Sebaceous filaments and how to get rid of them
Why people confuse them with blackheads and how they’re different
Sebaceous filaments are the small gray and yellow dots seen on cheeks and the nose area. They are skin pores covered by sebum; oil produced by sebaceous glands. Their function is to allow passage of this oil from the sebaceous glands to the outside of your skin to help counter moisture loss and environmental attacks. They are invisible features but may be seen, especially after excessive oil accumulation, making them to harden and overstretch. Many clients keep asking how you can eliminate these sebaceous filaments, and this is what I tell them;
Never forget to wash your face after exercise
Exercise mostly increases sweating. But it is never safe letting the sweat and bacteria remain on your skin. It can block your sebaceous filaments, causing irritation and various skin breakouts. I always tell my clients to use a cleanser for washing before drying and applying a lighter lotion.
Use an exfoliator
An exfoliator with salicylic acid can help reach deeper in your pores to reduce clogging, hence minimizing the filaments’ appearance. It also hinders more filaments from growing. This will reduce irritation risk and other issues. It is best to exfoliate twice every week for better results.
Interestingly, most people interchangeably use sebaceous filaments and blackheads. I know it is confusing because they seem to be similar, but no. Well, sebaceous filaments are part of the skin composition. They are the link to oil travel from the sebaceous glands to the skin surface. Also, their appearance is light grey or beige. Conversely, blackheads come about following a malfunction of the filaments; when there is improper function after excessive oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells accumulation in the pores. If the blocked pore is exposed to air, it will oxidize and form blackhead. But if covered by the skin, it forms a whitehead. Also, blackheads are noticed by their black color on the skin’s surface.