Not only are nose strips bad for those with sensitive skin, but they can also worsen other skin conditions. Pore strips can exacerbate rosacea-prone skin, especially if they contain irritating ingredients such as alcohol and astringents. They can also aggravate extremely dry skin, eczema and psoriasis.
All in all, while nose strips can remove blackheads, they're probably not the best option for your pores. More research needs to be conducted to determine how safe they truly are. If you still want to use nose strips, follow the instructions that come with the product. Be careful to reduce damage to your skin.
While pore strips are a fun and satisfying way to unclog your pores, the dermatologists we consulted are not convinced they're worth the possible damage they can cause to the skin. Stick with other, safer–albeit slightly less exciting–methods when deep cleaning your pores for better results.
Do pore strips actually work? Essentially, yes. "They work and you can visibly see that they do work in terms of taking the clogged pores out," Tzu said. "But they work to a limited extent." They likely won't remove all of the blackheads that you're seeing (especially if you're not applying the strip correctly).
Dry skin types might also find pore strips irritating or drying. Additionally, there's a risk of overusing pore strips. They shouldn't be used as the only method for blackhead removal because the adhesive strip can harm the skin barrier.
What are pore strips and how do they work? Board-certified dermatologist Harold Lancer, MD, said pore strips aim to remove debris that accumulate within pores, which includes dead skin cells, oil, wax, mixed yeast and bacteria.
Pore strips can't completely remove larger, deeper blackheads. And, unfortunately, they won't stop your blackheads from forming.
Exfoliate Your Nose with Acids
“It gets right in there and loosens them so the plugs come out on their own.” Regularly exfoliation will keep all the dead skin moving out and off your face. Use a chemical exfoliant (also with salicylic acid or other beta hydroxy acids) once or twice a week for even better results.
Gently press down to ensure good contact. You can also use the nose pore strips across your chin and forehead or other areas prone to blackheads. Leave the strip to dry for 5-10 minutes until it begins to feel stiff. Slowly and carefully begin to remove the strip, starting from the edges.
Home remedies for blackheads are green tea, tea tree oil, salt scrub or sugar scrub. Green tea helps lower the oil production on your skin while tea tree oil can stop the growth of bacteria. The salt or sugar scrub exfoliates your skin and removes the dead skin that is clogging the open skin pore.
Pore strips are unlikely to cause any real damage. However, they may cause redness and skin irritation, especially for those with skin disorders like rosacea or psoriasis, or for patients using prescription acne medications.
It can be very tempting — and satisfying — to squeeze out or pop blackheads. However, squeezing out blackheads can create several problems: You may not remove the entire blackhead. You may even push the blackhead further into your skin, which can cause painful irritation.
While cellophane tape could possibly remove surface dead skin cells, it's unclear how effective this method is in removing clogged gunk in your pores. Don't use masking, duct, industrial, or any other type of tape that could be harmful to your skin.
Blackheads are caused by dirt and oil that clog your pores and turn black when exposed to air. Help prevent and get rid of nose blackheads by incorporating a combination of cleansers with Salicylic Acid, pore strips, and gentle exfoliation into your skincare routine.
The general rule of thumb is three times per week for oily or combination skin, and just once weekly for sensitive skin, Dr. Marchbein says.
Use an alpha or beta hydroxy acid cleanser
Some of the most popular elements in this group include glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid and citric acid. “My go-to treatment for blackheads is recommending a salicylic acid wash once a day,” says Dr. Ward. “There are even medicated face wipes that contain it.”
For deep blackheads, dermatologists use photopneumatic therapy. The process involves a combination of intense pulsed light lasers and a hand-held vacuum. Using these together allows your dermatologist to get deep into your pores to remove dead skin cells and excess sebum.
Wait for 10-15 minutes then remove the strip.
Let the pore strip dry and then slowly remove the strip from top to bottom. This will extract the blackheads from your nose.
Apart from making your skin oilier by stripping too much natural oils, using pore strips can stretch your pores and these don't go back to normal. A stretched pore leads to more buildup and bigger blackheads.
Pore strips may prove beneficial in removing blackheads, but there is a high risk when these strips are used on pimples. Using pore strips on the pimple can lead to excessive breakout on the face and also leave you with an unhealthy skin condition.