clogged pores on nose

Posted by ofelia on August 04, 1999 at 10:18:22
What can I do about the clogged pores on my nose? They look like blackheads. I wash with a medicated cleanser three times everyday and apply on-spot acne treatment with benzoyl peroxide in it. This does not seem to be working even though I have been using this treatment for several months. My pimples are not that bad, but it is the blackheads on my nose that bother me.
Could my systemic lupus erythomytosus be causing this?

Posted by Derm M.D. ASR on August 06, 1999 at 10:18:59
Ofelia:
"Blackheads" are actually normal.  They are pores filled with sebum (oil), which turns black on contact with air.  Mid-face pores, such as those on the nose or the "T-zone," tend to be larger and more obvious, and they get more noticeable in the mid-20's.
Just because they're normal, however, doesn't mean people don't hate them.  Medications don't make much difference, with the possible exception of Retin-A and some of its recently-developed relatives.  (See your doctor about an Rx.)  More helpul, if temporary, are physical extraction, either by Estheticians, in the form of "facials," or do-it-yourself facials at home by using "pore strips."
And no, they have nothing to do with lupus or ny systemic condition.
Best.
Dr. R
keywords: acne, blacheads, esthetics, facials, pores, Retin-A, Rockoff
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