Pore strips and large nose pores

[changes]

I am a 24 year old male in overall good health. I hardly ever get acne only the occasional pimple. My skin is fair, I have very few freckles, beauty spots and respond fairly well to sun exposure. Over the past year I noticed the pores on my nose getting larger and clogging up, some are blackheads and other more visible blocked pores have whitish\yellow material, which understand is dead skin, oil(sebum), all of the previous is considered natural. However, the pores on my nose are much larger and deeper than all others on my face, are much more visible and are blocked worse than all others. Not only do I dislike the pores they look unhealthy and in need of some care.

*1.Are these larger nose pores natural? What can I do to clean, close and minimize my nose pores?

Cleansers only minimized the appearance they did not unclog and close the pores. After limited success, about a month ago I decided to try a name brand pore cleansing strip to remove the blockage from my nose pores and minimize their appearance. The strips were successful in unclogging some of the pores however my pores have only gotten larger and clogged up again. They seemed to create more of the enlarged pores which also clogged.

My pores do not seem to close up or shink in any way or get better. Using the strips also left my nose sore, red and irritated, the larger clogged pores left a small hole which a day later reclogged with material or left a half closed depression. In short using the strips worsened the problem. Later I read that "pore extraction" using pore strips is a bad practice.

*2.Are pore cleansing strips safe and good to use? Will the cleaned pores heal and close and remain clean?

I searched this site for large nose pores and read the few answers indicating pores are natural and grow larger with age.
The answering doctor recommended microdermabrasion and face peels indicating these are the best options.

*3.Will these clean the larger, deeper pores without damaging the rest of my skin?

*4. Is there any semi-permanent or permanent method or specific products to unclog pores and shrink(close) them, effectively preventing them from reclogging and minimizing their appearance?(Makeup and covering up for me is not really an option.)

The area including and around my nose often becomes red and peels, this comes and goes. Moisturizing and cleaning only help a bit. Also, I get occasional nodule that go away with no intervention, I read on this site they are natural.

*5. Are all of the above problems characteristic of a larger problem?  

Rosacea is the only larger problem I have found that could match, the redness and nodules match, but I do not see any blood vessels and generally do not get any pimples in the area. Of course the redness comes and goes with exercise and spicy foods, which I consider natural reactions.

I do not want to believe or look for a larger problem fitting the above symptoms I only get an expert opinion.

Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Pores are normal, but people hate them.  Sebum (oil) is also normal, but people hate it too, especially when it darkens at the surface (what are called "blackheads.")  These are not part of a larger problem.  Pores become more visible in the mid-20's.  There is no way to remove pores or change their size permanently.  You can hide them with makeup, or have them cleaned periodically by having facials, or using pore strips, which are do-it-yourself facials--less effective but safe.  If you have rosacea (I doubt it, based on your age and symptoms), that's a different problem altogether.  Microdermabrasion and peels help a bit, temporarily, as do creams containing Vitamin A derivatives, such as Retin-A.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Carletta]

An RF "laser" will improve your condition dramatically.  My experience has been with the Syneron "Galaxy" (?), and noticable improvements showed after 4 treatments, it was dramatic at 6.  Also improved: rosacea, cystic acne and scars diminished, too.

[KokoII]

Carletta

I want to know more about your experience with Galaxy treatment.
I read articles about Galaxy system, and I am interesting in getting treatment.
Can you please give me more detail information and experience about it?

[KokoII]

Carletta

I want to know more about your experience with Galaxy treatment.
I read articles about Galaxy system, and I am interesting in getting treatment.
Can you please give me more detail information and experience about it?

[Daisy T.]

For the 24-year old in overall good health, and perhaps to Dr. Rockoff if he is interested, I have found a very simple solution to this problem which has worked beautifully for me for years. And by the way, I tried EVERYTHING like you did, and nothing seemed to work until I tried this.  The solution:  I use a combination of two products, and for some reason, using just one by itself does not seem to do the trick.  Neither of these products are cosmetics, they are topical medicines. One of the products must be prescribed by a dermatologist, it is Clindamycin Phosphate Topical Solution 1% (otherwise known as Clindamycin).  This is an alcohol-based, roll-on agent, either antibacterial or antibiotic, I'm not sure.  It is quite mild, though.  The other product you will find in some drugstores (over by the face soaps and acne stuff), but not all drugstores carry it.  ULTA beauty store carries it.  It is a Johnson & Johnson product called "Clean & Clear Maximum Strength Invisible Blemish Treatment".  This is a clear gel, it's active ingredient is 2% salicylic acid, it comes in a small tube with a purple cap.  There are other salicylic acid products out there too, I just like this one for some reason.  To use:  Obviously you would get the fastest results if you did this once in the morning and once at night, but you just can't wear the Clean & Clear during the day because it gets a bit gummy as it dries.  I only do the application at night, before bedtime, and it has completely gotten rid of the problem for me.  First I wash and dry my face.  Then I apply the Clindamycin to problem area on my nose.  I wait a few seconds for this to dry, then apply a coat of the Clean & Clear gel.  Voila!  That's it.  I have been doing this for years, and nothing has ever worked except this treatment.  If I go on a trip and forget my products, the blackheads come back.  Once I resume treatment, they go away after a few days, but be patient, it takes several days to dissovle the gunk in the pores, and if you are just starting treatment for the first time, it could take much longer.  But don't give up! It seems as if the salicylic acid literally gets down there in the pores and dissolves the gunk so the pore can shrink back. Somehow using the Clindamycin along with it makes it work much better.  For the ladies:  I never use makeup on this sensitive area - it's just asking for trouble if you have this problem.  A little loose powder is the heaviest cosmetic I would apply to the nose.  And one more thing:  Salicylic Acid products are NOT to be used during pregnancy.  Studies have shown topical salicylic acid in large amounts causes birth defects in animals...don't take a chance on this even if you are using a small amount.  You can read about this on the internet.  Anyway, good luck with finding a solution, I hope this will do the trick for you.

[babslena]

A related discussion, Large Pores was started.

[pthornley]

A related discussion, large pore therapy was started.