Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $32. This stuff is full of salicylic acid, so will dissolve clogged pores and refine their appearance, thus reducing the look of sebaceous filaments.
“Beta hydroxy acids, like salicylic acid, are lipophilic, allowing them to mingle with oil deep within the pore and break up oil plugs.” This combination is a sebaceous filament-killer.
Utilize Active Ingredients Like BHA, AHAs, and Retinoids
“These ingredients penetrate pores and help remove excess skin and debris,” says Dr. Allawh. “They not only help treat sebaceous filaments, but also prevent [new] sebaceous filaments from forming.”
Salicylic acid
This type of acid may help reduce the amount of oil on the skin and the size of sebaceous filaments. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble , which means that it can penetrate sebum and help clear pores.
How to Reduce Sebaceous Filaments on Your Face. Use a Cleanser with Salicylic Acid. Remove excess impurities and sebum with a charcoal acne cleanser with salicylic acid. Salicylic acid helps dissolve the dead skin cells and oils clogging pores that might lead to large sebaceous filaments.
Its really helped to clear my nose of sebaceous filaments! Even with BHA and AHA in my routine, my nose was prone to these clogged pores of sebaceous filaments; it literally looked like these plugs dotted on the sides of my nose, gross!
Retinoids or simply retinol can be very effective at removing sebaceous filaments from the face. If the skin is extremely sensitive, start by incorporating it one time a week into the skincare routine and gradually increase the frequency of use.
Sebaceous filaments are natural, healthy features that help move sebum to the skin's surface for moisturizing. Blackheads form when too much sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria clog a pore. Because sebaceous filaments are a normal part of your skin's moisturizing process, they should be left alone.
Try oil cleansing.
Oil dissolves oil, so an oil cleanser can actually eliminate excess sebum, as well as daily dirt and grime (aka, the exact recipe for sebaceous filaments). "I especially like oil cleansers for oily, congested skin," says Britta Plug, holistic esthetician and mbg Collective member.
Why Is My Nose Oily? Your nose is likely oily because your sebaceous glands are producing more oil than necessary to keep your skin hydrated. The sebaceous glands beneath the pores in your skin are responsible for producing the natural oils, also known as sebum, that keep your skin healthy.
Chemical exfoliation through gentle fruit acids, gommage or microdermabrasion are the best methods to remove them.” Not only is a professional facial a great starting point to remove sebaceous filaments, but the esthetician can also recommend pore shrinking products to help manage their appearance on a daily basis.
In vitro, retinoids have been found to significantly reduce sebocyte proliferation, differentiation, and synthesis of sebum. In-vivo studies and clinical experience with topical retinoids have made known the common adverse effect of dry skin, but direct evidence of reduction in sebum output is lacking.
Yes, it is safe to use niacinamide and BHA together. Both formulas are effective yet gentle and contain additional calming and restoring antioxidants. Some people with extra-sensitive skin may find that alternating them by using one in the morning and one at night works best.
Overview. A highly concentrated niacinamide (vitamin B3) serum that effectively tightens and minimizes the look of sagging pores and rough bumps caused by age or sun damage.
Absorbs oil, reduces blackheads and enlarged pores, and balances oily skin.
A deep cleaning clay/mud mask is great for helping draw out the sebum and dirt in your pores, aka the sebaceous filaments.
Don't: Squeeze them.
You might see a gnarly-looking plug in the mirror, your fingers practically itching to pop and squeeze the blemish—don't. "Squeezing can traumatize the skin, introduce bacteria, and damage the pore, which can spread debris and bacteria deeper into the tissue," King notes.
Over-the-counter medications, creams, and face washes that contain retinol may help clear clogged sebaceous glands. Some people may find that regularly washing the skin with a cleanser containing salicylic acid can help dry-oily skin and prevent clogged glands.
Can You Pop Them? Yes, a professional can technically extract sebaceous filaments, but this is a temporary solution. For many people, sebaceous filaments may not be visible at all.
What Do They Look Like? Usually you can spot a blackhead easy enough, sebum plugs are a little trickier but if you grab a magnifying glass you can see them no problem. You will notice that although they may look like little black dots from a distance, they are actually more of a white or yellow color.
Pores can become clogged with excess oil, dead skin, or dirt, or they can appear more prominent as a result of too much sun exposure. Other factors that can influence pores becoming clogged include genetics and hormones.
Nazarian recommends exfoliating with topical medications, such as glycolic acid, retinoids, and salicylic acid, to break down the plugs and dissolve them. Eventually, your pores will refill, so like a game of Whac-a-Mole, those sebaceous filaments will pop right back up, requiring you to be consistent in your routine.