Most of what people call blackheads on the nose are not blackheads, and they cannot be removed permanently
The evenly spaced grey dots across a nose are usually sebaceous filaments, not blackheads. They are a normal part of how a pore works, everybody has them, and they refill within about a month no matter what is done to them.
Real blackheads are a different thing, they respond to different treatment, and knowing which you are looking at is the difference between a sensible plan and a lifetime of pore strips.
How to tell them apart
| Sebaceous filaments | True blackheads | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Nose, inner cheeks, chin, evenly spread | Anywhere; scattered and irregular |
| Colour | Grey or light tan | Genuinely dark, almost black |
| Texture | Flat, level with the skin | Slightly raised, catches a fingertip |
| Pattern | Uniform, like a stipple | Random |
| After extraction | Return in three to four weeks | Stay gone until a new one forms |
If your nose looks like a fine, even stipple of dots, that is filaments. They are not a flaw, they are a pore doing its job, and no treatment removes them for good.
Blackheads are not dirt
A blackhead is oil and dead skin sitting in an open pore, and the dark colour is oxidation from air contact rather than trapped grime. This matters practically: scrubbing harder does nothing, because the material is inside the pore and not on the surface. What it does do is damage the barrier, which drives oil production up and makes the next month worse.
The same applies to pore strips. They pull off the very top of whatever is in the pore, which looks satisfying and changes nothing structural, and repeated use is hard on the skin around the pore.
What actually works
- Salicylic acid, because it is oil-soluble and can get into an oily pore in a way that a water-based product cannot. Consistency over months beats intensity over a weekend.
- Professional extraction, after the skin has been properly softened. Forced extraction on cold skin is how pores get damaged and marks get left.
- A retinoid, which changes how the pore lining sheds, addressing the cause rather than the contents. That is a conversation with a doctor or pharmacist.
- Accepting the maintenance. Extraction is housekeeping, not a cure. How often you need it depends on how much oil you produce, which is not something a facial changes.
What it costs at Laval
| Treatment | Time | Price | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free facial consultation | 15 min | No charge | Filaments or blackheads, told apart before you buy |
| New Age Express Peel | 30 min | $115 | Surface buildup, quickly |
| Deep Cleansing Facial + LED | 60 min | $135 | Softening and extraction done properly |
| Deep Cleansing + Millium removal | 75 min | $160 | Stubborn congestion and milia |
| Anti-Acne Facial Peel | 45 min | $155 | Congestion with breakouts alongside it |
| HydraDermabrasion Bela MD+ | 60 min | $185 | Cleansing and hydration in one pass |
Prices are per session and the same at all four clinics, Laval included. A sensible pattern for congested skin is a deep cleanse every four to six weeks during the months it bothers you, not a fixed course bought in advance.
Why we will not sell you a permanent fix
Because there is not one. Pore size is largely inherited, oil production is largely hormonal, and filaments refill on a monthly cycle. Anything sold as permanent blackhead removal is either describing a temporary result or describing something that was never going to stay away.
What is honestly achievable is a nose that looks clearer, skin that feels smoother, and fewer of the real blackheads that turn into breakouts. That is worth having. It is just not the same as the claim.
What we will not do
- Extract aggressively to produce a dramatic before and after.
- Charge you to remove sebaceous filaments that will be back in a month.
- Sell a package of six for something better handled as occasional maintenance.
- Recommend a scrub for a problem that is not on the surface.
When we will not treat you at all
Active infection, cystic or nodular acne, broken or inflamed skin, cold sores in the area, recent sunburn, and oral isotretinoin finished within the last six months. Bring the name of any prescription acne treatment you are using, because several change what is safe to do.
See a doctor if
Congestion comes with deep, painful lumps rather than surface bumps, if breakouts are leaving marks, or if nothing over the counter has helped in a couple of months. Clusters of blackheads appearing suddenly in adulthood, particularly around the eyes or in unusual places, are also worth a proper look rather than an extraction appointment.
What we offer for this
Free facial consultation Filaments or blackheads, told apart before you buy. 15 min · no charge 
Deep cleansing facial + LED Softening first, then extraction done properly. 60 min · from $135 
HydraDermabrasion Cleansing and hydration in one pass. 60 min · from $185 Prices are a starting point and the consultation is free. What actually suits you is decided when we see the skin, not from a page.
Where to find us
Laval — 1655 boulevard de l'Avenir
Downtown Montreal — 2365 rue Saint-Patrick, Unit A5
Saint-Léonard — 5045 rue Jean-Talon Est
West Island — 45 boulevard Brunswick, Dollard-des-Ormeaux
If breakouts rather than congestion are the real issue, where the money actually goes with acne is the more useful page.
This page is general information and is not medical advice. Prices are current as of 1 September 2026, are per session, and can change. Sebaceous filaments are a normal feature of skin and cannot be permanently removed; extraction of congestion is maintenance rather than a cure, and results vary between people and are not guaranteed. Pore size is largely inherited and is not reduced by the treatments described here. Treatment is not performed over active infection, cystic or nodular acne, broken or inflamed skin, cold sores, recently sunburned skin, or within six months of finishing oral isotretinoin. Deep or painful lesions, acne that is leaving marks, congestion unresponsive to over-the-counter products, or clusters of blackheads appearing suddenly in adulthood should be assessed by a physician.
