Sebaceous filaments look like pin sized dots that are found on the nose, upper lips, cheeks, and forehead.
These are formed due to the accumulation of sebum and dead skin cells around the hair follicle.
These are often misunderstood as blackheads or whiteheads. You can always remove them from the skin to get a clear glowing face.
In this guide, we will tell you how to get rid of sebaceous filaments and how to differentiate between the sebaceous filament and whitehead/blackhead.
Table of Contents
What Are Sebaceous Filaments?
Your skin produces its moisturizer. The pores keep producing sebum, and hairy filaments keep channelizing sebum oil into the skin and thus gives the required moisture to the skin.1
When the lining of pores filled with sebum, it appears as a grey dots on the skin. These dots are known as sebaceous filaments. Most people confuse it with some small acne, blackhead or whitehead.
A. Difference Between Sebaceous Filament And Acne
Sebaceous filaments are naturally occurring. It can occur around tight oily areas like nose, chin, and cheeks. Acne can occur anywhere on the face due to some infection.
Sebaceous filaments can be smooth to touch, but acne can erupt much raised from the skin.
B. Difference Between Sebaceous Filament And Blackheads
Blackheads are black while the sebaceous filaments are grey or yellow. Infected sebaceous filaments are blackheads.
When pores remain blocked for a longer period they can turn into the black. Blackhead often occurs once in isolated areas of the face.
C.Difference Between Sebaceous Filament And Whiteheads
Whiteheads are white dots that can occur due to breakouts of acne or pimples. They are a little bigger when compared to the sebaceous filament.
Home Remedies To Get Rid of Sebaceous Filaments On Nose
1. Steaming
Before applying any methods, you need to unblock the pores. Steaming help in unblocking pores and thereby aid in sebaceous filament extraction.2
You need enough hot water that gives steam. Place a towel over your head and place your head above the water bowl. Take the steam for at least 15 minutes. Next, use a tweezer to extract sebaceous filaments if possible. Then, clean your face and pat it dry.
2. Ice
Ice has skin lightening property. It can shrink the large pores, and the sebum will come out of it. Wrap ice cubes in a clean cloth and put it on sebaceous filaments area for 20-30 seconds. Do it regularly to avoid large pores.
It also stimulates circulation and promotes healthier and tighter skin. You can make ice cubes of cucumber, apple juice or rose water for added benefits.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda is an excellent remedy for the sebaceous filament. It acts as an exfoliating agent and also has the anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. It cleans the pores and debris and thus can reduce problems of acne and pimple and balance pH of the skin.
Mix two tablespoon of baking soda in warm water and massage into skin for 2-3 minutes in a circular motion. Repeat this daily.
4. Egg White
Egg white also has skin tightening property, and it exfoliates the pores removing all the dead cells from the inside.
Whisk one egg white and apply a layer of it. Sit for 20 minutes and let it dry completely. You can also apply tissue paper on a layer of egg white and re-apply the egg white on it. Ones dried to remove the layer of egg white along with the tissues paper.
For better result apply alternates days for a month. It not only minimizes the large pores but also provide nourishment to the skin.
5. Fuller Earth
Fuller’s earth is also known as Multani Matti. It can minimize pores and absorbs excess sebum production and eventually help you get rid of sebaceous filaments naturally.
Take two tablespoons of fuller earth and mix it well with 2 tablespoons of rose water. Apply on the whole face and let it dry. Don’t talk after applying it. Wash your face after 10 minutes and apply a mild moisturizer.
6. Sugar Scrub
The homemade sugar scrub exfoliates the skin and removes debris from pores. The scrub can also remove excess sebum and reduces the size of pores.
Take two tablespoons of sugar to it add few drops of olive oil or any other oil. Apply on your face and scrub it for good five minutes. Wash your face with lukewarm water. Do it twice a week for good results.
7. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is the natural astringent. It helps to avoid many other skin problems like pimples acne dark spots and blackheads.
Take lemon juice and add a pinch of cinnamon and turmeric. You can also make a paste with honey and lemon juice.
Apply it on your face every night and wash it with Luke warm water. Do it every night till you get desirable results.
8. Parsley
Parsley provides nourishment to the skin and absorbs the poison of skin. It also has astringent property and uproots anything that can block the pores.
Take handful parsley and put it in boiled water. After sometimes, soak a clean cloth in the same water. Keep it on your face for 10-15minutes. And then wash your face with normal water.
9. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has anti-microbial properties which promote clear skin. It fights against acne and pimples breakout. It can minimize pores size and removes the skin impurities.
Take equal amount of apple cider vinegar and water. With the help of cotton balls apply on your face. For better result do it alternate days. You should try these home remedy to get rid of the sebaceous filaments naturally especially on the nose.
10. Cucumber
Cucumber provides good texture to your face. It also helps in cleaning the skin and removal of dead skin cells.
Take one grated cucumber and add few drops of rose water. Dip a cotton ball in it and apply all over your face. Do it daily for good results.
11. Yogurt
Yogurt contains lactic acid which shrinks the pores and provides nourishment to the skin. It also reduces wrinkles and dark spots.
Apply a thin layer of yogurt on the whole face or sebaceous filaments affected area. Rinse off after 10-15 minutes.
12. Oats
Just like sugar, oats can also use as the exfoliating agent. Oats removes excess oil and dead skin cells. It also smoothes the skin and provides freshness to face.
Take two tablespoons of oats and one teaspoon of milk and honey. Make a paste and exfoliate your facewith this for good 10 minutes.
13. Mineral Water
Mineral water provides enough amount of nourishment to your skin. It can also make the sebaceous gland to produce less sebum in pores. You can directly apply mineral water on your face or even washing your face with it.
14. Reduce Fatty Foods
It is not a remedy but if you have oily skin don’t eat stuff which promotes oil secretion and avoids oil base makeup.
Treatment To Get Rid Of Sebaceous Filaments On Nose?
To cure your sebaceous filaments the best way it to minimize its occurrence by few effective methods. A few such methods are explained below in detail:
a. Over The Counter Treatment
Over the counter, treatments come in forms of gels, creams and nose pads.
Most of the effective treatments contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and resorcinol.3 The treatment can help you in drying excess oil and shedding of dry skin. It will cure and heal the filaments and your pores too.
b. Peel Masks
AHA (alpha hydroxy acid), BHA and glycolic acid help to get rid of the sebaceous filaments on the nose. It can also help to get rid of block pores and clear the dead skin cells.4
You can apply masks containing AHA, BHA or glycolic acid once or twice in a week. They are acidic chemicals so use them in diluted or mild quantity.
Strong chemicals in some treatment remove a top layer of pores and open it. After this technique pores will shrink and become less visible.
c. Salicylic Acid
The salicylic acid is present in face wash for oily skin. It unclogs pores and helps in getting rid of sebum and the filaments. It is also beneficial in getting rid of blackheads and whiteheads.5
You must moisturize your face after use of salicylic acid. It is because it can dry your skin and cause wrinkles or cranking.
d. Benzoyl Peroxide
It acted just like salicylic acid but used it in mild quantity compare to salicylic acid. After washing your face, pat it dry and apply a thin layer of benzoyl peroxide.
Keep it for 2 minutes and wash your face again. It can help you in shrinking the pores and get rid of blackheads.
e. Accutane Treatment
Accutane is a type of drug-containing vitamin A. It will help in the regulation of sebum produced by sebum glands. It also helps in the renewal of dead skin cell and decreases the debris of pores.6
f. Using Pore Strips On Nose
It is the fast and efficient solution to get rid of sebaceous filaments of a nose. When you put the pore strips on a nose, it will pull out the sebaceous filaments, blackhead, and whiteheads.
Nevertheless, it is a temporary solution for sebaceous filaments. This will only remove the filaments but won’t stop its reoccurrence.
g. Laser Treatment
Light and laser treatments can use to remove sebaceous filaments of a nose.It helps in removing dark spots, blackheads, and whitehead on faces.
The doctor will use a concentrated beam light to reduce the oil secretion of skin.7 The top part of the skin is not damaged as beam light reach below the epidermis of the skin.
h. Use Of Mineral Oil
Apply a little amount of mineral oil daily on the nose. When your skin is dry, glands struggle to produce a lot of oil to cover up the dryness. Mineral oil can prevent excess oil secretion and provide adequate nourishment.
How To Protect Sebaceous Filaments From Turning Into Blackheads?
i. Remove Stubborn Blackheads Or Whitehead
The blackheads and whiteheads may contain bacteria which can infect in other sebaceous filaments. Use comedones extractor to remove blackheads only in acute circumstances.
Alternatively, take steam first and then try to remove blackheads from the extractor.
ii. Clean Your Face Daily
Use a cleanser containing salicylic acid. It unblocks pores and minimizes its size. If you have oily skin avoids using an oil-based cleanser but if you have dry skin use cream based cleanser.
Don’t use soaps and always use Luke warm water to wash face. Too hot water can irritate your skin.
Avoid over washing your face. If your skin gets dry sebaceous gland will produce oil in excess to cover up the dryness.
iii. Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliation is needed after every outside visit or if you applied makeup. Pollution and foreign particles can stay in your pores and cause skin problems. Use natural exfoliate and mildly scrubs on the skin. Using harsh can damage your skin.
iv. Use Non-Comedogenic Or Hypo-Allergic Products
Always use products having marked off “non-comedogenic” and “non-allergic” especially the sunscreen or moisturizer. They tested for acne prone skin and didn’t cause harm to the skin.
v. Don’t Touch Your Sebaceous Filaments
Don’t try to pop it there is nothing much you can do. But by touching it can get infected and turn into blackhead or pimples.
Why Are Sebaceous Filaments More Visible On The Nose?
Nose skin secretes sebum more than any other area of the face. Nose has follicle which gets dry and needs lubrication. The more sebum nose skin secretes more it becomes visible.
Why Sebaceous Filaments Are Occurring, And It Is Some Nose Skin Problem?
All areas of skin have sebaceous filaments, but it is visible more on a nose. There is nothing to worry about sebaceous filament.
They are a normal part of skin functioning and are required for healthy skin. Sebaceous filaments can be visible in areas which secrete sebum more, i.e., nose, cheeks, and chin.
Why Are Sebaceous Filaments Visible On Some People Nose Only?
Some people generate more sebum than other due to hormonal or genetic factors. It can be more visible if the lining of pores fill with sebum or you have large pores.
Final Talk
Sebaceous filaments are naturally occurring. They occur on your nose and cheeks especially.
There is nothing to worry about as they are a part of oil secretion process occurring on the face.
However, if they get collected on your nose as grey dark spots, it’s always advisable to remove them naturally.
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