Sebaceous Filaments are the bane of my existence. Do you have to squeeze your skin a night before a big event? I do that often after every party or meeting.
I know some of you will say why to remove them when they will come back soon after some time. They are natural. I understand that. But we don’t want our skin full of SFs and blackheads.
Let’s know more about SFs which will solve all our problem related to this topic. You know what are the factors responsible for SFs? I will tell you in this article.
But before that let me tell you what actually SF is.
What is Sebaceous Filaments?
Many people have them, but we all don’t want them. Sebaceous Filaments are just a normal part of skin anatomy. For some of us, SFs can’t be prevented and won’t go away. They can only be eliminated.
Basically, they are clusters of visible pores on oilier areas of your skin. If they are gray or black, you might think they are normal blackheads. And if they are white or yellow in color, they can be whiteheads.
To your surprise, they are rather a type of spots known as Sebaceous Filaments.
Sebaceous Filaments (SFs) Vs Blackheads
How to distinguish between SFs and blackheads? Here are some points that tell the difference between two:
- The First difference is, blackheads appear anywhere on the skin whereas SFs appear in tight clusters on the oilier part of your skin.
- The Second difference is, blackheads are more visible as compared to SFs.
- The third difference is, blackheads makes your skin rough whereas SFs are smooth.
Causes of Sebaceous Filaments
Sebaceous Filaments are present on every person’s skin. They are responsible for bringing up sebum or oil created by the Sebaceous gland on the surface of your skin. It is for natural moisturization of the skin.
Good news! If you have less natural oily skin, you have a good news. SFs are less visible on the less natural skin.
On the other hand, people with oily skin are not so fortunate. It is the excess oil which makes your pores more visible and larger in the size. Now let me tell you some ways to get rid of SFs and blackheads.
Different Ways to Manage Sebaceous Filaments
1. Use products whether it’s skincare, makeup, or even hair care without comedogenic ingredients
“Non-Comedogenic,” “Non-Acnegenic,” and “Dermatologist Tested” written on the labels aren’t regulated. They aren’t required to be substantiated by the FDA. They are marketing terms.
There are various comedogenic ingredients found in your skin, hair, and personal care products. Clogged pores can increase the occurrence of sebaceous filaments and can lead to the growth of comedones.
2. Don’t Over-Wash Your Skin
We think foaming cleansers and scrubs dissolves/dislodge the comedowns and filaments. This isn’t likely to happen. There are certain retinol and acids like salicylic known to expel comedones. This is quite often at the expense of the health of the skin.
Foaming cleansers, scrubs, most retinol, and acids can cause irritation in the surrounding tissue to such an extent that it makes the skin even more susceptible. This can lead to inflammation and bacterial growth.
It can result in the larger size of comedones. Since these products cause skin cells to shed more rapidly, which might attach to the existing comedones. Eventually, leading them to expand.
3. Keep your Body Hydrated
Water is essential for our body. If we don’t drink enough water, our skin will start drying. The more hydrated the skin, the less constricted the pores. And ultimately the less tightly they’ll hold on to comedones.
Hydrated skin is soft, smooth and causes the follicles to expand. and naturally. Drinking sufficient water also helps your skin to maintain a healthy cell turnover rate. It prevents building up of dead cells and debris.
4. Include Healthy Lipids in your Diet
Essential fatty acids from whole-food sources like seeds, greens veggies, nuts, and fatty fish help to strengthen your skin at cellular level. It also helps skin cells to retain moisture as they rise to the surface.
One more factor related to consuming more lipids is it helps to promote regular sebum secretion and prevent overactive sebaceous glands.
Use of non-comedogenic oils in topical products can help lock in moisture and prevent loss of water from your body. It keeps the follicles hydrated, soft and lubricated. This also solves the problem of additional dead cells, bacteria, and debris from attaching to the follicle walls.
It becomes more important after blackheads extraction, to encourage the follicles to soften and prevent them from “filling back up.”
5. At-home facials with steam and a clay mask or herbal compress
We are aware of the fact that steam helps to dilate the follicles and encourages them to release comedones and filaments inside.
Natural adsorption by clays and muds like bentonite, French Green Clay, or the Dead Sea mud–as well as compresses, made up with drawing natural ingredients and herbs like castor oil, burdock root, and dandelion root help to pull out even deeply lodged comedones.
You can follow it with a non-comedogenic oil serum or moisturizer to seal in moisture and prevent reattachment of debris and dead cells following the treatment.
Isn’t it a natural and easy way for treating those stubborn SFs and blackheads?
6. Use antioxidants contained products for your skin
You must have noticed many time, blackheads and sebaceous filaments are a bit whitish-yellowish in color inside the follicles.
Now, what causes them to turn black on the surface?
It happens because of the oxidation from free radicals in polluted air, from the sun’s radiation, as well as certain ingredients in skincare products and makeup that results in the darker color on the surface.
Antioxidants help in neutralizing free radicals and prevent oxidation.
Let me tell you what I personally use for removing them naturally. Do check it before moving further
7. Go for some regular gentle deep-pore cleansing facials
It is must to get some regular cleansing facials. It not only clear the dirt from your skin but also make your skin look flawless.
These facials include a proper facial massage, cleansing, steaming, enzyme treatment (a gentle one), professional extractions, a masque, and a moisturizer.
These also include galvanic electrotherapy, which removes clogged pores and comedones by turning excessive sebum into soap.
Cool? YES.
8. Don’t pick
There are few things you really need to avoid. Don’t go for them.
I know how tempting it is, but DIY extractions often lead to rapid increase in the spread of bacteria, damaged tissue, broken capillaries, hyperpigmentation.
You might also have permanent scarring. You don’t want that to happen with your beautiful skin. Don’t you? Of course, you do!
So these were the different ways to clear your Sebaceous Filaments.
Natural ways to treat Sebaceous Filaments
You can never get rid of SFs. They can only be eliminated. You will come to know about various natural ways to treat your stubborn SFs and blackheads. You might have SFs on various parts on your face including chin, nose, breasts and other oilier parts of your body.
Look: you really need to pay attention here to get rid of these SFs.
Remember not to squeeze them!!
I know how tempting it is to squeeze them and get rid of them. But my friend, don’t even think of squeezing them. You will land up in a big trouble.
- First thing, you will develop many scars on your face.
- Second thing, by pressing them, you are exposing them to bacteria.
- Popping SFs can also cause scarring.
Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
This is an effective ingredient to treat your SFs. Baking Soda helps in reduction of Sebaceous Filaments by exfoliating your skin. Here are few simple and easy steps to use baking soda and reduce your SFs like a pro.
- Take a small amount (as per requirement) of baking soda and mix it with water.
- Prepare a paste of this mixture (baking soda + water).
- Don’t forget to clean your face before applying the paste.
- Wash your face with warm water and gently dry it with a towel.
- Now apply the paste on your face for at least 3 min.
- Nicely wash your face with lukewarm water.
- You can use this twice a week.
Salicylic Acid
You can buy the beauty and personal care products which contain Salicylic acid. It helps in reduction of SFs. It helps to remove sebum buildup and exfoliate dead skin.
But you need to take care of one thing, salicylic acid dries off the skin. Therefore, make sure your face is well moisturized.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is the strongest and most effective chemical for the treatment of SFs, acne, and other skin related problems. It removes the extra oil and exfoliates dead skin cells. Using benzoyl peroxide is an easy procedure.
- Wash your face before apply it on your skin.
- Take a bottle or tube of Benzoyl peroxide (visit a chemist).
- Apply few drops on the affected areas of your face.
- Leave it for minimum 3 minutes.
- Wash your face properly.
- Apply a moisturizing cream if you find your face overly drying.
- You can use it every night.
Facial Toner
Pick a skin toner according to your skin type. Facial toner helps in the reduction of excessive oil from your skin making it soft and smooth. Use it daily in the morning and night before sleeping for a beautiful skin.
Say NO to fatty food
As we all know, fatty food tends to increase the production of Sebum. Eventually, you see more SFs and acne on your face, chin, nose, forehead, and other parts of your face. So it is very important for you keep a check on your diet.
- Avoid food that contains extra fat.
- Lipids are essential for your body.
- Take green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, etc.
- You can also eat fatty fish.
Clay Mask
Clay mask like Fuller’s earth (multani mitti), bentonite clay, or French Green Clay are effective in improving the appearance of sebaceous filaments and refining the complexion. You can apply a clay mask on your face. And wash it after 10-12 minutes. It will remove sebum and exfoliate your skin.
Go for skin treatments for excess oil and enlarged pores
You can find several skin treatments containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or resorcinol from your nearest drugstore.
Avoid products that contain comedogenic ingredients
It is important to check the active and key ingredients of the skin care products you are using. Below is a list of some comedogenic ingredients that you should avoid for your skin. Never trust the product labels. There is no law that stops a company from falsely using the term non-comedogenic.
Ingredients you must avoid:
- Oleth-3
- Laureth-4
- Coconut butter
- Coconut oil
- Myristyl myristate
- Isopropyl myristate
- Isopropyl isostearate
- Cocoa butter
- Cetearyl Alcohol + ceteareth 20
- Lauric acid
- Stearyl heptanoate
- Acetylated lanolin
- Myristyl lactate
- Isostearyl isostearate
- Isopropyl palmitate
- Acetylated lanolin alcohol
- Soybean oil
- Stearic acid: TEA
- Shark liver oil
- Laureth-23
- Wheat germ glyceride
- Glyceryl stearate SE
- Isostearyl neopentanoate
- Decyl oleate
- D&C red #3
- Butyl stearate
- Myristic acid
- Mink oil
Enzyme Peel
There are many enzyme peels available for at-home use. Enzyme peels are gentle than other artificial peels. An enzyme peel will regulate your oil and exfoliates your skin, treating your Sebaceous Filaments.
You can go for these enzyme peels for effective and better results.
Other tips to dissolve Sebaceous Filaments
Do facials on a regular basis.
- Usage of Skin toners can also help to get rid of the plugs and excess oil.
- Clay masks are really effective. Bentonite and multani mitti are some of the best clay masks you can try to remove excess oil.
- Watch your eating habits. If you have an oily and dry, or acne prone skin, avoid fatty foods.
- If you are in a habit or squeezing or popping the acne, SFs then you can lighten the scars. Try skin lightening methods to fade them naturally.
- Clarisonic and stridex treatments are also helpful.
- Try a coconut oil and jojoba oil cleanse.
Now in the ending words, I would ask you to take care of your skin and keep it oil free.
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