When the excess sebum mixes with dead skin and bacteria, that's when the filaments can become inflamed—and that's where blackheads come into play. Once those sebaceous filaments build up and up, they can quickly turn into acne. Then once it oxidizes, it'll turn dark in color, and—poof!
“A sebaceous filament is just oil and keratin — no bacteria. They are not harmful.” Similar to a blackhead, however, the contents of a sebaceous filament oxidize when they hit the air, making them appear dark in color.
Sebaceous filaments can be removed with light and laser treatments, which helps remove dark spots, blackheads, and whiteheads from the face. To reduce skin oil secretion, the doctor will use a concentrated beam of light. The top layer of the skin is not damaged because the beam light penetrates below the epidermis.
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.
“When the sebum is exposed to air and oxidizes, it turns black and is then considered a blackhead.”
The sebum and other materials plugging your pores as sebaceous filaments can eventually become blackheads. As the pore fills, the sebum is exposed to air and turns black, becoming a blackhead. Sebaceous filaments can also be the foundation for various forms of acne, such as: papules.
Clogged pores on the face show up as little dark spots. Pores produce oil, and sometimes that oil gets stuck around the opening of the pore. And because oil is sticky, it holds on to dead skin cells. Then, as the oil dries, it turns dark brown.
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.
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.
A blackhead forms when a plug of oil, or sebum, and dead skin cells partially blocks a hair follicle, or pore, in the skin. When a pore remains open, the oil combines with oxygen and turns black. In a closed pore, the plug of oil appears as a whitehead. Most people will get blackheads at some point during their life.
Look closely at the tip of your nose. Do you see small, pin-like dots on the surface of the pore? If the dots are quite dark, then you're most likely looking at blackheads. If they have a clear-ish tone, or a gray or yellow tinge, what you're likely seeing are 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!
While blackheads are a form of congestion typically seen on the nose and forehead, sebaceous filaments are actually part of your skin—they're tube-like structures that help facilitate oil secretion from the sebaceous glands to your skin.
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.
Your pores can become clogged for a number of reasons – excess oil resulting from hormonal changes, dry skin, a buildup of dead skin cells, or dirt and oil becoming stuck beneath the surface. When the skin closes over the top of a clogged pore, you get a pimple – aka a closed comedone.
Pore strips can damage more sensitive, thin skin and even pull out both skin and hair. That's why there's a warning within the instructions to only use nose strips about once a week. Overusing nose strips can make your skin actually look worse. Pore strips can be abrasive, causing skin irritation and turning red.
As mentioned, sebaceous filaments are healthy, the goal is not to try and remove them completely (which you would do well to achieve anyway). The objective is to prevent them from turning into breakouts or cysts. We would recommend a gentle exfoliator to break down and dissolve the sebum plugs.
PLEASE DO NOT DO MULTIPLE STRIPS IN A ROW.
Sebaceous filaments are most commonly found in the centrofacial areas and the alae nasae in postpuberal individuals with large facial pores and seborrhea.
Utilize Active Ingredients Like BHA, AHAs, and Retinoids
Allawh. “They not only help treat sebaceous filaments, but also prevent [new] sebaceous filaments from forming.”
Try a Gentle At-Home Facial
“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. To use this facial, apply a thin, even layer once or twice a week.
Sebaceous filaments vs.
When the excess sebum mixes with dead skin and bacteria, that's when the filaments can become inflamed—and that's where blackheads come into play. Once those sebaceous filaments build up and up, they can quickly turn into acne. Then once it oxidizes, it'll turn dark in color, and—poof!