Can You Get Rid of Sebaceous Filaments? Since sebaceous filaments are a normal part of your skin, you cannot get rid of them. While large sebaceous filaments can be professionally extracted, removing them is only temporary—they always come back.
Unfortunately, filaments are part of the micro-anatomy of the skin and cannot be removed permanently. However, you can minimize its appearance. "Any active ingredients that work to exfoliate the skin will improve the look of sebaceous filaments," says Dr.
Use Salicylic Acid
“Salicylic acid is your go-to ingredient if you have sebaceous filaments. It's a beta-hydroxy acid that helps remove excess oil and exfoliate dead skin cells from the skin to keep the pores clear,” says Dr.
If you have typically oily skin, this means that there is an overproduction of sebum, a natural oily substance that is intended to lubricate the skin. Whenever this overproduction of sebum occurs, the sebaceous filaments can fill up and resemble very enlarged pores.
Sebaceous filaments are permanent, but you can minimize their appearance.
Most derms consider retinol to be their go-to pore de-clogger, and it can also help with sebaceous filaments too. “Topical retinoid creams help push clogs to the surface, decrease oil production and tighten the appearance of pores,” says Dr. Susan Bard, an NYC-based, board-certified dermatologist.
Regular use of a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) exfoliant for sebaceous filaments can really help, because BHA is oil-soluble and can dissolve sebum and other substances crowding the pore lining. Use of a well-formulated clay face mask for sebaceous filaments might also help due to the clay's oil-absorbing properties.
Salicylic acid, also known as beta hydroxy acid, is an ingredient in many facial cleansers and acne creams. These products may contain 0.5% to 2.0% percent salicylic acid. This type of acid may help reduce the amount of oil on the skin and the size of sebaceous filaments.
Sebaceous Filaments: How Can I Treat Them? Make a date with your dermatologist, who can prescribe a topical retinoid like Altreno or Arazlo, which helps speed up cell turnover with minimal irritation. (For similar results without an rX, Dr. Hartman recommends La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel .
Truth be told, you can never completely get rid of sebaceous filaments. You can extract them, but they'll come back shortly thereafter, usually around 30 days or less for those with very oily skin.
Try a trio of specific active ingredients.
Shamban says that she's seen a big difference among patients using a combination of salicylic acid, niacinamide, and retinol. “This trio can be amazing for reducing the appearance of sebaceous filaments,” she says.
To keep your sebaceous filaments in check, we recommend you wash your face with a gentle, salicylic-acid-packed formula like the CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser ($12) daily to help dissolve any oil buildup, and then apply an OTC retinoid treatment to keep sebaceous filaments from coming back.
Research shows a link between people who consume foods with a high glycemic index and those with acne vulgaris, which is caused by inflammation of the sebaceous glands. These types of foods include pastas, breads, and cereals made with white flour, as well as white rice and sweeteners.
You can use glycolic acid, tea tree oil, and salicylic acid to cleanse your pores and reduce the appearance of sebaceous filaments over time. Washing your face with a mild cleanser, exfoliating your face once a week, and eating a balanced diet can prevent sebaceous filaments from being visible.
Even though sebaceous filaments are not acne, they can sometimes be so noticeable you can't help but want to pick at them. When this happens, try using a pimple patch to cover the area. The patch will draw out the sebaceous filament and protect the pore from your fingers.
Using pore strips on the nose is a quick and effective way to get rid of sebaceous filaments (temporarily). Use any of the following products to exfoliate the skin and unclog the troublesome pores: Salicylic acid (or butylated hydroxyanisole) Benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide would applied after washing during the day. Creating a skin care routine that combines all 4 of the best pore-cleaning keratolytics is a powerful way to reduce both blackheads and sebaceous filaments. It's also a great way to brighten your complexion.