Recently, I have frequently encountered patients seeking help due to enlarged pores at the clinic. Upon inquiry, I found that most of these issues are not congenital but rather due to improper cleansing methods. Particularly regarding the problem of blackheads on the nose, many people ask, “Doctor, I have a lot of blackheads on my nose; what should I do?”
First, let’s understand the causes of blackheads on the nose. The nose has many sebaceous glands that continuously secrete oil every day. This oil, when mixed with dead skin cells, forms blackheads. Therefore, removing blackheads will not make them disappear permanently, as they are being produced constantly throughout the day. In fact, there is no need to forcibly clean the blackheads on your nose every day.
Many patients ask me if they can use various tools or nose strips to remove blackheads. In reality, doing so can be very harmful to the skin. Frequent use of nose strips can weaken the skin on the nose, and using improper techniques to cleanse blackheads can lead to enlarged pores. Based on my clinical experience, many individuals in their 30s to 40s acknowledge during consultations that they remove blackheads from their noses daily, which undoubtedly harms their skin.
A common misconception is that if blackheads on the nose are not removed, the pores will become larger. However, this is not the case. The presence of blackheads does not cause the pores to stretch. Blackheads have their natural growth cycles, and with proper daily cleaning, they will naturally metabolize without the need for additional external intervention.
Long-term use of improper cleansing methods will gradually lead to enlarged pores. However, not all blackheads need to be removed. In particular, closed comedones, caused by an over-thickened stratum corneum that prevents normal oil drainage, usually require treatment from a professional beautician or skincare therapist using appropriate acid products to help with metabolism, thereby minimizing damage to the skin.
In summary, blackheads on the nose do not signify the presence of a skin problem. As long as you clean regularly, these blackheads will naturally fall off without excessive worry. If you remove them today, they are likely to reappear tomorrow; this is an endless cycle. Rather than being overly anxious, it’s better to learn to accept that the skin has its natural regulatory mechanisms and treat it in the correct way.