025 22:09

You risk scaring poking at it, I’d just persevere with good skincare, face washing with salicylic acid every couple of nights maybe just locally if the rest of her face is fine. Maybe a little clay mask also. You could try a little salicylic acid spot dot overnight to see if that helps.

SexAndCakes · 04/02/2025 22:13

Temporaryname158 · 04/02/2025 21:34

usethe end of a hair pin to put around it, I do this in my sons outer ears and the blackheads lift out

Edited

I would do this but press a warm compress over it first. Works brilliantly.

PS I had a massive blackhead at a similar age and wouldn't let my mum remove it because I had never had any blackheads or spots before and was embarrassed. It came out eventually but left a scar that I still have in my 40s! It's the only scar I have from acne. Do get it out for your DC.

Original poster
mosaicbrokenhearts · 04/02/2025 23:03

Yep already tried warm flannel and using metal extractor thing (similar to hair pin). Already tried face mask.

OP posts:
ManyATrueWord · 04/02/2025 23:18

Oil then steam then squeeze.

Original poster
mosaicbrokenhearts · 04/02/2025 23:33

Would almond oil be any good?

Already washing with The Ordinary Squalene which is quite oily. No other spots (pre puberty still)

OP posts:
mumda · 04/02/2025 23:36

Is it definitely a blackhead and not a mole?

NormasArse · 04/02/2025 23:40

The Dr got a massive one out of my ear, years ago, by putting a biro (nib end, with the innards taken out) over it and pressing. It forced the blackhead out. He then stood and examined it with great delight- deffo a sporner!

Original poster
mosaicbrokenhearts · 04/02/2025 23:43

It’s definitely a blackhead as I have cleared it before but it’s come back. I’ve tried pressing with the extractor tool, with cotton buds, with flannel. It’s quite stubborn. It’s not huge but you can see it, just on side of nose so quite an awkward place to try and put pressure on. Maybe ill try the mag sulphate.

OP posts:
RNBrie · 04/02/2025 23:47

My daughter (13 now, 12 at the time) had the most incredible stubborn blackhead just above her lip. We also tried everything and in the end it took a pin to scrape away the top and then it squeezed out pretty easily.

I swear to God, it was over a centimeter long, it just kept coming and coming. She is not sporner at all and nearly fainted when I showed her.

She whacked my hand away and it fell on the floor where the dog promptly licked it up before I could get a photo. She's never forgiven me for what came out of her face and I've never foegiven the dog 😆

Good luck OP, I hope you get satisfaction!

MaMisled · 04/02/2025 23:48

This reminds me of when DS was a teenager and had a whopper on his nose. I offered him a tenner to let me near it! I put boiling water in a bowl x he leant over it with a towel over his head for a few minutes. Little squeeze and it popped like a cork!

Mmmkaay · 04/02/2025 23:51

MaMisled · 04/02/2025 23:48

This reminds me of when DS was a teenager and had a whopper on his nose. I offered him a tenner to let me near it! I put boiling water in a bowl x he leant over it with a towel over his head for a few minutes. Little squeeze and it popped like a cork!

So worth £10 though! 🤣

Leoislazy · 04/02/2025 23:52

I bought a small metal storage box from Amazon containing lots of different ‘blackhead removing tools’. Omg I love that thing. Much better than the body shop tool. Lots of different shaped ends to access hard to reach areas and different sized blockages. It does contain a couple of needle type tools but I make sure I sterilise those first if I do have to use them. I prep with clean skin and a warm compress first.
But I need to build my kids up to it/wear them down. They usually won’t let me near them the first time I see something…

ChronicIlness · 04/02/2025 23:55

Get some tweezers and put the flat corner edge on each side of it. Push down and it should pop up.

It will probably work better if you sit with a warm cloth on it beforehand to open up the pore.

I find this method much better than the blackhead removal tools as you often have to get the 'correct angle' when using the tools to dislodge it. I'm also left with large red marks with the tools however the flat base of a tweezer seems to focus the pressure exactly where it needs to be.

sunshinechaser · 05/02/2025 14:12

Watching with interest as my DS has had a stubborn blackhead on his forehead for months. I've tried everything and it won't budge. I'll try and link my thread in case it's any use to you OP

Deep blackhead on DS's forehead. Ideas for removal http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/styleandd_beauty/5218978-deep-blackhead-on-dss-forehead-ideas-for-removal

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