While they’re a normal part of the dermis, sebaceous filaments are more obvious on oily skin because of how frequently the pores get filled with sebum. Cleveland Clinic also cited thicker hair follicles as a contributing factor to their increased visibility. Both causes are determined by one’s genetics.
However, certain lifestyle practices definitely contribute to how obvious one’s sebaceous filaments become. One is the use of harsh cleansers and astringents that leave the skin dried out and trigger the sebaceous glands to produce excess oil. Prolonged sun exposure has also been discovered to be a possible cause of the enlargement of pores, which enhances the sebaceous filaments’ visibility.
It’s tempting to pop out your pores’ contents to “clean” them once they become noticeable whenever you look in the mirror. Medical News Today stressed, though, that having visible sebaceous filaments isn’t an indication of having dirty skin. Furthermore, esthetician Renée Rouleau told Byrdie, “Even if you extract or squeeze sebaceous filaments, they will fill up again within 30 days.” Any kind of extraction done on them also spreads bacteria on the skin, making it more prone to irritation and breakouts that could lead to infection and scarring. Another terrible side effect of messing around with your sebaceous filaments? “Constant manipulation of the pores over time can actually make them bigger as the collagen breaks down,” dermatologist Dr. Purvisha Patel told Teen Vogue.
