Sensitive skin

[taysirene]

Would really appreciate much needed advice! I have blackheads and comedonal acne. I’ve tried so many products (including Paula’s choice exfoliate) and I can’t find anything that will get rid of them. Anyone have suggestions? 

[WinglessOne]

@taysirene  Are you sure they’re blackheads? There are other things people mistake for blackheads, such as sebaceous filaments. Has a dermatologist diagnosed your skin? A derm can also extract blackheads or recommend personalized treatments, especially for sensitive skin (assuming yours is sensitive, based on your thread title). 

Closed comedones can take months to clear, so you need to be consistent and patient there. This is another thing a derm can address. To reduce this type of acne, I use azelaic acid (my favorite is Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster for Redness Relief 1 oz/ 30 mL) which also helps other skin conditions I have; I apply it twice a day. I also use salicylic acid a few times a week, and vitamin A (the retinoid family; in my case, retinaldehyde) daily. An AHA exfoliating serum 1-3 times a week also helps with maintenance. 

Your results may vary, based on your particular skin and what’s really going on there. Rather than throw more money at products that might not help you, I recommend seeing a derm if you can. 

[greeneyedgirl107]

@WinglessOne do u rec a different treatment for sebaceous filaments other than BHA?

[WinglessOne]

@greeneyedgirl107  Nope. 🙂 Some folks mistake sebaceous filaments for blackheads and keep trying to permanently get rid of ‘em. Thing is, sebaceous filaments will always fill back up with sebum because that’s part of their function. Salicylic acid is a good maintenance ingredient to keep them clear enough that you don’t get many of those little sebum threads (a friend calls them oil worms 😂) on your skin surface. 

EDIT: a dermatologist might have more suggestions though.