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.
What makes pore strips bad for skin? The adhesive on blackhead strips largely contributes to the irritation and damage associated with these treatments. The sticky coating that attaches to the debris within pores leaves the complexion looking flaky, red and inflamed.
While pores strips possibly can be effective at removing buildup inside the pores, the effects are not long-lasting, and the strips can cause more harm than good to the skin.
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.
Now for the good news: If your skin is on the normal or oily side, dermatologists say that you can benefit from using pore strips to treat blackheads. "Oily skin does best with pore strips since there are more blackheads to address," says Dr. Patel.
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.
Can Pore Strips Cause Damage? 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.
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).
Hydrating skin favourites such as hyaluronic acid can help moisturise the skin and give the complexion a boost, especially after using a nose or pore strip as this removes any barrier of debris blocking the way for nourishing ingredients to absorb into the skin helping you see result quicker.
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.
"The strips pull off anything on the surface of your nose, which includes oil that's been oxidized and turns black (blackheads), dead skin, dirt, and hair — but they only remove a very superficial layer," says Nagler. Sometimes they might only remove the top or half of blackheads.
While they will remove your blackheads and make your pores appear smaller for a short while, it's important to note that they could expose your pores to potentially inflammatory dirt and oils.
Are pore vacuums bad for your skin? Not if you're gentle. Keeping the vacuum on one spot for too long or turning the suction up too high can cause bruising, broken blood vessels, or dilated blood vessels that can make matters worse and lead to even more inflammation, according to Zenovia.
Along with blackheads, these devices can remove oil and dirt from your skin pores as well. They are also effective in removing any residual makeup from your skin pores. You can also use blackhead remover strips specially designed for your nose to keep it free of blackheads.
King recommended applying moisturizer to the skin after using a pore strip, which can help combat dryness.
The OG pore-unclogging master (and possibly the most popular), Bioré strips have stood the test of time because they really do work. The brand claims its strips are twice as effective in just one use as other options out there, and they work to get rid of build-up, dirt, oil, makeup, and blackheads instantly.
Though you may be tempted to squeeze or otherwise get rid of a sebaceous filament, it's best to leave them alone. Squeezing or picking at sebaceous filaments risks scarring and spreading any bacteria that may be in or around the pore to other parts of your face, causing a breakout.
The skin in this area contains more oil glands than other parts of your face and body, which is one of the main factors why blackheads often pop up on your nose. Each pore has a hair follicle and sebaceous gland, which produces sebum that naturally moisturizes the skin.
To begin, place a warm, damp cloth over the blackhead for several minutes to help open the pore and make the plug easier to remove. Then, place the extractor loop around the blackhead. Add pressure until the buildup is released – but never try to force the contents as this can damage the skin.
"They're clogged pores or hair follicles that collect sebum (the natural oil that the glands on our face make), dirt, skin cells, and bacteria," she said. "They are more likely to form on the nose because the nose has lots of glands." Sarkar noted that not every black spot on your nose is a blackhead, though.