Little White Bumps?

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Oct 12, 2012

Priscilla C.

For me I just exfoliate my face with a scrub. Yeah you can go and buy those expensive scrubbers for your face but I just use a good face wash and I scrub with a toothbrush, mind you it has to be one that isn't used. It clears out the whiteheads every time. Make sure it's not one that has harsh and hard brissles (idk how to spell that) those will leave small cuts on your face. Michelle Phan that make up guru says it works too. ^__^

Oct 13, 2012

Rachael R.

You have to exfoliate...You want your face to have a smooth base so exfoliate and moisturize..A good exfoliate is neutrogena deep cleanser for sensitive skin..Best thing ever! 

Oct 16, 2012

Erica A.

Do not use an apricot scrub,it literally scratches Ur skin and some apricot particles can get clogged under Ur skin. U might have closed comedones. Which are just black heads that are raised to and look like white heads. U want to cleanse and tone everyday and exfoliate about two times a week,max!

Dec 8, 2012

J E.

I realize this is an old topic. I've been trying to figure this out myself for years and stumbled upon this thread. I hit the google jackpot today!!!! its called sebaceous filaments. And there is nothing you can do about them except what you are doing, and to keep them cleared out as often as you need to. http://voices.yahoo.com/sebaceous-filaments-no-they-arent-blackheads-6387426.html

This one even has a picture
http://www.livestrong.com/article/546911-difference-between-blackheads-sebaceous-filaments/

The only way to minimize them at all is to thin out the sebum that pours from your skin and you can do this by taking flaxseed oil and vitamin A. I'm sure there are other ways to thin sebum out, but these are two that come up most when I search.
Good luck!

Dec 8, 2012

J E.

I would suggest trying oil cleansing.  

Dec 8, 2012

Nessa Z.

Use biore's nose strips once a week. They also make them for your chin and forehead now too (I haven't tried those yet) but the nose strips work really well. And also, using a clarisonic cleanser brush to clean your face with everyday helps a lot too! 

Dec 8, 2012

K H.

Exfoliate a few xs a wk with an chemical exfoliant (lactic, glycolic, salicylic acid) & avoid over stripping your skin w alcohol based toners or harsh st Ives type scrubs. I'm an Esthetician & this is a common problem that results from over exfoliating w incorrect products. Your face is not a dish pan. Treat it gently to keep the water/oil balance in your skin. Sometimes you're aggravating the skin which causes these small whiteheads & sometimes your skin is congested & these are milia or closed comedones. Be sanitary if you are trying your own extractions but be careful bc some skin types ESP darker ones are prone to hyperpigment from trauma.

Dec 8, 2012

Sara S.

Before you scrub with any exfoliator, i would honestly maybe go to a Dermatoglist. Only because, I used to have these ( and i still get them from time to time.) and i did everything i could. I would get Exfoliaters and it created bad acne because it was harsh on my skin

I went to a derma. and she gave me retinal for my skin and Doxcycline (anti-botics) to take to help get rid of the bacteria that was in my body/pores living. It's disgusting but it is true. Some people have internal skin issues and typical things only make things worse. FYI.

Dec 18, 2012

Rae B.

I had little white bumps all over my forehead last year and they weren't milia I could squeeze them and it was a puss like substance that came out. This picture was my forehead at its worse! I tried everything, and went to three different dermatologists. Finally my grandma said she use to have them and she started washing with Dove morning and night and they went away. I tried this and it worked! So happy and Dove is crazy cheap I honestly couldn't believe it! 

Dec 18, 2012

Yasmine K.

Soak a towel in hot water then put it on the affected area (make sure its warm enough to touch ur face not too hot to harm u) this way it will open the pores then apply any product with tea tree oil .. Also indulge urself in a spa once a week, in a steam bath and while ur inside exfoliate, this will clean ur face and body.... The tea tree work good for my white heads ... Hope this helped :))

Dec 18, 2012

Isabella H.

maybe u should reduce on foundation. I get that during summer. and dont forget to exfoliate and toner honey.

Dec 18, 2012

Ash S.

It sounds to me like you may milia. My best friend has it too and drives her nuts! lol

From what I have learned in school, your best bet is to exfoliate 2-3 times a week and to use benzoyl peroxide on the area every other day. It can be very drying though, so still make sure that you moisturize the area as well.

Unfortunately, since milia have no openings, they can only be extracted with a lancet. Here in Illinois, estheticians cannot use lancets, but of course a dermatologist can. I have heard of people extracting them on their own with a lancet tool or a needle, but I would not recommend it.

Dec 18, 2012

Shannon G.

It sounds like you get the same thing I do... My dermatologist said that it's genetic and they are clogged sebaceous glands. He zaps them with a tiny electric probe. The odd thing is that I'm 34 yes old and just started getting them AFTER I stopped using St. Ives Invigorating Facial Scrub. I know people have said that's it too harsh, but I know what worked for me. I've also just started using Ole Hendrikson Lemon Flash Peel every other day for 10 minutes and I am loving the results.  

Dec 18, 2012

Shannon G.

**34 yrs old

Apr 24, 2014

Dakota B.

Salicylic acid PEEL. Drugstore 2% salicylic acid isn't strong enough. A 20-30% BHA peel will actually dissolve the sebum inside the pore. You may clear with one treatment, but I would expect 2-3.

Sep 24, 2014

Joanna G.

This could also be milia. You would want a doctor to help you treat them.

Mar 19, 2015

Ellie R.

Babe I know exactly what you're talking about. Obviously it's horrible but this post made me feel so much better, realising that other people are going trough the same thing. I have a very strict skin care regime, only drink water, only use mineral makeup, have used Clean & Clear, toothpaste, etc, etc, so I can see why you are struggling to find help among some of the comments (because you already do those things!) I also know that my condition is not milia because they do not protrude from my skin. It's more like a white spot under the skin which looks like a congested pore. Like others have said, when squeezed it is not like puss found in normal acne. I very rarely get other spots, just these on my nose and chin. Other people don't often notice them (you have to be incredibly close up to my skin for them to become visible) but they still really bother me! I have been thinking about trying skin peels or consulting a dermatologist but I don't have much money and am wary of spending money on more unhelpful advice. Please let me know how your struggle is going and I will be sure to comment again if I can find a solution. x

Aug 19, 2015

Daisy S.

Omg please please tell me you've found a solution to this. I get the same thing on my nose and chin. At I can just squeeze my nose really hard and the white stringy things come out. I know they're not that visible, especially if you take time to squeeze out the white stringy stuff once a week but it makes me absolutely crazy. I've been getting this since I turned 13 and I just started wearing make up the past year cos I'm tired of being embarrassed about them , I'm 20 by the way. Please please if anyone has a solution to this I can tell everyone on this thread will be super grateful. Exfoliating reduces it but it's back with a vengeance on the third day. NO , it's not milia , it's definitely the sebaceous filaments stuff. Please help!

They're called Sebaceous Filaments. Your skin actually needs them, but you can minimize their appearance.
https://www.reddit.com/are/SkincareAddiction/comments/1fmg0t/some_more_information_about_sebaceous_filaments/

Mine were reduced when I started double cleansing and asian skincare.

Dec 18, 2015

Erin W.

J E.

Thank you so much for your post. I have been scouring the internet to this problem only to never find the answer. I guess I wasnt typing in the right key words, because as soon as I typed sebaceous filaments a lot of information came up. I was so sick of everyone telling me it was milia, when I KNEW it wasnt. Finally, an answer!

Aug 12, 2016

Shelly W.

They are called CLOSED COMEDONES. Google closed comedones on chin (images).