What are sebaceous filaments? They are fine hairs in our follicle that can get a bit clogged down with dead skin cells and oil. They tend to be flat and not dark.
A blackhead is a literal plug of dirt in the pore/follicle that turns dark and usually is not flat against the skin but is slightly raised. A blackhead plug stops your skin's natural oil from flowing and it creates a literal blockage of dirt.
Sebaceous filaments CAN though look like blackheads and for some people, these filaments are more noticeable than in others. They differ though in this one way - blackheads plug up our skin's natural oil function while these filaments help bring oil to our skin's surface and are an essential part of skin health.
You will see some videos online of people tweezing and pulling the filaments out and long term, doing this creates larger pores since the skin will try to - and struggle to - get oil out.
As we age these filaments can become more obvious in their appearance which is why people often think they are blackheads. Aggressive extractions on the nose over time will cause more issues so, it is best to not squeeze and extract them.
So what can you do? Facials keep them in check but they are always working to push oil out. To minimize their appearance, it is essential to bring in a gentle acid.
Note I said gentle - if it is not a gentle acid, the oil in your skin can get too stripped away which then causes your skin to over produce oil. Then you are literally running in circles.
I recommend one home care product to manage sebaceous filaments, it is very gentle (and safe).
Why it works: Purifying Treatment Essence contains anti-bacterial and keratolytic (meaning cleans away excess dead skin cells) properties.
This essence smooths the skin’s surface and prevents the formation of small pimples and congestion by regulating the production of sebum (oil) in our skin.
It boosts your skin's natural exfoliation cycle. Contains wonderful things like niacinamide (brightening), and a natural salicylic acid from willow bark which clears excess oil - safely and not harshly.
How to use: At night. After cleansing, dry face, spray 2-3 pumps onto a flat cotton pad and rub into skin esp areas with excess oil. Finish with a serum and/or moisturizer.