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.
Your pores aren't muscles, so they can't voluntarily open and contract regardless of water temperature. “There is nothing that can physically make the pores smaller or bigger,” says Dr. Palep. That said, there is some logic behind washing your face with warm water to help clean out your pores.
Heat will expand and dilate the pores, opening them slightly and making them look larger. Cold has the opposite effect; it will cause the pore openings to constrict. The pores will look smaller and tighter.
Causes of large-looking open pores
high levels of oil (sebum) production. reduced elasticity around pores. thick hair follicles. genetics or heredity.
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.
“Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils and healthy bacteria,” Grous explains, “which plays a major role in keeping moisture in—and the bad stuff out. And because dryness triggers the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum, hot water can worsen preexisting acne or cause a breakout.”
“Cold showers boost circulation, calm itchy skin, and may help shrink pores leading to better-textured skin,” says dermatologist Morgan Rabach of LM Medical.
"Hot water increases skin's microcirculation and activates our sebaceous glands, resulting in open pores and excess sebum production," she explains. And we all know what excess sebum production can lead to... spots.
So hot water and steam won't open your pores. What they can do is loosen the sebum (oil) in your face, allowing it to slide out of the pore easily when you wash with cleanser.
Cold water can be especially beneficial for dry or acne-prone skin, says Knapp. “If you have chronically dry skin, hot water can strip your sebum levels (oils) and exacerbate the issue, so cold water is a good alternative.”
When used on inflammatory acne, ice also has the potential to decrease redness, thereby making your pimples less noticeable. It can also treat pain that occurs with cystic and nodular acne. This is due to the short-term numbing effect ice creates.
Use salicylic acid.
To get the gunk out of your pores, you need the best gunk buster around—salicylic acid. "Gentile exfoliating cleansers of the salicylic acid variant are great because salicylic acid is a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) that cuts through sebum and breaks it down," says Dr. Gohara.
Blind pimples are pimples (zits) that form under your skin. They may stay under your skin's surface, causing pain and inflammation. Or they may erupt through the surface in the form of a whitehead, blackhead or red bump. Treatment includes warm compresses and acne-fighting creams.
Acne develops when sebum — an oily substance that lubricates your hair and skin — and dead skin cells plug hair follicles. Bacteria can trigger inflammation and infection resulting in more severe acne.
This can create more pimples and trigger inflammation. Ice may help reduce redness, swelling, and pain in inflammatory-type pimples, including pustules and cysts. However, ice may have little to no effect on noninflammatory pimples, such as comedones, more commonly known as blackheads and whiteheads.
The impurities lurking in your tap water and the high amount of minerals create a layer of soap on top of your skin and clogs your pores, contributing to breakouts. Your body wash should form a lather on your skin instead of creating a pore clogging soapy layer.
Prevents Pimples and Acne. Certain kinds of toxins will clog your small pores on your epidermis and can cause issues like acne and pimples. By drinking more water, you ensure that you won't suffer from severe pimples and acne. The more hydrated your skin, the less your pores will clog.
Cold water closes pores, which tightens the skin. It is also gentler on your hair and prevents hair fall.
There isn't anything out there that's going to shrink pores instantly, but you can cleanse your pores to remove any dirt that can be making them more noticeable. You can cover your face with makeup to get a temporary impact, but oftentimes this will only clog your pores even more.
The shower acts as a giant steamer, which helps open up your pores. Plus sebum—the oily substance that can cause acne if it gets trapped in your pores—liquefies in the shower.