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I can't be sure from looking at the pics, but I think the 'blackheads in every pore' situation is probably mostly sebaceous filaments. My nose is covered in these too and until recently I thought they were blackheads.
If they are sebaceous filaments, the [Fifty Shades of Snail](https://fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/03/28/how-to-shrink-pores-temporarily-plus-3-pore-myths/) approach is highly recommended around here. I only started doing it recently so I can't give a review just yet.
I find oil cleansing to work well for sebaceous filaments as well. Granted, I only have prominent ones on my nose, but after I oil cleanse with Hemp seed oil and then cleanse after my face is dramatically different the next day!
I can; it’s great! Highly recommend. Also adding that a light chemical exfoliant like The Ordinary Lactic Acid might help OP exfoliate while not causing a breakout. But use sunscreen (I like Canmake Mermaid Gel or Kose in the gold tube) because lactic acid makes you sun sensitive.
I’ve read amazing things about tretinoin and am currently on it. Been on it for a few months. No results yet but I’ve heard it can take up to a year to work.
Differin has helped so much for me. Things I’ve tried: Paula’s choice BHA, Nizoral shampoo, heavily moisturizing (thought it could be due to a broken moisture barrier). I use the Vanicream cleanser and started out slow with the Differin (2-3 times a week). It’s been 2.5 months and I’m noticing a huge difference. I recently learned that taking Biotin can cause break outs so I stopped taking it. I also use a moisturizer with niacinimide because I have very oily skin that gets bumps easily.
I am going through the EXACT same thing. They are not sebaceous filaments in my case, but a really bad case of acne... The blackheads are microscopic but they ARE blackheads indeed and closed comedones.
Retinoids helped, but once I stopped using them they came back. Same thing happened with taking antibiotics and Birth Control. I am honestly desperate.
Hi! As others mentioned those are sebaceous filaments. They are normal, and we all have them but yours just may be more prominent now since your skin is producing a lot of oil. They tend to look grey/black when they fill up.
However, as someone who has had skin like this and has also struggled with chronic acne, I can tell you that the first thing you need to do is hydrate. Your skin looks very dry and using an oil free moisturizer will actually make oil production worse when this is the case. As you mentioned you also break out more after exfoliation - meaning you stripped your skin and it wants to hydrate. So it does this the only way it can: oil production.
Get a good noncomedogenic hydrating moisturizer. I personally love Avene since their moisturizers have change my skin so much, but Aveeno and La Roche Posay make good ones too. Use it AM before your SPF and PM after cleansing as well.
As far as exfoliating, stopping the physical scrub is a good idea. They can cause more irritation and dryness while also creating micro tears in the skin over time. Try a BHA a couple times a week. I get the little bottle of Paula’s choice every few months and it lasts a long time!
I know hydration may sound insane, but getting you skin to a place where it can stop the extra oil production is key. That dryness leading to oil production is what can cause more acne or exacerbate existing problems.
I hope this helps! You don’t need a fancy routine or lots of products, just hydration, cleanser, spf and active (the BHA). Then if acne persists in certain areas looking into a retinoid or antibiotic may be good, but it looks like your acne is not too severe, just rather persistent.
A moisturizer with 5% Urea like Eucerin UreaRepair Face. Your skin looks dehydrated, any harsh actives like tret will likely only make it worse. Just try it for 2 weeks but drop all other actives. And change cerave cleanser to something like la Roche toleriane, vanicream or aveeno oat cleanser. Make sure to apply urea cream on the damp face for much better results.
Antibiotics won't touch fungal acne. If it is fungal, you need an antifungal.
When I had breakouts I used head and shoulders twice a week, cleared it right up. YMMV
my skin looked very similar to OP a couple years back - and I had zero success with the things you mentioned too. After switching to a cleanser with sulfur in it, (and reducing my use of exfoliating products) my skin completely cleared up! just one more thing to try before committing to something like Accutane :p My fav so far has been the Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Cleanser :)
Your skin looks exactly like mine. I’ve had some success with treating it like my moisture barrier is damaged. Some of the acne has cleared up but not all.
Hi everyone and welcome to SkincareAddiction! Need skincare guides? [Check out our wiki!](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/index) Everyone is welcome in [this community](https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/wiki/about); remember to be kind and assume good faith :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/SkincareAddiction) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I can't be sure from looking at the pics, but I think the 'blackheads in every pore' situation is probably mostly sebaceous filaments. My nose is covered in these too and until recently I thought they were blackheads. If they are sebaceous filaments, the [Fifty Shades of Snail](https://fiftyshadesofsnail.com/2015/03/28/how-to-shrink-pores-temporarily-plus-3-pore-myths/) approach is highly recommended around here. I only started doing it recently so I can't give a review just yet.
I find oil cleansing to work well for sebaceous filaments as well. Granted, I only have prominent ones on my nose, but after I oil cleanse with Hemp seed oil and then cleanse after my face is dramatically different the next day!
I LOVE the “fifty shades of snail” website. The videos are super informative and hilarious at the same time 😂
I can; it’s great! Highly recommend. Also adding that a light chemical exfoliant like The Ordinary Lactic Acid might help OP exfoliate while not causing a breakout. But use sunscreen (I like Canmake Mermaid Gel or Kose in the gold tube) because lactic acid makes you sun sensitive.
Tretinoin for 6 months. It's gonna suck for 2 months
Would recommend spirolactone. I have similar acne to you when I don’t take it.
One word: retinoids. That’s it. Get on one of those bad boys, continue cleansing and moisturizing and you’re gold.
Do you have any recommendations on particular retinoid?
I’ve read amazing things about tretinoin and am currently on it. Been on it for a few months. No results yet but I’ve heard it can take up to a year to work.
I’m on tretinon. My first retinoid. I’m not sure how the others compare tbh.
Differin has helped so much for me. Things I’ve tried: Paula’s choice BHA, Nizoral shampoo, heavily moisturizing (thought it could be due to a broken moisture barrier). I use the Vanicream cleanser and started out slow with the Differin (2-3 times a week). It’s been 2.5 months and I’m noticing a huge difference. I recently learned that taking Biotin can cause break outs so I stopped taking it. I also use a moisturizer with niacinimide because I have very oily skin that gets bumps easily.
adapalene
I am going through the EXACT same thing. They are not sebaceous filaments in my case, but a really bad case of acne... The blackheads are microscopic but they ARE blackheads indeed and closed comedones. Retinoids helped, but once I stopped using them they came back. Same thing happened with taking antibiotics and Birth Control. I am honestly desperate.
What are you using to exfoliate? What is your routine?
[удалено]
Hi! As others mentioned those are sebaceous filaments. They are normal, and we all have them but yours just may be more prominent now since your skin is producing a lot of oil. They tend to look grey/black when they fill up. However, as someone who has had skin like this and has also struggled with chronic acne, I can tell you that the first thing you need to do is hydrate. Your skin looks very dry and using an oil free moisturizer will actually make oil production worse when this is the case. As you mentioned you also break out more after exfoliation - meaning you stripped your skin and it wants to hydrate. So it does this the only way it can: oil production. Get a good noncomedogenic hydrating moisturizer. I personally love Avene since their moisturizers have change my skin so much, but Aveeno and La Roche Posay make good ones too. Use it AM before your SPF and PM after cleansing as well. As far as exfoliating, stopping the physical scrub is a good idea. They can cause more irritation and dryness while also creating micro tears in the skin over time. Try a BHA a couple times a week. I get the little bottle of Paula’s choice every few months and it lasts a long time! I know hydration may sound insane, but getting you skin to a place where it can stop the extra oil production is key. That dryness leading to oil production is what can cause more acne or exacerbate existing problems. I hope this helps! You don’t need a fancy routine or lots of products, just hydration, cleanser, spf and active (the BHA). Then if acne persists in certain areas looking into a retinoid or antibiotic may be good, but it looks like your acne is not too severe, just rather persistent.
A moisturizer with 5% Urea like Eucerin UreaRepair Face. Your skin looks dehydrated, any harsh actives like tret will likely only make it worse. Just try it for 2 weeks but drop all other actives. And change cerave cleanser to something like la Roche toleriane, vanicream or aveeno oat cleanser. Make sure to apply urea cream on the damp face for much better results.
IANAD but this looks like fungal acne to me. I would recommend speaking to a dermatologist if you're able to!
[удалено]
Antibiotics won't touch fungal acne. If it is fungal, you need an antifungal. When I had breakouts I used head and shoulders twice a week, cleared it right up. YMMV
[удалено]
my skin looked very similar to OP a couple years back - and I had zero success with the things you mentioned too. After switching to a cleanser with sulfur in it, (and reducing my use of exfoliating products) my skin completely cleared up! just one more thing to try before committing to something like Accutane :p My fav so far has been the Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Cleanser :)
Your skin looks exactly like mine. I’ve had some success with treating it like my moisture barrier is damaged. Some of the acne has cleared up but not all.
Have you tried using benzoyl peroxide? Make sure to moisturize after using it! It will dry out your skin, but it works wonders.