Whether or not you’re prone to breakouts, pores have a pesky habit of becoming clogged from dead skin cells, excess oil production, or some combination of the two. Removing that gunk is key to keeping skin clear and healthy, especially if you have oily skin. That said, clogged pores can happen to all skin types; pores are simply the opening of the hair follicles, and everyone has them. While active sebaceous glands (as with oily skin) may predispose you to clogs, others aren’t necessarily exempt.<\/p>
Worst case scenario? Without a regular pore-clearing habit in your skin-care routine, that build-up within pores can eventually turn into pimples. For example, the combination of sebum and dead cells can lead to blackheads (if the comedone is open, which leads the clog to oxidize and turn black) and whiteheads (wherein the comedone is closed, so the clog remains white). And even if they don’t cause whiteheads, blackheads, or some other form of acne, they can still contribute to the appearance of large pores—since the debris within can actually stretch out the pore walls.<\/p>
Not surprisingly, then, there are a million different ways to unclog pores, from old-school, DIY pore strips to clay masks. And, of course, there are the pore vacuums, which offer deep pore-cleansing abilities. “I look at pore vacuums as an alternative to a scrub or exfoliator,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “You can use them once or twice a week, to keep the skin clear and minimize the appearance of pores.”<\/p> But with that extra power comes extra responsibility. Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist in Westport, Connecticut, warns that if the vacuums are used overzealously, you can easily end up with broken capillaries that could require laser treatment<\/a> to repair. “With ongoing use, excessive tugging on delicate skin around the eyes and mouth can lead to wrinkles<\/a> and skin laxity<\/a>,” she cautions. And if you have very sensitive skin or rosacea<\/a> or are eczema-prone, adding the suction of a vacuum or the manual exfoliation of one of these scrubbers could aggravate the condition.<\/p> To use one safely, Dr. Robinson says, start by loosening the sebum in the clogged pores with a steam or use the device post-shower (since the warm water can enlarge pores). And follow with a non-comedogenic, oil-free moisturizer, to restore the moisture that’s naturally sapped from skin by the deep-cleaning process, and also follow up with a sunscreen.<\/p> With one of these popular pore cleansers, you can step away from the magnifying mirror and put your time at home to better use. Sourdough starter, perhaps? <\/p>