Is it true that hot water opens your pores and cold water closes them? 🤔
NOT TRUE. Pores do not have muscles to open and close. They are tiny openings for hair follicles and sebaceous glands. So what does happen:
- Hot Water: Can strip your skin’s natural oils (the skin barrier), leading to dryness, irritation, and potentially increased oil production as your skin tries to compensate. It can also cause capillaries to dilate, leading to redness.
- Cold Water: Can temporarily make pores appear tighter by constricting blood vessels and firming the skin due to the immediate shock, but it doesn’t actually “close” them.
- Steam: While used in facials, steam doesn’t “open” pores. It softens the hardened sebum and dead skin cells within the pore, making them easier to extract professionally.
The Reality: The reality is lukewarm water is best for gentle, effective cleansing and maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
- Lukewarm water effectively removes dirt and oil without stripping.
- Follow with targeted treatments and moisturizer.
- Professional extraction in a facial or hydrafacial is the safest way to clear congested pores.
Stay beautiful!
