Dermatologomancy[Skin Care]

Slainbylich

I'm kind of at a loss here as I have tried most things that the interwebs has to offer. The problem: my nose. It has these black dots on it, which aren't pimples. The fact that they are evenly spaced and all situated on my pores leads me to think they are blackheads or just clogged pores. Regular washing will do it, right? Wrong. I've tried alot of things in a futile attempt to get rid of them; regular washing, regular usage of exfoliation cream, cleansing cream, no oil cleansers/exfoliators, warming exfoliators, etc etc.

What options do I have? My main concern at this point is to get rid of them so I leave a less ugly corpse behind. Should I just cut the damn thing off? Sandpaper? Visit a dermatolomancer?

NightDragon

It may seem gross, but have you considered "squeezing" them out? Just use the same technique that you would to pop a pimple. Use your nails (not to scrape at your skin, but to squeeze either side of the pore(s).

Have you ever tried those nose strips, where you end up peeling them off your nose, and they grab out whatever nasties are in your pores? Those work for some people.

RUNN1NGMAN

Don't squeeze them with your fingernails! You're just asking for an infection, or at least a more visible blemish.

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser every morning and night, use a exfoliating scrub two to three days a week after washing your face, and also get a salicylic acid cleanser (you should be able to find many at any drug store).

The salicylic acid cleanser will actually get rid of the blackheads, and the face wash and exfoliant will help remove oil and dead skin, which cause the blackheads in the first place.

Daenris

Yeah, I'd recommend the nose strips (Biore or there's probably a bunch of other brands by now). They usually work half decently when I use them. You have to be sure of two things though when using them: 1) make sure your nose is damp/wet when applied (but not completely soaked, or they tend to slip off) and 2) make sure they are 100% completely dry before you try taking it off. They should be dry and stiff like paper mache. If they're not completely dried, they won't work very well.

the cheat

RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »

Don't squeeze them with your fingernails! You're just asking for an infection, or at least a more visible blemish.

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser every morning and night, use a exfoliating scrub two to three days a week after washing your face, and also get a salicylic acid cleanser (you should be able to find many at any drug store).

The salicylic acid cleanser will actually get rid of the blackheads, and the face wash and exfoliant will help remove oil and dead skin, which cause the blackheads in the first place.

i do it all the time. it's fine. i even lance them first! i usually then put those alcohol based scrub pads all over after. that probably helps stave off infection and whatnot.

Slainbylich

I've tried the strips, they have little effect other than just removing some dead skin.

I use a cleanser daily, but again it seems ineffective.

Squeezing doesn't work.

These things don't raise up, or turn into bumps like normal pimples. It's like the pores are filled with little deposits of black wax.

I'm really leaning towards the booze + tinsnips idea at the moment.

Edit: Or needles, I could dig the crap out with needles.

the cheat

yeah get a sewing needle, wash it off with some rubbing alcohol, lance, squeeze. apply liberal anti-bullshit creams and ointments.

1ddqd

Why not go to a spa for a day treatment. Honestly, let a pro do it and tell you about it, then take care of it yourself.

Topia

Go see a dermatologist if you've tried everything else. Man you don't even know what they are. It could be something very simple that is just being overlooked. Just go ask a doctor what it is, and what a possible solution could be.

the cheat

i say this is not doctor-worthy yet. don't be a pussy, lance that shit!

Slainbylich

It isn't painful, and is confined entirely to my nose.

I don't know, should I take a picture and post it? I don't even know if these things are blackheads.

RUNN1NGMAN

From how you've described them, they sound exactly like blackheads.

Salicylic acid, seriously. It's the only thing that can really clean out your pores. A dermatologist will give you the same advice.

Kris

I have pretty much the same problem on my nose. I can get rid of them temporarily by, ugh, sqeezing, but they always come back. If I use that salicylic acid stuff, will it help prevent them from coming back so frequently, or is there something else I can use? Perhaps something that can shrink pores?

RUNN1NGMAN

I'm pretty sure it's a genetic thing--your pores is just programmed to produce a certain amount of oils. If you produce too much, and you also have dirt and dead skin blocking your pores, the oil gets stuck and then turns black. The salicylic acid will get the gunk out of your pores, and will also help exfoliate so you don't have dead skin blocking your pores. I think the best you can do is wash your face every day and use the salicylic acid. That should make them less noticeable at least.

I used to have the same deal--lots of black spots on my nose. Washing my face and using a scrub a couple times a week helped a lot. I can still see them if I look real close, but at least they aren't huge black specks all over my nose.

JebusUD

DONT DO SANDPAPER!

They are blackheads, which are a form of pimple. They are made by the same bacteria.

Now, what I have found to work is to use an exfoliant, I use clearasil ultra scrub, then squeeze them out. Then you want to use some acne cream(somthing with sayilic acid). Let that sit for a bit, then use the exfoliant again.

It helps if you do this right after you shower, because the steam opens up the pores.

Now, another option is to buy some really strong astringent. Apply it with a cotton swab. My girlfriend uses a kind called "sea breeze" which could more accurately be called "Aqua Regia". If you have sensitive skin this will make it feel like it is on fire. It works though, if you can hack it, especially in conjunction with the first technique.

edit:if squeezing doesn't work it is because you have left them there and they have kinda hardened. You just need to poke at them with a needle and then squeeze or do it after you use an exfoliant.

Trowizilla

You could try using a clay face mask. I quite like Queen Helene's Mint Julep Mask. You'll look pretty silly with green goop on your face for ten minutes and it smells kind of like toothpaste, but afterwards your pores will look much smaller and your face will be sooooooo smooth.

Get a good, thrice-weekly exfoliating scrub with the smallest exfoliating particles you can find. Bigger particles (like the St. Ives Apricot scrub, much as I love the smell) won' fit into your pores, which doesn't do you much good. Salicylic acid will help, but don't overdo it or you'll basically give yourself chemical burns.

Dulcius_ex_asperis

I would go to a salon/day spa and see an esthetician. My mom's one, and she does a damn good job of getting rid of the seemingly impossible-to-get-rid-of.

1ddqd

Also, one last recommendation: the Charcoal scrub from Origins (if you have one near you) is really great. Actually, any scrub PERIOD is awesome.

4U2NV

I'm not the only one!

Slainbylich

I feel really, really, epicly, stupid right now.

The bottles with the sicyclic acid never really mentioned letting the cream just sit on the face for a while. I finally decided to just let it sit on my face for a while(couple mintues) and then wash it off. The blackheads aren't all gone, but most of them have been reduced to where I can hardly see them. A few more times like this, and I think they may be gone.

/facepalm

So, I wonder what else I have just been doing plain WRONG. Oh well.

My face turned kind of pinkish/red for a while, but that usually disappears in a half hour. I'm not chemically burning my face yet, am I? I'm sure that would hurt, or at least I think so.

1ddqd

Well, assuming you made a typo, here's the page with the relevant medical info: link

I would say to continue, but according to the specific instructions. Like the article says, you may not see *immediate* benefit, but these things don't happen overnight.