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.
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.
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.
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 they may seem helpful in the immediate, they actually cause way more damage than not. In fact, they make your pores bigger over time!
Since the strip only sticks to the surface of your nose, it misses all the debris and oil hiding deep inside your pores that can build up and lead to pimples or blackheads, Nagler explains. So while they may leave your skin looking and feeling super clean, they don't provide a real deep cleansing.
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.
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.
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.
According to the experts at Beautypedia, you may have successfully removed the top layer of blackheads, but the root of the problem—the excess oil—remains, and they'll probably just recur. Repeatedly using strips may even rob the skin of natural oils and lead to dryness, which can ultimately exacerbate breakouts.
To help open your pores a bit, Jeong also recommends steaming your face prior to using a pore strip. Doing this, she says, will help your pores loosen their grip on any debris that is clogging them, making that debris easier to extract.
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.
This method relies on the sticky factor of tape to remove blackheads alone without the use of any other exfoliating or softening in ingredients. To use, take off small strips of clear cellophane tape. Place them sticky-side-down on the desired area of treatment.
King recommended applying moisturizer to the skin after using a pore strip, which can help combat dryness.
Are Pore Vacuums Effective at Clearing Pores and Blackheads? “Pore vacuums certainly can be an effective tool in helping to regularly clear pore congestion, however they're not essential component to a skincare routine,” says Dr. Reszko.
If you've ever had blackheads on your face, then you've probably noticed holes on your skin after they're removed. These are just enlarged pores, and they should heal on their own. However, if this is taking too long, then you might have a scar or loose pores. This sounds bad, but don't worry!
Do blackheads go away on their own? Blackheads can sometimes go away on their own — it depends on how deep blackheads are in your skin. If a blackhead is close to the surface of your skin, it's more likely to go away on its own. However, some blackheads can be deeply embedded in your skin.
Complications from a blackhead
If pores are infected, the skin can become inflamed and cause acne, which is the inflammation that results from clogged pores. The pores can also become inflamed if the blackhead isn't treated. Other conditions can occur as a consequence of the inflamed tissue if you pop pimples yourself.