So starting in the middle of june I was fighting with a cluster of what seemed to be just non inflammed acne. small flesh color bumps. You hear alot of people complaining about them. Ive been getting them for quite a while now just here and there but it ONLY bothers me when they are in these clusters. For me the clusters only happened on the right side of my face where my bangs hung down. I mostly had them on my forehead as well. I was at the derm for another reason and I brought it up to him thinking he would tell me its just mild acne, clogged pores and to try SA or that he would try to give me differin or something. He said I think it isnt acne it is a skin yeast infection or Fungus. I know sounds gross! He said its a fungus that grows on all normal skin BUT when it over grows is when its an issue. It thrives on oily skin (which I have) and is very common in hot humid weather. It mimics small acne. It is specifically called Pityrosporum. SO, he said take these pills for 28 days and if it is Pityrosporum then it will disappear decently quickly. Ive been taking it for 2 weeks and pretty much all my tiny bumps are gone. The ones on my forehead are all gone. Just thought id share this since I know there are many complaining of these bumps on their face and forehead. Im going to try to find out more about it when Im done with these pills like,, does it come back.. do I need to do something to maintain it. Ive found a few articles on it.

here is part of an article.. "Pityrosporum folliculitis is a condition where the yeast, pityrosporum ovale/orbicularis spp. (also called Malassezia furfur), gets down into the hair follicles and multiplies, setting up an itchy, acne-like eruption."

Most article mention it itches sometimes. Ive read it does not have too, mine did not, but once I started taking the meds I felt like it did some, although I dunno if it was my imagination because I knew that is can itch LOL!

anyway, hope this can help someone.

Non-inflamed acne is acne that stays under the surface and does not get red at all. Some people talk about it by saying their skin has a "pebbly" appearance or that when they stretch their skin they can see lots of white bumps. Non-inflamed acne is also often accompanied by blackheads.

If you have this type of acne, I do think the regular Daniel Kern Regimen is worth a shot. It can be brilliant at preventing future blackheads. However, if you've tried the DKR without the results you'd like to have, Laura's regimen may be worth exploring.

Laura is an esthetician in the Bay Area who I have met several times and interviewed. She has a protocol for non-inflamed acne that is interesting. I'd like to hear how it works for people. You can find it here: http://www.acne.org/non-inflamed-acne-regimen.html

If you try it, please post your review/experience on this forum.

I thought this blog from my esthetician's website would be helpful to some of you. I see a lot of posts from people who may actually have sebaceous filaments, but think they have blackheads (usually they mention having lots of them, and that the spots either don't extract or they just fill up again the next day). Hope this helps some of you!



Those are not blackheads in your nose
…..most of the time.

Almost every day I get clients at my acne clinic that think they have blackheads on their nose. I know that what they see in their nose looks just like blackheads, but it is not. Those are what are called sebaceous filaments. They are basically the oil glands on your nose and in the chin area just below the lower lip. They are meant to be there and will never go away. Even if extracted, it still looks the same and it fills right back up again a week later.

Once in a while, someone actually will have blackheads in their nose. The picture below shows a client of mine who has blackheads in between the sebaceous filaments. Those definitely need to be extracted.

So, my rule of thumb is, if all the so-called “blackheads” in your nose are all the same size, then they are not blackheads. If, however, you have a “blackhead” that is bigger than the rest of the other “blackheads” in the nose, then it really is a blackhead and not just another sebaceous filament.

My clients tend to have a very disappointing reaction to my assessment of their “blackheads” on their nose. They, most often, desparately want them to go away. I reassure them that everybody, even people who have never had acne, have them. Everyone but the most oil-dry of skin does have them. When you are standing a couple of feet away from someone, which is the normal “space” between people, you can’t even see the pores on the nose. We are all so used to looking at air-brushed pictures of models in fashion magazines that have absolutely perfect skin with no pores showing at all. Unfortunately, this sets up an expectation and fantasy that our skin should look just like this. Sorry…… it’s just not real and I tell my clients that they are just going to have to accept their nose the way it is.

[attachment=21516:filaments.jpg]

UPDATE: This thread kind of wandered off course over time, so I've decided to close it. I have also rewritten this initial post to update and revise it based on current information and experience. If you have questions about the products I recommend, please feel free to PM me.


For those of you who don't know me: I have had acne since I was 12 or so, and I'm now in my mid-40s. Information I came across on this board has enabled me to clear up my mild/moderate acne to the point where no one ever realizes I have acne at all. And after spending a lot of time and money trying out various products, I'm finally down to a pretty simple regimen that is working well for me.

So ...... if you have primarily comedonal acne (clogged pores, whiteheads & blackheads), here is what I have found to work:


PAULA'S CHOICE BHAs (available at www.cosmeticscop.com)

Great product, at a very reasonable price. On the whole, I think this should be your first line of defense. I never thought salicylic acid would work on my face -- I've had horrid reactions to other SA products -- but this stuff is awesome!

I used the 2% BHA gel. The 1% wasn't strong enough for me; I think it's probably for people with highly sensitive skin. There's also a 2% liquid and a 2% lotion.

I recommend trying this product first because it is CHEAP -- about $15 for a 4 oz bottle, which will last you for months. You can get sample packets extremely cheaply if you want to try out the different formulations before placing a full order.


GREEN CREAM/DIACNEAL/Other mild OTC retinoids, such as Jan Marini and Vivant products

If the BHAs aren't quite enough to purge your pores, or if you want to improve the overall quality and radiance of your skin, I recommend these products. They are not cheap. GC goes for $40-50 per bottle, and a bottle lasts 4-6 weeks .... but it is one of the best products I have ever run across. It really works. There's a long GC thread in the OTC forum, and there's also a product website & message board: www.greencream.com

I buy my GC on amazon.com, but there are plenty of online sellers. Look for a list on the product website. Most people with normal skin can start with Level 6; if you have very sensitive skin, you may want to start with Level 3.

You can layer GC on top of BHAs. After cleansing, apply a thin layer of BHAs all over your face, wait 30 minutes, then apply Green Cream.

I did use Diacneal for awhile, and found it effective as well ... but GC just made my skin look prettier. If you live in Canada or Europe, Diacneal may be easier for you to get your hands on. It is made by Avene. And of course, there are other OTC retinoids as well: Vivant Vitamin A products, Jan Marini, Skinceuticals, etc.

EDIT: Just wanted to add that for people with mild acne, these OTC retinoids can actually be more effective than the stronger prescription products because the irritation factor is so much lower. I used Retin A for awhile, and although it cleared my pimples, it made my skin look horrible .... red, oily, and irritated. It's great for moderate/severe acne but I think it may be overkill for mild.


MANDELIC ACID

If your skin doesn't like BHAs ... try mandelic acid. It is awesome against blackheads especially, and there's a long mandelic thread in the Blackheads forum if you want more information.

If you have oily skin, the best mandelic product is probably the 15% Vivant mandelic serum, available at www.dianayvonne.com (I think she sells samples). If you have dry or sensitive skin, or are using topical retinoids, you are better off using the 10% or 15% alcohol-free serums from www.gardenofwisdom.com. Another wonderful formulation is made by Face Reality, but I think you have to be under their care to buy their products. You might check out their website: www.facereality.com

It's possible to combine mandelic with retinoids, but the peeling can be quite annoying. Best bet is to start with mandelic for a few months and ease into the retinoid after your skin is fully adjusted to mandelic.

Hello all,

I have been using benzoyl peroxide for 5 years now.I recently just ordered M2 mandelic and malic acid pack and started using it monday last week. (the m2 collection bundle)

I was also on birth control pills (yes, for acne)- supposedly to start another pack on october 6, but i got off it because my ob suggested to get off for two months in a year (cancer prevention reasons)

During the last days of my period, I also got yeast infection (second time around this year) - which my ob had said is not unusual for birth control users. (Still currently using suppository)

And then i got sick, something like severe flu and I got prescribed some pills.

My acne has been pretty much controlled, one or two in a week, and usually large around the upperlip and the chin. But yesterday, I noticed these very little acne like stuff on my face that grew in batches near the mouth area and the cheeks, with white heads but are too small you'd think i'm smooth from a feet away. You see, ive had breakouts, but not this small, and not painful (unlike what i usually have) still its ugly and rough to touch, and irritating because theres a whole lot of them!!!

[attachment=22789:acne.org2.JPG]
[attachment=22788:acne.org1.JPG]

i am in japan, and i dont know what medications are available here. also, although i intend to go to the derm tomorrow,my hopes are not up given the language barrier...

i read in another post that this could be fungus /yeast , but im also wondering if these are what you call milia?

im so worried, i cant even look at the mirror now, i feel disgusted!!! and these grew overnight i dont know how to get rid of them. is it the lack of pills? is it flu medication? is it this because of m2 mandelic / malic acid ? is it my yeast infection down there?

i cant help but feel so down because of this..

i would really appreciate your inputs, or if you can share similar experience?

Hi, my problem is a lot of blackheads on my face. They just keep coming. Especially the forehead/temple area. I want these blackheads to go away and stay away. I very rarely get inflamed acne. My problem is blackheads/clogged pores.


In the pinned topic "A non-inflamed acne regimen", it is recommended that an exfoliate be used in the day, and a Benzoyl Peroxide Gel be used at night.


I just started applying PC BHA 2% daily, and am wondering if I need to add a Benzoyl Peroxide Gel? What other products do i need to add to my regimen? The only topical I am using is the PC BHA.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Hello,
I’m Asian, 27, and finally have most of my other acne under control. However, I have never been able to clear up the blackheads that are on my nose. I have tried everything, from Biore nose peels, to scrubs, to physical removal, but most of the solutions are ineffective, and NOT long-lasting.

Please see the picture.

I do NOT have a specific treatment for blackheads on my nose.

But this is the rest of my treatment regimen.
Daily face wash morning and night (Anthony Logistics for Men GLYCOLIC FACIAL CLEANSER)

Toner at night after face wash (Lar Roche-Posay/Laboratoire Pharmaceutique Product name = EFFACLAR/Lotion Hydratante Clarifiante)

Differin adapalene Gel 0.1% Liberal application on my chin area, on my upper lip area (not on nose)

Neutrogena Rapid Clear® Fight & Fade 2-In-1 Gel


As mentioned, I currently do NOT have a treatment plan for the blackheads on my nose. What would you suggest? I’m not sure why I’m not applying Differin on my nose, but I have heard that Differin for blackheads is ineffective.

I’m looking for two things
1. Reduce blackheads
2. Tone/reduce pore size


Help! And Thanks!

I'm 20 years old. I have been on accutane twice and I have been off of it for 2 years now. I've been holding off acne pretty well except that I only get these milia things on my cheeks by my nose, below the bags of my eyes and right under my lower lip. These things have been there forever and they don't go away. Every once in awhile about 2 at a time will start to get infected for no apparent reason and come to a head after about 3 days of being an ugly red, painful spot. i squeeze the bacteria out, and also try to get the hard oil out. Sometimes all of it comes out, but other times it just won't, even with an extractor. then it just heals over that and there's a scar with the hard oil still stuck under and it probably ends up going through the same process months later.

my derm has used the electric needle cauterizer thing to poke holes in them and that helps somewhat for a little bit, but they come back.

I wash my face every day and put on epi-duo which is differin/bp. i do this morning and night. I also use neutrogena lotion- The lotion does not cause the milia because i have changed lotions since and both were non oily. I spot treat infected ones with 10% bp. I also put AHA on the milia, but it doesnt do anything... maybe just causes them to get infected sooner.

Last week I ran out of epi duo for the week and alot of the milia started to get infected. =/. pretty much all on the right side of my face too. i got mad and tried to extract the dormant ones with the loop extractor and just ended up making more of them irritated...

Does anyone have or ever had the same problem as me? Accutane gets rid of one type of acne and caused another for me!

What do i dooo?

Edit: Just in case this matters I also take 400mg niacin, 2 green tea pills, 400mcg chromium, 100mg zinc, and 1200mg fish oil per day. i dont really eat too good cuz im allergic to alot of food

Hi i have very oily skin and I've recently cut down to washing my face twice a day. the past 3 days I've noticed bumps on my face after showering, they feel like a big pimple forming under the skin, kinda like a cyst. Weird thing is by morning they r gone, and they're not many just about 2 or 3. Should I go back to washing my face 3 times a day? I just hear 3 times a day is bad for the skin and to be honest after cuting back my skin is not as red and dry like before , skin color looks even and more "normal" but I am breaking out a little and have some clogged pores. anyways Is there anyone out there with the same problem about the bumps after showring?
please advice or comment. thanks for reading.

Has anyone seen a dermatologist? What would one usually prescribe?

Most of the stuff you guys advise me to use is weak OTC products . . . So, is there no stand-out Accutane counterpart for comedonal acne? Antibiotics perhaps?

What would a derm prescribe?

Have had blackheads since I was a child and they drive me insane. Tried a number of different products but nothing really worked, Sal Acid cleared the blackheads out but they filled back in within a few days and I felt that the acid was ageing my skin.

After years of stressing I decided to adjust my diet and cut out milk - I would have had a litre a day, cut out butter and now take very little cheese.

I noticed that after about 6 weeks my blackheads were looking quite a bit better, just put it down to time finally getting on my side.

At the weekend I started taking a protein shake that I used to drink (that is full of milk protein) and this week my blackheads look to be coming back and bizarrely the skin on my body is irritable, slightly red and itchy. Can't think of anything else that I have taken or done differently recently that might have caused this.

I can't believe that for the sake of some milk, butter and cheese I might have been causing myself acne hell unknowingly!!!

The protein powder cost me £25 so I am going to finish it to see if the problems persist then cut it out.

I am SOOOOO sick of trying to beat this crap, what a waste of one's life, fighting some stupid spots!

Anyone else found dairy to play a significant role in their acne?

Wow ... this stuff is really, truly, honestly amazing. I just had to let you all know about it.

After 4 months on retinoids (Green Cream, Diacneal, Retin A), I have managed to get rid of all of my old bumps and inflamed acne ... but the pores in my T-zone were still getting badly congested every couple of weeks, resulting in blackheads and microzits. Since I'm a habitual picker, and my skin is currently very fragile from the retinoids, these clogged pores were creating a real problem for me.

As soon as I started reading about mandelic acid, I knew I had to try it. The trouble was, the first MA product I tried really does not work well with Green Cream -- and I LOVE Green Cream and will not give it up! I could see that the MA was zapping the blackheads and tightening my pores, but unfortunately it was also burning my skin -- which is not supposed to happen. Mandelic is a very mild AHA.

Anyway, I finally found a new MA product that I can use with retinoids, and I am just loving it. My pores are tighter and clearer than I ever thought possible and my blackheads are almost entirely extinct.

So here are my product recommendations:

If you have oily skin and are NOT using retinoids, you should be able to use the Vivant mandelic acid serum sold on the Diana Yvonne site. I suggest buying a sample first to try it out. This is probably the purest, most powerful and effective mandelic product out there.

If you have dry or sensitive skin, are using retinoids or other anti-acne products, or just find that you can't tolerate the Vivant mandelic, you are probably better off going with the alcohol-free mandelic acid serum made and sold by Garden of Wisdom. They make a 10% version and a 15% version. Sample sizes are available. I use the 10% if I'm layering it under retinoids and 15% if I'm using it by itself.

Mandelic acid needs about 30 minutes to absorb into the skin and "do its thing" -- so you should apply it to clean dry skin, and not apply anything else for at least 30 minutes.

A little more info about mandelic acid: here's a quote from Deb, the Forum Host at the Diana Yvonne SkinCare Board:

It works in the same manner as salicylic acid, except it cannot penetrate as deep into the pore as salicylic acid. Thus, it increases cell turnover within the pore, causing the release of comedones. As soon as you stop using it faithfully, just like salicylic acid, back they come!

I think the reason people rave about mandelic acid is that it is an AHA with some BHA properties. As well as being antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and lipid permeable (thus the pore exfoliation), it is a gentle 15% AHA at a low pH. AHAs exfoliate the epidermis much better than with salicylic acid, which cannot penetrate very deeply into the epidermal layers. So, the skin is smoother, tighter and more even in tone. Thus, the AHA activity combined with the lipid permeability aids in the appearance of smaller pores.

CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!

im sick of my gross blackheads
nothing works for me. i was wondering if anyone has tried blackhead dissolver? if so what were your results. i'd like to know if it's worth giving a shot..

for more info google "blackhead dissolver" and click the first link

"The Blackhead dissolver contains extracts that reduce excessive production of skin cells and shrink tissues to keep follicles open. Some of these same extracts are used for the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, dandruff and similar conditions of excessive cellular proliferation. Some of the extracts are able to soften and break down lipids, like the dry sebum that form the blackheads."


anyway, thanks in advance to anyone who replies

I found an acne right on the side of my middle finger, and i took it out the other day. But it came back, there appears to be something there. Is it a wart of some sort?

thanks.

Hi. I just signed cuz I need some help. I'm 13 I'll be 14 next year and I'm having an acne problem. I had it since 7th grade I'm in 8th now so about a year. I actually have control over my breakouts since i try to drink less soda and i've been using the Neutrogena Grapefruit scrub. It keeps the bumps down.

But my MAJOR PROBLEM is that I have a whole bunch of spots on both sides of my cheeks and some on my chin area. It's really noticable and I'm trying to get rid of them before high school. People have told me to just wash my face with soap and water. Havent tried cuz I dont think it will work.And I brought a Blackhead scrub and i have been using it for a couple weeks no real results.

So how can i get rid of my spots Without injection or laser treatments?

Today my skin looks especially bad. I usually have blackheads, flesh-colored bumps, and more blackhead on my nose. I squeeze out the blackheads and then they just come back in a week. This has been going on for about 3 years or so now.

I have been using AHA on my face at night for a week but it doesn't seem to make a difference. It just makes my skin itch.

I also started taking fish oil 5 days ago. 1200 mg each capsule and I only take 1. So far I don't really notice any difference in my skin.

Cetaphil is my cleanser and I use clinique moisturizer. I also use a facial scrub once a week---still no difference.

I don't get red inflamed acne that much but my forehead is always "bumpy" like this. It just looks awful.

I've also been getting little hard red/white bumps on one side of my nose. I have no idea why. They can't be squeezed out and I just don't know how to make them go away. It's like they are just stuck there.

Should I use a different type of cleanser or will that just make things worse?

A long time ago I used Differin but I had horrible side effects and it didn't clear up anything either.

and last but not least.....I eat well most of the time and I exercise a lot. I am really depressed. Nothing works! I have attached a picture.

Hey,

I was wondering if any of you could recommend some good Salicylic Acid products that you can get at a local drug store. If looking for Salicylic Acid without any other things like moisturizer or some other crap in it.

Thanks

I've been thinking just now, I can't actually remember ever seeing someone with a bad problem with blackheads. Is that because it's quite rare, or is it just not a thing you can tell without being very close up. We probably all peer an inch away from the mirror and shudder at the sight, when really, it's hardly noticeable at all.

OK, so I got about two blackheads on the corner of my nose. How can I get rid of them?

The main thing I wanted to talk about however, is this "thing" on the side of my upper chin. From farther away it might appear to be a freckle or something. But closer up, it has a brown top and is a tiny bit raised, not flat. It doesn't bother me too much, but its' annoying. What is it and how do I make it go away?

Answers would be GREATLY appreciated!

i have trillion of blackheads around the two sides of my nose...

i am intersted in azelaic acid.

does it clear blackheads and shrink pores just like waht AHA/BHA/mandelic acid does?

Bleh. I'm too tired to figure out how to delete this.

I noticed that my breakouts seemed to be almost like blackheads I guess on my cheeks, So I decided to try Paula's Choice BHA.

i'm on the regimen and use it only at night and lotion in the morning, so I used the BHA lotion in the morning and BP at night and I did this for about a month. At first my skin got better, then after a few weeks it was terrible- i usually break out only in the middle of my cheeks, now it is all over my forehead, my nose, between my eyes, all over my chin and all along the sides of my face.

It's terrible, and again it seems that a lot of them are like these blackheads almost? (they will stay for literally months + at a time) except it's still red and inflamed. It's hard to describe but when they pop it's the same as a blackhead on your nose or something, instead of the stuff that comes out of a whitehead. (I know it's bad to pop but for me it's the same as when I left these 5 big blackheads on my nose- they just wouldnt go away til i popped them and then at least they never got that big again) On top of that there are these under the skin pimples and regular pimples and lots of little ones.

Anyways so it got to be too much for me to deal with the breakouts so i stopped the BHA (a couple months ago), but then i did change a few other things which also could be the cause of me having SO many breakouts right now STILL even after stopping the BHA (40-50 total...)

I just would like to know if anyone else has dealt with this type of acne? These inflamed blackheads all over your face? If so any advice about what I should use? I'm still holding onto the hope of the DKR but i've been on it for 3 years and never got completely clear, always had 5-10 breakouts.

Thanks for reading sorry that it's so long.

I'll try to not make this so lengthy, but do want you all to really get the gist of it.

I have these pebbly like bumps on my face and they are virtually everywhere! From the sides of my cheeks, my jawline under my eyes (large clogged blackheads there) and they are never flammatory until I pick, then I have red cystic stuff from picking.
Yes, I know picking is horrid to the skin. Sometimes I seriously can't help it :/
I've read the forum on these bumps but seems like a lot of people describe them as just bumps with no substance inside. When I pick--and this will sound gross, my bumps have very thick curly white stuff that comes out Most the time it smells recchid! Someone suggested I smell it to deter if it's an infection and sure enough, yuk. Does anyone else deal with this or have suggestions to what I should do.
Eventhough It's not full-blown acne, I get very upset the way my bumpy face looks and its starting to effect my life.
Anyone's input helps! Thanks!

Does anyone know what this might be?? I'm having some gritty stuff - feels like sand or glass coming out of the pores on my face. It's really small so I can't see it too well, put it under a small magnifying glass last night and all I could see is a very tiny whitish piece that felt real hard when I rolled it with my fingers. It really felt and looked like a tiny piece of sand, well it can't be sand so wondering if anyone knows what it is or if anyone else has this. This started after I began putting coconut oil on my face and leaving it on - this seems to help the blackheads and makes any pustules come to a head faster but now I have this stuff.

Hey everyone, Ive got a blackhead problem on my nose!

first of all I dont know why but I had blackheads about as bad as i do now then it all went away for 6months (june 2008 - december 2008) then I went on holiday dec 2008 and my acne returned. Its oct 2009 now and my face hasn't changed one bit! Although I do remember my nose being MORE oily during the time that I was clear than now, and im thinking that my oil production is messed up for some reason!?

So now I am considering steaming my nose. I did for the first time last night and yes it did clear some of the blackheads but this morning it looked they had returned overnight :/ So can I steam every morning, or every night? Thanks.

sorry for the long post

I just posted a question about these weird inflamed blackheads that I have all over my face, and it got me thinking about the fact that I only used BHA for a month and then quit cause of the breakouts, (which still have not gone away) (I used BHA in the morning and then BP at night with the regimen) So do you think I quit too soon, could it have just been having an initial breakout from the BHA but really the BHA was doing good?

Anyone with experience using BHA help me out with how long you had an initial breakout before getting better, and whether or not you also had this type of acne where you had lots of tiny clogged pores that seem like red inflamed blackheads.

I'm thinking about trying again but I never got my acne back under control after the BHA caused me to breakout. So it's really frustrating to try something again that I know caused this to begin with =\

Anyways thanks for any advice I appreciate it

Anybody else out there have a dirty job that affects their complexion?

Personally, I restore classic cars (as a hobby and side job). This requires me to wear personal protective equipment like welding cap and mask, respirator, gloves, dust mask, face shield, earplugs, and safety glasses. I may be working on a project for hours in a dirty environment, wearing dirty PPE. I am constantly bombarded with dust, fumes and grease.

Just wondering what you guys do if you are in this type of situation regularly.

lol, I feel like just a reatard today. I just figured that my blackheads weren't really blackheads but clogged pores, and my acne isn't that bad, it's just the skin's texture that is covered with clogged pores that actually gave me the impression of having horrible cystic acne.

Enough moping. What are the general solutions to this problem? Clogged pores aren't discussed generally here; i used the search.

I did read that Accutane and Retin-A do nothing for clogged pores. . .

Anything at all?

I'll be visiting my dermatotlogist in a couple of months, I'd like to be a little bit educated instead of begging for accutane. Thanks.

Hello.

I'll get straight to the point. I have incredibly large pores on my nose. I'm a 22 year old male and have oily skin. I also used to have really bad anxiety during my teens which would also get me extremely flustard and make me sweat alot. Weird thing is I don't or never really had bad acne.

Now I know most guys have bigger pores. This is not something new to me but mine are HUGE. I have never ever seen anyone with as big or as many pores as me. This is saying a lot too since I have worked in construction and factory jobs so i've seen a lot of people with big pores. I can literally put the blunt end of a sewing pin in my pores and have it stay there. I can probably say that the holes on my nose take up more surface area then the "normal" skin. That's just how bad it is.

This problem really bothers me at times and I get pretty depressed about it. I try not to think of it which usually helps but then i'll see my reflection outside in a mirrior/window and i'm just like "Dam, i'm one ugly mother f***er". I tend to stay further away from people when talking to them (at least when i'm outside in natural light) and this really hurts me in the girls department.

So I have thought of a couple extremes to fix my problem. If anyone has any experience with any of these or if you just wanna comment that would be nice.

I know that victums to animal attacks who get skin torn off can have "skin graphs". Is this something I could do to fix this problem? Is it possible to have the skin replaced on your nose?

Burning. I have seriously thought of getting a knife red hot on the stove and just burning my skin. I personally would rather have a burn scar/mark on my nose but I don't think I could take the pain and it's probably not a smart idea anyway.

Slicing. Basicly just taking a large knife and putting a big gash in my nose. The idea being that a scar will appear afterwards covering up my pores. Again, probably not a smart idea.

Really, the skin graph is my only option if it's even possible but then again I doubt I could ever afford something like that. I guess this was just more of a rant since I know i'm pretty much stuck with this problem but if anyone has any encouraging words of wisdom that would be great.

I've tried literally every retinoid out there. I'm currently on Epiduo (I suffer from pimples as well) but nothing is helping. My pores are absolutely HUGE and my skin is unevenly texture because of years of being clogged. I don't even know what my options are at this point. Any advice to point me in the right direction would great.