Nose strips can serve as an excellent way to remove unwanted buildup and blackheads from your skin, but it's important to use them correctly in order to see real results.
Pore strips can damage more sensitive, thin skin and even pull out both skin and hair. That's why there's a warning within the instructions to only use nose strips about once a week. Overusing nose strips can make your skin actually look worse. Pore strips can be abrasive, causing skin irritation and turning red.
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.
While you might not be able to rid your skin of pores, it's true that nose strips can temporarily make pores look smaller. By removing blackheads, the strips clear out the black- or brown-colored blockage. This can make pores appear as if they're smaller or gone.
Ultimately, while satisfying and instantly gratifying, pore strips aren't an effective long-term solution for blackheads and skin texture. However, they are okay to use in moderation if you have an oily skin type or need a quick fix for clear-looking skin.
Pore strips may make your pores appear bigger over time
Pore strips might get you a quick cosmetic fix, but it won't stop enlarged pores from coming back (via Allure).
King recommended applying moisturizer to the skin after using a pore strip, which can help combat dryness.
That being said, pore strips probably won't harm you or cause serious damage, like ripping off a layer of skin or breaking capillaries. As long as you're following the directions on the box and you don't notice any issues pore strips won't do any harm.
They work best when they are used right after your skin has been exposed to moisture. Applying pore strips right after a shower or after the skin has been exposed to steam are both perfect times. Moisture helps pores slightly open, loosening the plugs and allowing for easier removal.
If strip is difficult or painful to remove, wet strip thoroughly until it slides off easily. Forceful removal of the strip should be avoided and may cause skin abrasions. If this occurs, discontinue use and consult a physician. Do not use more often than once every three days.
The white stuff that comes out of your pores like thin strings when you squeeze your nose is called a sebaceous filament. It's mostly made up of sebum (oil that your skin produces) and dead skin cells. This substance typically collects in pores around your nose and chin.
When used properly, though, nose strips can clear the pores temporarily and make them appear smaller, Shah says. Shari Marchbein, a New York City-based dermatologist, points out that strips need to be used repeatedly, as often as once or twice a week as pores can quickly get clogged again.
Blackheads often go away in early adulthood, though some people will continue to experience them throughout their lives. Your healthcare provider, medical aesthetician or dermatologist can help you manage your blackheads.
Yes, you need to wash your face before and sometimes after using a nose strip. When you are applying a nose or any pore strip to the skin you need to ensure it is on cleansed skin. This is important as the skin can carry a number of impurities on the surface such as pollution, debris, bacteria and excess sebum.
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. Do not pull or rip the strip off from your skin.
The first is the shape of your pore strip. Because most pore strips are made to fit the contour of a nose, the shape tends to not be the best for application to other parts of your face, like the chin or forehead. It just may not stick as well as it should, and it may also cover too much area.
Popping a blackhead that's really just oil buildup won't solve anything, as the oil will typically come right back. When you try to force a blockage out of a pore, you're risking skin damage and infection. But unlike popping other kinds of pimples, blackheads are open pores, which makes them less risky to pop.
Blackheads form when a clog or plug develops in the opening of hair follicles in your skin. Each follicle contains one hair and a sebaceous gland that produces oil. This oil, called sebum, helps keep your skin soft. Dead skin cells and oils collect in the opening to the skin follicle, producing a bump called a comedo.
Replacing your pore strips with beneficial products like an efficient exfoliator that contains salicylic acid, charcoal-based masks, and retinoids (which increase cell turnover) won't just remove them — but they'll prevent that fleeting moment of pain that occurs once you snatch the strip off.