Blackheads on the nose: why they come back and how to reduce them

A blackhead is a pore clogged with oil and dead skin cells that has stayed open, so it looks dark at the surface — and the nose, an oily area, is where they gather most. They reduce with gentle, regular cleansing, products that do not clog pores, ingredients that clear pores from the inside, and 6 to 8 weeks of patience — and they come back faster when they are squeezed or scrubbed.

By Amina, the skincare expert on the SOLEMOSA team · 23 October 2026

What exactly are blackheads?

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains that blackheads and whiteheads appear when pores become clogged with excess oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. If the pore fills but stays open, you see a blackhead; if the skin closes over it, it becomes a whitehead.

They are a form of acne, not dirt that can be scrubbed away. That is why hard scrubbing does not remove them — it irritates the skin around them instead.

Should I squeeze them or use pore strips?

The AAD is clear about squeezing: doing it at home often pushes the contents deeper into the skin, which increases inflammation and can lead to scars or an infection from the bacteria on your hands. When extraction is needed, a dermatologist removes blackheads with sterile instruments, usually after other approaches have not worked.

Anything that pulls or scrubs hard — strips, brushes, rough scrubs — irritates the skin around the pores. On its page about pores, the AAD says that scrubbing, squeezing and picking make pores look larger.

What actually reduces blackheads?

The steps that come up again and again across the AAD, DermNet and the NHS:

• A gentle cleanser twice a day with lukewarm water, without scrubbing.
• Every product on your face labelled non-comedogenic, and make-up always removed before bed.
• Salicylic acid: the AAD says studies show it can unclog pores, and some cleansers containing it are gentle enough for daily use.
• A retinoid: the AAD recommends one to unclog pores, but it should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and it needs a gradual start because it can irritate.
• Sunscreen every morning, because sun-damaged skin shows larger-looking pores.

Does make-up make blackheads worse?

It can, if it is heavy, oily or slept in. DermNet advises people with this type of acne to choose cosmetics made without oils, the NHS recommends removing make-up at the end of the day, and the AAD says never to sleep in your make-up.

That does not mean giving up make-up. It means choosing products labelled non-comedogenic, and removing them fully every night with a gentle cleanser.

Why do they come back after I clean them?

Because the pore fills up again as long as the cause is there: excess oil, dead skin cells and pore-clogging products. DermNet says this type of acne takes several weeks to months to improve and needs long-term consistency, and the AAD says to give it 6 to 8 weeks.

A deep clean once a month does not replace a steady daily routine. And a woman who stops after two weeks because she «saw no difference» stops right before the difference begins.

Does daily exfoliation help the nose?

The AAD says exfoliation is not for everyone and that the method should depend on your skin type: thicker, oily skin tolerates more, while sensitive or acne-prone skin does better with something gentler. It also warns that aggressive exfoliation can cause dark spots in darker skin tones, and that skin already using retinol or benzoyl peroxide is more sensitive.

So the question is not «exfoliate or not». It is which method, how often, and alongside what it will not clash with.