The Truth About Tiny Black Dots on Your Nose and How to Treat Them

Wondering what to do about the bristly black dots lining your nose and facial contours? Guess what ? 

They might not be the dreaded blackheads, hard to uproot and much too prominent to be concealed.  You are probably on the wrong track removing them with an extractor.

These dark little bumps are neither blackheads nor acne – but sebaceous filaments that are there somewhere on the same spectrum. 

So, step away from the looking glass and keep reading before attempting to draw them out wrong.

 

What Causes Sebaceous Filaments on Skin?

Unlike acne, sebaceous filaments do not have plugs, allowing oil to freely travel to the surface of your skin. Caused mainly from oil, dirt, and dead skin cell buildup, sebaceous filament formation is often aggravated by warm weather. 

Other factors causing sebaceous filaments are as follows — 

Genetic Traits

In most cases, heredity determines skin pore size which becomes a factor causing sebaceous filaments to form and grow. 

The largest dermal openings are found on top of the nose, the outline of the upper lip and chin area, as well as sometimes over the eyebrows. 

Advancing Age

With advancing age, skin collagen is increasingly lost, making skin lose its elasticity and strength. 

This causes existing pores to enlarge and emerge into sebaceous filaments. Along with other signs of skin ageing, sebaceous eruptions render facial skin lusterless and flawed. You may experience more of this if you have oily skin.  

Unchecked Sun  Exposure and pollution 

Spending significant amounts of time in the sun and dust , especially without protective sun block cream causes proneness to sebaceous filament outbreak. 

This happens due to excessive sweating from heat, triggering dermal lubrication. 

Must Read : How To Choose The Right Sunscreen For Your Skin – Tips From Dermatologist

Stocky Hair Follicles

As in the case of genetics-determined large skin pore, some individuals may also have thick facial hair roots. Stocky follicles tend to collect oil and accumulated dirt, increasing the occurrence of sebaceous filaments on face, neck, and other parts. 

Prevention & Cure

Sebaceous filaments have a real purpose for distributing oil in your skin, keeping it glowing, youthful, and pleasantly taut. 

However, you need to keep a balance in dermal oil secretion to keep skin pores contracted and prevent facial skin from growing clusters of unseemly black dots. 

Here are some common practices to maintain a check on sebaceous filaments from early on –

Individuals with oily skin might still be experiencing formation of these filaments, in which case, consult a dermatologist in Bangalore regarding medically applying the following chemical components in your skincare products –

Salicylic Acid 

An effective agent for reducing facial oiliness, this acid treatment will remove sedum from deep inside the skin pores. As a result, you may still grow filaments but those would not be noticeably as prominent. In addition, the acid will loosen accumulated dirt from dermal pores and make your skin feel squeaky clean and fresh! 

This chemical is available without a medical prescription but it is highly advisable to get a prescribed dosage from a dermatologist. Skin type and associated conditions are crucial factors that must be taken into account when deciding on the right strength of this chemical preparation. 

Besides use in gel moisturisers, soaps, skin patches, or shampoos, salicylic acid may also be dermatologically administered in peel treatment. With Salicylic Acid chemical peel treatment, expect deep exfoliation of surface layers wherein the surface skin sheds away or peels, followed by cell regeneration and glowing rejuvenation. 

Benzoyl Peroxide

An ingredient often effectively used for acne treatment, also works on filaments of sebum. Caution – ointments containing this chemical may dry your skin and significantly limit oil production. But in the process, skin pore size would be reduced and the pores would be cleared from the deep down.

Benzoyl peroxide, whether prescribed in ointments or administered with a chemical peel, is best applied under the guidance of dermatological experts. Considering your skin type, age, and other associated factors, the concentration of the product may be regulated to protect your skin from hyper-dryness and peeling. 

Tea Tree Oil

Rejuvenating essential oils are often found to regulate oil content in skin without causing dryness. Empowered with the benefits of antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, tea tree oil is ideal for topical application on skin where the sebaceous filaments are raising their heads. 

Tea tree oil available 100% undiluted and it is advisable to take the opinion of a dermatologist as to how much of the oil should be used in your day to day care products.

In conclusion, don’t forget to protect your skin from long hours in the sun and do the other needfuls to keep dermal pores manageably smaller in size. Sebaceous filaments remain undetectably tiny if your skin care routine is accurate and well maintained. 

Tretinoin and Adapalene

These molecules help with breaking down the plugged oil gland and reduce the secretions. 

Adapalene helps in reducing the inflammation. Used for treating early acne, it unblocks pores, treats blackheads and whiteheads. Tretinoin also helps in minimizing the size of the pores and boosting exfoliation, clearing the pore debris and allowing them to go back to their normal size.

Use it under dermatologist advise, since it can be harsh if not used the right way.

Q-switched laser for the pigmented hair 

Fine hair on the nose can be reduced by using the pigment lasers, this leads to clearer skin on the nose .

These are simple ways you can reduce the black dots on the nose and remember not to harm your skin by constantly removing the content.