Sebaceous Filaments

It's so easy to get these confused with blackheads and they are very similar. A black head is a sort of keratin/sebum/dirt plug that's formed in the pore or hair follicle that has oxidised and turned black. A sebaceous filament are supposed to be there - they help lubricate the skin and are just more prominent in some skins than others. They look like a white, grey or yellow tiny thin hair like strand.

Your face is covered in tiny, fine hairs and there is a sebaceous gland attached to each hair follicle. Sebum helps keep bacteria out of the hair follicle and keeps the skin healthy. Sebaceous filaments are often more visible when there is an overproduction of sebum.

Tips for keeping them at bay in a healthy way:If you have oily skin then double cleanse. Make sure you use the right products as you don't want to over-strip the skin and cause more oil production.

• Use of retinoids which exfoliate the skin and encourage healthy cell growth.
• Salicylic Acid - which breaks down oils so releases and clears the sebaceous filament.
• Clay masks - clay mask can help remove impurities and oils without over-stripping the skin

My favourite products:

• LimeLife Masque of Zen - great for those with normal to oily skin. Helps with breakouts, oil production, blackheads and sebaceous filaments. Regular use can improve skin texture and tone.
• Garden of Wisdom Pore Cleansing Cleanser - Kaolin Clay, calcium and zinc oxide make this a wonderful deep cleansing treatment for oily skins.
• Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Pads - I love these to use a couple of times a week, for those with an oilier skin more regular use may be appropriate.
• Drunk Elephant Retinol - it's strong but effective. Really great for combating fine lines, deeper furrows, pigmentation.
• Garden of Wisdom Salicylic Acid - exfoliates the skin and deep-cleans the pores, fades acne scares and blemishes. Very good for blocked pores.

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