How To Get Rid of Sebaceous Filaments with Mineral Oil

Sebaceous filaments are a nightmare for anyone who has them.

I’ve been there and I’ve covered the topic previously.

But on my journey to discovering a method that works to remove them, I found one solution that I would like to take a close look into.

Let’s talk about how to get rid of sebaceous filaments with mineral oil.

If you’ve been searching for a way to reduce sebum plugs or dissolve sebaceous filaments, keep reading.

What are sebaceous filaments

If you’ve been reading my previous posts, you’ve probably come across the one on sebaceous filaments in the chest area.

I cover SFs in detail in that article and talk about some of the ways you can get rid of them. If you haven’t read it, I’ll quickly introduce you to sebaceous filaments.

In short, SFs are thin structures in the skin that resemble human hair. They line the interior of the pores and support the transportation of sebum (the naturally created body oily substance that moisturizes the skin) to the skin’s surface.

They’re often compared to blackheads, but they’re not a type of acne.

Although they’re very common, they can become a nuisance once the body overproduces sebum, causing sebaceous filaments to fill up and enlarge your pores.

This is how the problematic sebum plugs are created.

Does oil get rid of sebaceous filaments?

When it comes to oil cleansing, you should know that oil dissolves oil.

Oil products can help rid the skin of accumulated bad oils, dirt, and grime without harming the natural skin barrier and balance.

Cleansing via oil also eliminates the risk of depriving the skin of useful and valuable bacteria, which is especially important for the extremely sensitive facial area.

Different types of oil, like mineral oil, can certainly help you deal with the sebaceous filaments in the facial area.

And I’m here to tell you how.

How does mineral oil help with sebaceous filaments?

Mineral oil has been used in skincare for more than a hundred years.

It is derived from petroleum and is, in fact, its most purified form. Because of that, mineral oil is considered to be a chemical. However, its “inert” nature makes it one of the safest chemical ingredients that are contained in many skin care products as it is not sensitive to oxidation, or light, and can be produced in high volumes at a low cost, unlike its natural counterparts.

When it comes to our pores, mineral oil has been proven to be non-comedogenic. Its moisturizing and emollient capabilities help to loosen up the oils on the skin, thus helping to clean it from any excess dirt, grime, sebum, and more.

How to get rid of sebaceous filaments with mineral oil?

I tested mineral oil cleansing for my sebaceous filaments in several ways. And I will be sharing the method that I discovered works best for my skin.

My hope is to help you find a working solution to this otherwise unsolvable problem.

Here are the steps that I use and recommend:

Step 1: Facial steam

The hot steam will loosen your pores and their contents and will make it easier to melt everything stored inside.

You can use a facial steamer or boiling water in a pan – it’s all up to your preference. Be mindful of the hot steam and don’t stay too close to the water or for too long. If you’re prone to rosacea, you’ll want to avoid steaming your skin, as it will flare up your condition.

Once you feel that your skin is moist and you notice your pores opening up, you’re ready for the next step, so pat dry your face.

Step 2: Mineral oil application

Apply a thin layer of mineral oil to your entire face.

You can use fragranced mineral oil if you want to pamper yourself or, you can use pure mineral oil. If you have sensitive skin, I’d definitely recommend going for the pure option just to prevent any potential risks of irritating the skin and causing itching or other side effects.

Step 3: Gently massage

Once you’ve applied the mineral oil, use your fingertips to gently massage the oil into the skin. Make sure to focus on the areas with the most sebaceous filaments as this will allow the oil to penetrate into the pores and break down the gunk inside.
Massage your face for several minutes (3 to 6).

Step 4: Remove the mineral oil

The last part of the mineral oil cleansing is to remove the excess part from the skin.

Use a warm, damp, clean cloth to wipe away the oil from the skin.

What you’ll get as a result is a clean and moisturized face.

The sebaceous filaments probably won’t be instantly abolished, however, you’ll notice a significant reduction in their appearance. You will see an increasing difference the more you use this cleaning technique.

How do you dissolve sebaceous filaments?

Mineral oil has certainly worked wonders for my sebaceous glands and I hope it has a similar effect on you if you decide to give it a go.

However, there are other methods that you can also try if you’re not sure about mineral oil or as complementary methods:

• Exfoliation – regular exfoliation can reduce the appearance of sebaceous filaments and can help you dissolve them.

  It’s a vital component of your skincare routine that ensures the pores are kept clean, minimizing the appearance of SFs.

  When it comes to choosing an exfoliating product, I’d recommend ones with salicylic acid (BHA) or glycolic acid (AHA) as they not only buffer the skin but also can penetrate deeply into the pores and clear up the gunk inside (this last one applies for BHAs solely).

• Spot treatment – you can also spot-treat sebaceous filaments with AHA/BHA gels if you have just a few problematic areas.

Wrap up

I strongly recommend trying mineral oil for tackling sebaceous filaments if you haven’t yet.

Of course, every skin is different and just because something has worked for me doesn’t mean that the results will be the same for your skin type.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on using mineral oil for sebaceous filaments. If you’ve tried this solution and don’t mind sharing, leave a comment in the comments section below with your thoughts.

Until next time!