Warm water opens pores, while cold water shrinks them. Whether your skin will benefit from one action or the other really depends on your skin type. If you have chronically dry skin, warm or hot water may end up stripping the skin of too much of its natural oils, making it difficult for it to stay hydrated and plump.
Plenty of websites and blog posts claim you can use cold water to close your pores. While this can help soothe irritated skin, cold water won't affect your actual pore size whatsoever.
You can steam your face, splash it with ice-cold water, or cover it in a warm compress—but your pores still won't open or close. They never have and they never will. So why is this beauty myth so prevalent?
Since hot showers open up your pores, it only makes sense that cold showers tighten your pores. So which is better: hot or cold? It's all about your individual needs. If you're prone to dry skin, a cold shower will help you retain natural oils in your hair and keep your skin hydrated.
Cold water is perfect for preventing the skin from sagging and aids with skin tightening benefits. Taking cold showers is believed to reduce stress and elevate your mood. It also cleanses the skin by getting rid of the dirt, oil and sweat.
The Benefits of Hot Showers
Hot showers have their benefits, too! “Steam or a hot bath opens up the pores and makes it easier for dirt and toxin build-up to be cleaned out, leading to reduced blemishes and clearer skin,” Dr. Green says.
Results: There are 3 major clinical causes of enlarged facial pores, namely high sebum excretion, decreased elasticity around pores, and increased hair follicle volume. In addition, chronic recurrent acne, sex hormones, and skin care regimen can affect pore size.
Well, there you have it, the pore myths are finally debunked! Ice doesn't shrink pores and heat doesn't open pores.
Causes of large-looking open pores
high levels of oil (sebum) production. reduced elasticity around pores. thick hair follicles. genetics or heredity.
First of all, you're not imagining things -- pores actually do get bigger in hot weather. Here's why: The heat increases perspiration and revs up your skin's oil-making machinery, which in turn makes pores work overtime to release the excess sweat and sebum.
Cold showers can help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, improve circulation, lower stress levels, and reduce muscle soreness and fatigue. Hot showers, meanwhile, can improve cardiovascular health, soothe stiff joints, and improve sleep.
Use cold water regularly to wash your face as it will slow down the aging process and helps to fill out the wrinkles on your face. - It also helps you get rid of the harmful effects of sun's rays, as cold water tightens and protects the pores that gets opened up when the skin is exposed to sun's harmful rays.
Don't shower in water that's too hot.
Cold water tightens your pores and reduces the overproduction of sebum and excretion of acne-causing bacteria. In contrast, hot water opens them and does the complete opposite, leaving your skin more prone to irritation.
While it does take the dirt out hot water also slowly diminishes the elasticity of the skin for the resulting in signs of ageing like wrinkles and sagging skin.
Cold water or even cold air both contract the pores on your face, making them appear smaller. You can also constrict the pores on your face by using products with a mildly acidic pH (around 5.5).
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises against touching, picking, or popping any type of clogged pore or acne.
During the normal skin cell turnover process, your topmost layer of skin sluffs off every 30-40 days or so. As you age, this process takes longer, up to 50 or 60 days. Retinoids like retinol speed up the process, bringing your skin turnover back to 20-30 days as in your youth.
Exfoliate twice a week
This will remove the dead cells of the skin as well as any dirt or dust that can close the pores, causing acne and black spots. Use a cotton towel soaked in lukewarm water to gently rub the skin. This will help to shrink pores naturally.