“Alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic and lactic acid, exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin cells,” explains Dr. Camp. “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.
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.
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.
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!
The skin's normal process of producing sebum can cause sebaceous filaments to become noticeable. This is more likely to occur in people with more oily skin or larger pores, compared with people who have drier skin and smaller pores. Several factors can determine pore size, including: age.
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.
"Any active ingredients that work to exfoliate the skin will improve the look of sebaceous filaments," says Dr. Linkner. "Common examples of active ingredients include retinol, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid."
The best topical treatment for sebaceous filaments and comedonal acne is prescription nighttime topical retin-a, specifically Tretinoin and Tazorac or over-the-counter adapalene gel in conjunction with a morning Salicylic acid wash—a keratolytic (destroying the excess keratin).
Because pore strips aren't strong enough to remove blackheads, but are able to pull out sebaceous filaments, they end up stripping our skin of our natural oils and getting rid of the pore's protection from bacteria.
Retinol and retinoids can also be really effective against sebaceous filaments. They increase the rate of cell turnover, which helps keep dead skin cells from getting stuck in your pores. This, in turn, helps regulate oil flow and prevents sebum from building up and hardening.
The best sebaceous filaments products
Regular use of a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) exfoliant for sebaceous filaments can really help, because BHA is oil-soluble and can dissolve sebum and other substances crowding the pore lining.
These two anti-aging ingredients aren't entirely different. In fact, retinol is a type of retinoid. However, retinoid most often describes more powerful prescription products, while retinol generally refers to weaker over-the-counter (OTC) formulas. As board certified dermatologist Dr.
Glycolic acid is an effective exfoliant, meaning it can remove dead skin cells. It's well suited to reducing hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and uneven skin tone. If you have acne-prone skin, salicylic acid is usually a better option. It can get rid of excess sebum and prevent or treat acne.
People with oily skin or enlarged pores may have sebaceous filaments that are easier to see. But unlike blackheads, sebaceous filaments tend to be sandy colored or light grey, rather than black. Blackheads, on the other hand, are actually black in color.
The fact is, most topical retinoid serums tend to contain higher concentrations of the active ingredient. They also tend to be light to the touch and rarely leave behind a sticky residue. So in that case, it does appear that a serum is the “better” choice over a topical retinoid cream.
Retinol is a gentler derivative of vitamin A and can be found in lots of over-the-counter skin care products (i.e. moisturizers, serums, eye creams). Because retinol is milder, the enzymes in our skin must first convert it into retinoic acid. Once it's been converted, then it will be become effective.
So, should I use vitamin C or retinol for wrinkles? Well, when it comes right down to it, the choice is really in what you're looking to do for your skin. While vitamin C is incredible for the skin because of its ability to help brighten and improve hyperpigmentation, the best active ingredient for wrinkles is retinol.
For the same reason people extract blackheads — cosmetic purposes! Some people find sebaceous filaments (debatably) unsightly and prefer a smoother skin surface. It's important to note that, since they're a part of your skin, they will come back no matter how many times you extract them. Do not pick or squeeze them!
Salicylic acid is studied to reduce the size of sebaceous filaments. Known for its minimizing effect on pores, benzoyl peroxide helps reduce inflammation while getting rid of bacteria and excess oil.
The truth: You can use vitamin C with retinol and retinoids. Get them as separate products so you can tailor the concentration of each and use them at the right time of day. Although vitamin C can be used day or night, it is ideal for daytime use, while retinol and retinoids should be applied at night.
Hyaluronic acid is best if they're looking to moisturize dry skin, while retinol works better by encouraging better skin by boosting collagen production. They have several benefits that can work in tandem for better results, though patients need to be careful with the exact formulations they use.
Retinoids work best if you use them daily. Specifically, they should be used at night because some types are deactivated by light and air. It's important to start slowly and allow your skin time to adjust. Using too much too quickly can cause redness, dryness, and irritation.
Tretinoin cream is available in several strengths. In the US, the strongest tretinoin cream on the market contains . 1% tretinoin, or one unit of tretinoin per 100 units.