We recently got this question from a DERMAPORE+ customer, and we thought it was a good topic to address for Acne Awareness Month. Read on to find out what steaming your skin can (and can’t) do.
What does steam do to your pores?
You may have heard that you need to steam your pores before doing facial extractions… and you may have also heard that what steaming does is “open” up your pores so it’s easier to remove gunk. But here’s the thing: Your pores don’t actually open and close like a trap door. “There is a misconception that steaming the face opens your pores and unclogs them,” Chicago-based dermatologist Dr. Caroline Robinson tells SELF magazine. “Our pores are fixed structures that do not open and close in response to changes in temperature.”
Steaming your skin is beneficial when you’re doing extractions, but for different reasons.
Here's how steaming helps prep your skin for extractions:
It softens your skin
The heat and moisture from the steam softens your skin’s surface, making it more pliable and more receptive to skincare treatments. For professional estheticians, it’s easier to perform extractions when a client’s skin is soft and pliable. Soft, damp skin is also able to better absorb skincare products like serums and moisturizers.
It helps “melt” the gunk in your pores
The gunk that’s clogging your pores is a mixture of dead skin cells and sebum (aka the natural oil your skin produces). That mixture is thick and sticky, and it can plug up the lining of your pores, causing blackheads and whiteheads. When this sticky mixture comes into contact with acne-causing bacteria, that’s when you can end up with breakouts that are red or inflamed (or even cystic acne). Steaming your skin helps soften the mixture of dead skin and oil, so it’s easier to remove.
It boosts circulation
Facial steaming increases blood flow to your skin. This brings more oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells, which makes your skin look more radiant. (If you overdo it, you’ll end up flushed—just think how your face looks after a steamy indoor workout class or hot yoga session.)
Do you need to steam before using the DERMAPORE+ Ultrasonic Pore Extractor?
While you certainly can steam before using DERMAPORE+, it’s not absolutely necessary. The reason is that DERMAPORE+ is designed to be used with PREP MIST. This face mist is specially formulated to act like a “facial steamer in a bottle.” It has ingredients that help soften the gunk that’s clogging your pores, so it’s easy and painless to extract with DERMAPORE+. How does it work? The high-level ultrasonic vibrations loosen up all the gunk, while the ionically charged stainless-steel spatula simultaneously attracts the gunk and draws it out. Personally, we love using DERMAPORE+ after a warm shower, when skin is soft and pliant. You can also drape a warm washcloth over your face if you’d like the same effect.
