Originally Posted by
the_Dalmation 
I like to think that my nose invented what it means to have clogged pores.
I've visited at least twenty or so advising sites, but what always stumps my journey to clear skin is that those sites all assume I suffer from acne along with my clogged pores, which I do not. Maybe a few now and then on the cheeks, a pimple or two on the forehead during PMS, but generally I'm clear.
It's just my nose. I do not exaggerate when I say -every- pore on my nose is clogged, in fact my T zone can't make enough oil to satisfy itself, it's begun spreading until the cheek area nearest to my nose has become speckled with clogged pores, and the area between my eyebrows has lovely little clogged bumps as well. -Every- pore. I turn my face side to side, and you can see every disgusting raised bump in my profile, it's driving me insane to the point where I want to take a needle and gouge every last bit out.
The clogged pores, I do not know if they resemble other clogged pores which mention blackheads, but it literally just looks like oil that has solidified into a yellowish small mound over each pore.
I have tried Biore Ultra Pore Strips, but they only ever get roughly 15% of them, which isn't exactly helpful as the other thousand overpower the impression made by the small patch of clear skin. On that note, the bits that are pulled out by the strips are pointed, semi-translucent and yellow, supporting my assumption it's just oil with maybe some skin. Also, the pores that -are- separated from their living-at-home oil bits, instantly shrink into nothing, just smooth skin, which means I do not have large pores. I just have pores enlarged by oil clogs.
I have used Biore's Exfolliating scrub, alongside the Strips, two times a day for over two weeks. The scrub just smooths the surface of my skin, so that it's soft to run my fingers over (no feeling the oily/grainy texture of every clog bump) but ultimately does not clean the actual pore, or prevent the oils cleaned by my Strip, from refilling. Also tried Neutrogena's something-something as well, and frankly I now think all the "gets deep down in to pores to remove oil" stuff is complete crap.
I have used a blackhead remover, wasn't too sure if that was correct since again, the tips of my clogged pores aren't actually black....and while it was nice in the sense that I could squeeze every pore for all its yellowish cream until the pore shrunk back down to nothing, this only worked along the rubbery tip of my nose. My cheek skin was too soft and giving for me to press, and the skin higher on my nose was too close to the skin. I also did not see how squeezing it with a blackhead remover (metal loop thing) was better than squeezing with my fingers, so I discontinued it for fear of damaging my nose.
I do not eat take out often, less than once a month. I do not exercise often either, but I have a rapid metabolism, and I always eat a healthy combination of meats and vegetables cooked in corn oil, never fried. I drink plenty of milk and water, and generally I feel I am nutritionally (probably not physically) healthier than other 18 year olds. Yet I wake up every morning to find my nose bathing in oil, and I have to periodically wipe it during the day because it keeps producing more.
In short----please help me! I know -noone- who has as badly clogged pores as mine, and while my self-esteem is not crippled by them, I loathe mornings, mirrors, and yea, I confess, getting my face close to anyone in case the empire of oil upon my nose scares the hell out of them.
