For a long time, we've been obsessed with how to remove them and what causes sebaceous filaments in the first place. What most people don't know is that sebaceous filaments are not only normal, but also extremely important for a healthy functioning skin. The problem is that sometimes they appear larger and more visible than they actually are.
Read this blog post to understand why you should NOT remove and how to minimise their appearance.
So maybe you've heard that they're just oil and dead skin cells that accumulate on your skin, and not washing your skin properly is what causes sebaceous filaments. Well, that is completely wrong!
They are not only dead skin cells and oil, their role is to move or transport sebum to the surface of the skin in order to moisturise it and protect the skin. They are absolutely essential and normal.
So, here's why it's a bad idea to try to get rid of them:
- If you try to remove them, they'll just come back within a few days 🤷♀️
- Trying to get rid of them will actually damage your skin barrier and make your skin dry and flaky.
The actual reason why they appear so enlarged in some people is due to oil overproduction.
A combination/oily skin type will make your pores look a lot bigger than they actually are. However, remember that pore size itself can't be changed, as it's something mainly genetic.
So in order to improve its appearance, we should fix the root of the problem, and that is sebum overproduction!
There are many factors that could be altering your natural oil production, for example in teenagers or males with high testosterone, they will likely experience a tendency to overproduce sebum, but there is one reason that is extremely underrated and we see everyone doing, which is overwashing and overexfoliating the skin!
Overwashing leads to overproduction of sebum (learn more here), basically if you strip the natural oils of your skin, your skin will start compensating for what has been stripped away, which in the long-term leads to overproduction or uneven sebum secretion.
The more you wash and exfoliate, the more and more your skin will need to be washed or exfoliated again. So what can you do to break this cycle?
The best way to deal with sebum overproduction is start using cleansing oils. They can remove any impurities not only without stripping your natural oils, but nourishing and balancing them. Many oils also have the ability the regulate oil production, and that's exactly what your skin needs!
Once your skin is balanced, you will notice how pores sebaceous filaments are no longer obvious and visible! Does this sound good but you're unsure what kind of oils you should use for a combination/oily skin type?
Take our online skin quiz , we make customised skincare formulas that can cleanse, moisturise and balance your skin all in one. We use the right plant oils and botanical actives that support and balance your unique skin profile so that your skin achieves a naturally clear and balanced complexion.
