How to get rid of blackheads on your nose

The nose collects more blackheads than any other part of the face. A 2025 study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology put it plainly: "The nose is the most common and prominent site for blackhead formation." The same study says some people try to remove them at home by squeezing the nose or using peel-off masks, which can make things worse. This guide explains why they form on the nose, how to tell them from the normal oil plugs that look alike, and a plan that clears them without damaging the skin. For blackheads anywhere on the body, see the hub guide, how to get rid of blackheads.

Why the nose gets so many blackheads

A blackhead is a pore filled with oil and dead skin cells that stays open at the top. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that as this buildup grows, "it widens the opening of the pore and you see a blackhead." The top turns dark when it reacts with oxygen in the air. The guide what causes blackheads explains the process in full.

The 2025 study treated 42 adults who had nose blackheads. Its authors list three main reasons blackheads form on the nose: "excessive sebum production, reduced skin elasticity around the pores, and increased hair follicle volume." Sebum is the skin's natural oil. Skin elasticity is how firm and springy the skin is.

The same study sorted nose blackheads into four types:

Type	What the study describes
Lipid filament type	Oil and dead cells that block the pore and darken in air. Squeezed out, it looks yellowish-white and soft.
Keratin plug type	A denser, harder plug that forms when oil and cells stay in the pore a long time. Often comes with a larger pore.
Pore enlargement type	Pores that have widened over time from too much oil or harsh removal methods.
Vellus hair type	Oil and cells that gather around the fine hairs in the pore, making the hairs easier to see.

In that study, which tested a light treatment given by doctors, the keratin plug type improved the most and the fine hair type improved the least. Some dark dots are firm plugs that can be loosened. Others are widened pores that show even when empty.

Blackheads or sebaceous filaments?

Some dots on the nose are sebaceous filaments. In 1976, researchers writing in Archives of Dermatological Research described these as "cylindrical tubes of whitish-yellowish color" that are "most commonly found in the centrofacial areas and the alae nasae," which are the sides of the nose, in people past puberty with large pores and oily skin. They called them "a common morphological variant of sebaceous follicles," meaning a normal form that oily pores can take.

Telling the two apart by eye can be hard. The same study says filaments "should be differentiated from a microcomedo," a clog too small to see, so doctors treat them as separate things. It also found that after a filament is squeezed out, "the follicle refills within 30 days." The guide sebaceous filaments covers them in full.

A plan that clears nose blackheads

The AAD's page on acne types gives the treatment for blackheads: "To unclog pores, dermatologists recommend using a retinoid. You can buy one retinoid, adapalene, without a prescription. You'll also want to use a benzoyl peroxide wash."

1. Wash gently, twice a day. The AAD's face washing page says to use lukewarm water and your fingertips. "Using a washcloth, mesh sponge, or anything other than your fingertips can irritate your skin."
2. Apply adapalene 0.1 percent once a day. The label says to "cover the entire affected area with a thin layer." On the nose, that means the tip, both sides and the skin where the nose meets the cheeks. Keep it away from the eyes, lips and mouth.
3. Start slowly. Skinli's photo plan starts adapalene every other night for two weeks. The label warns that acne "may appear to worsen before it improves" in the early weeks, and that redness, dryness and burning are more likely at first.
4. Add a benzoyl peroxide wash if you also get pimples. The AAD's adult acne page suggests starting at 2.5 percent.
5. Moisturize and use sunscreen. Choose products labeled non-comedogenic, which means they will not clog pores. The adapalene label says to use sunscreen outdoors.
6. Give it time. The AAD says to give treatment six to eight weeks. The adapalene label says results may take up to 3 months of daily use.

Salicylic acid is the other option sold without a prescription. The AAD says it "works best on whiteheads and blackheads" because it unclogs pores and exfoliates the skin. The AAD's page on pores says "Some cleansers containing salicylic acid are gentle enough to use every day." Use one pore-clearing product at a time, because the adapalene label says irritation is more likely when you use more than one acne medicine on the skin. The guides salicylic acid for blackheads and adapalene for blackheads and whiteheads compare the two.

What to skip

• Scrubbing. The AAD says the black dots "aren't dirt, so resist scrubbing. It will only worsen your acne."
• Hot water. The AAD says "Hot water can irritate your skin, causing pores to look larger."
• Toothpaste. The AAD's adult acne page says toothpaste contains abrasive ingredients, whitening agents, color and flavor, and "None of these ingredients fight acne, but they can irritate or harm your skin."
• Squeezing. The AAD says "squeezing a blackhead can cause an infection or permanent scar." The 2025 study says squeezing the nose at home can result in "skin infections, further pore dilation, and capillary damage." Capillaries are the tiny blood vessels near the surface.
• Peel-off masks. The same study lists peel-off masks with squeezing as home methods that can make nose blackheads worse. The guide pore strips for blackheads looks at what strips remove and what they leave behind.
• Metal tools at home. The guide comedone extractors explains the risks of using them yourself.

Why nose pores look bigger

Clogged pores look larger. The AAD says "When pores clog, they expand, which can make your pores look more noticeable." It adds that "Picking at, squeezing, or digging into your pores can also irritate your skin, making pores look more noticeable," and that pores look larger as skin loses firmness with age and sun damage. That is why the AAD recommends daily sunscreen for pore size. The guide does niacinamide shrink pores covers what the studies show about pore size.

Keep them from coming back

Blackheads on the nose can return after they clear. The AAD says blackheads "can return, so you'll need to follow a skin-care plan to prevent new blemishes." Its page on acne that will not clear adds: "Even when you see clearing, you'll want to keep using the acne treatment. This helps to prevent new breakouts." The AAD also says dermatologists may recommend a topical retinoid as a maintenance treatment to keep skin clear once acne is under control.

Three habits protect the result. Check that everything you put on your face, including sunscreen and makeup, says non-comedogenic or "won't clog pores." Remove makeup every night, which the AAD says to do with "No exceptions." And take a photo of your nose in the same light every two weeks, so you can compare the photos and see slow change.

When a dermatologist can help

If blackheads on your nose remain after six to eight weeks of daily treatment, a dermatologist has more to offer:

• Extraction. The AAD says acne extraction "involves using sterile instruments to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads," and is a safe way to remove them when a dermatologist does it.
• Prescription retinoids, such as tretinoin or tazarotene.
• Chemical peels, which the AAD says help "remove dead skin cells that are clogging your pores and excess oil."
• Photopneumatic therapy, a light treatment combined with gentle suction. The AAD says it is "FDA-approved to treat blackheads, whiteheads, and some pimples."

The guide how a dermatologist removes blackheads explains each option. Small white bumps on the nose are a different problem, covered in whiteheads on the nose.

When to see a doctor sooner

See a doctor for a painful, red or swollen spot on the nose, a lump that keeps growing, or a sore that does not heal. The guide pimple on nose explains which nose spots need prompt care. Skinli gives general education and is not a doctor. If you want a plan built from a photo of your skin, Skinli's free acne plan starts there.