Clarus Dermatology

Sebaceous Filaments

Those Little Black Dots on Your Nose May Not Be Acne!

Have you ever looked closely at your nose and noticed tiny black or gray dots? They may actually be sebaceous filaments and not blackheads!

Sebaceous filaments vs. blackheads: Blackheads are clogged pores containing oxidized sebum and dead skin cells. Sebaceous filaments are a normal structure within the pore. They can look very similar, which is why it’s easy to confuse the two.

I see many patients who think these spots are acne and try to squeeze, scrub, or pick them away. But sebaceous filaments are a normal part of your skin. They help guide oil from your sebaceous glands to the surface of your skin.

They’re especially noticeable around the nose and T-zone, where we naturally have more oil glands.

So, how do you make them less noticeable?

• Salicylic acid can help keep pores clear and reduce excess oil.

• Retinoids can help regulate cell turnover and keep pores from becoming clogged.

• Gentle cleansing can remove excess oil without irritating the skin.

• Avoid aggressive squeezing, pore strips, and excessive scrubbing, which can irritate the skin and make the area look worse.

You may not be able to permanently get rid of sebaceous filaments, but you can make them much less noticeable.

Not every black dot is acne! If you’re unsure what you’re seeing on your skin, come into Clarus Dermatology for a customized skin care routine.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24571-sebaceous-filaments

Nathan Jones, PA-C

🍂✨ Fall in love with your skin again—because sweater weather looks better with radiant skin! 🧶✨

Our September Special Intro Offers are still live at Clarus Dermatology, but appointments for the rest of the month are filling up fast! If summer left your skin feeling dull or congested, now is the time to treat yourself before the holiday rush hits.

Which autumn glow-up fits your schedule? 👇

✨ PCA Oxy Trio Treatment ($60)

3 steps to detoxify, purify, and leave you instantly glowing!

Zero downtime & NO peeling. Perfect for a quick pick-me-up!

📍 Location Note: Exclusive to our New Brighton office only!

🍁 PCA 4% Pure Retinol Peel ($160) 🍁

Brightens tone, unclogs pores, and smooths fine lines and wrinkles.

Requires a few days of active peeling/downtime, but the deep skin transformation is SO worth it!

📍 Available at all Clarus Dermatology locations!

Don't let these intro prices pass you by!

📞 Call to book: 612-213-2370

New Product Alert!

Our in office PCA line has been expanded with a few new products. One of our newest additions is our 4% Pure Retinol Peel.

This is personally one of my favorite products we have added to our lineup and I think it will benefit almost every patient that works in our door!

Main Benefits

Reduces fine lines, wrinkles and helps smooth and even your skin’s tone and texture
Improves appearance and overall glow of skin
Retinols are one of the best ingredients for acne concerns and this peel can help with any routine
Some of our staff have personally tried the peel and it has done wonders for their skin. Traditional peels typically take a half hour to an hour for application and our new 4% Pure Retinol Peel only takes a few minutes in office. Patients can expect to notice dramatic peeling effects about two to three days post-application.

This peel is great for all skin types! Schedule a visit with Clarus Dermatology and we can discuss if this peel is right for you.

Nathan jones, PA-C

🍂✨ Ready to Fall into Flawless Skin and leave summer behind? 🍂✨ We’re launching two brand-new treatments at Clarus Dermatology this September!

The real question is: Are you team Instant Glow or team The Big Reset?

✨ PCA Oxy Trio Treatment ✨
Instant radiance, 0 downtime, and NO peeling—just glowing, detoxed skin. Perfect if you have an event or busy week coming up!

📍 Location Note: Exclusive to our New Brighton office only!

✨ PCA 4% Pure Retinol Peel ✨
The ultimate skin refresh. Unclogs pores, brightens tone, and smooths fine lines. Expect some active peeling (a little downtime required!), but the fresh skin underneath is SO worth it.

📍 Available at all locations!

Spots for September are already booking up fast!

Which peel are you picking? 👇

Give your skin the reset it deserves before the holiday season hits. 🍂

Eczema triggers
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a chronic condition that causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. This condition is associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. While there is no cure, symptoms can often be managed by moisturizing regularly, avoiding known triggers, and using medications like topical steroids. Early treatment can help reduce flares and improve quality of life.
Common triggers:
-Stress
-Prolonged hot showers
-Irritants like detergents
-Environmental allergens
-Sweating
We can’t always avoid triggers but knowing about them can be helpful while treating eczema
Further Reading:
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema
National Eczema Association: https://nationaleczema.org
Jesse Ochoa, PA-C

Why You Should Avoid Picking Your Skin

Picking at pimples, scabs, or other skin lesions can cause more trauma to the skin. Instead, use appropriate acne treatments or wound care, and allow the skin to heal naturally. If skin picking becomes frequent or difficult to control, discuss it with a healthcare provider.

Picking can:

-Increase inflammation

-Delay wound healing

-Increase risk of infection

-Cause obvious scarring

Picking can be a result of itching which is why it is important to control symptoms associated with picking and additional coverage with a bandage may be helpful.

Further Reading:

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/prurigo-nodularis-overview

Jesse Ochoa, PA-C

Moles can change even without sun damage

It is definitely important to check areas that are more sun exposed for any changing or new lesions like the arms, chest, and head. However, changes to moles that you have had all your life in less sun exposed areas can also become “weird” or dysplastic including the thighs, abdomen, lower back.

An easy rule to follow is checking for the “ugly duckling” where a mole sticks out because it looks unlike anything else on your body. A more detailed list to consider for changing moles is down below:

Asymmetry: One half does not match the other half.

Border: The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred.

Color: The color is not uniform or has shades of brown, black, tan, red, or white.

Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser).

Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, color, or elevation, or begins to itch or bleed.

Mole changing? Come in for a spot check or set up a full body skin exam which we typically recommend to be done once a year!

Jesse Ochoa, PA-C