Most experts believe that your pores can remain open for anywhere from a few minutes to around an hour after steaming. There isn’t a definitive answer to this question, as it can vary from person to person. Personally, I have found that living in a cold climate, my pores look enlarged for around 15 to 20 minutes after steaming my face which gives me a good amount of time to exfoliate, use a facial mask and moisturize my skin.
How Long Do Pores Stay Open After Steaming?
Pores relax for about 15 to 20 minutes after steaming. Technically, pores are not able to open and close, it is just an easy way to imagine the process of our pores relaxing and constricting.
Keep in mind that while steaming can help open up your pores, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a permanent effect. It is during this period of time that is the best for cleansing, using serums, toners and mists.
What Happens to Your Skin During Steaming?
To understand why our pores open and close let’s fully understand what happens to your skin during a steam session. When you steam your face, the heat and moisture work together to open up your pores. This makes it easier for dirt, oil, and debris to be removed from your skin, which can help prevent breakouts and improve your complexion.
Technically Pores Enlarge and Shrink Not Open and Close
While it’s commonly said that pores “open” and “close” during steaming, there is some debate about whether this is technically accurate. The reason for this is that pores don’t actually have a muscle that can contract or relax to open and close them. Instead, what’s happening when we use steam to “open” our pores is that the heat and moisture are causing the skin to swell slightly, which can make the pore appear larger. Conversely, when the skin cools down and the moisture evaporates, the pore may appear smaller again.
Don’t Be Alarmed When Pores Look Enlarged After Steaming
After steaming, it’s common for the pores to appear larger than usual. This can be alarming for some people, but it’s actually a normal part of the steaming process. As we discussed earlier, the moisture from the steam can soften the skin and make the pores look more pronounced. When the skin cools down, the pores should go back to their normal size.
Factors That Affect How Long Your Pores Stay Open
Aging and Collagen
Age is a huge factor because it indicates how much collagen you have. Collagen is important because it’s that special something that helps your skin to bounce back when you pinch it, and it’s also what keeps the perimeter of our pores nice and tight. The more collagen you have the faster your pores will close.
The Temperature of Your Surroundings
Steaming your face opens your pores because you are warming up your skin, increasing blood circulation to your face. In the same way, the temperature of your surroundings affects how large your pores are because, in a warm environment, blood circulates more easily and warmth will not seep from your face to your surroundings so quickly, which helps the pores on your face will stay open for longer.
If you live in a warm climate, your pores may stay open for up to 30 minutes. On the other hand, if you live in a cold country like me, the moment you stop facial steaming, if you are in a cold room your pores may quickly close within 15 minutes or so.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Steaming Routine
If you’re looking to incorporate steaming into your skincare routine what you do before and after facial steaming matters. here are some tips to help you make the most of it:
Use the right equipment: To get the most out of your steam session, it’s important to use the right equipment. The best is to use a facial steamer designed to be used at home because they can give you a steady stream of steam for usually 15 to 30 minutes, but if you don’t have one on hand, you can simply use a bowl of hot water and a towel and DIY a steam session.
Be careful not to burn yourself: Steam can be very hot, so it’s important to be careful not to burn yourself. Keep your face a safe distance from the steam source and don’t stay in one position for too long. Make sure to turn your face from side to side so that the steam is able to make contact with all surfaces of your face evenly.
Follow up with a good skincare routine: As I mentioned earlier, your pores will eventually close up after steaming, so it’s important to follow up with a good skincare routine to keep your skin looking its best. Make sure to gather up your favorite skincare products that you specifically want your skin to absorb when it is at its best before you start your facial steam. This includes cleansing, toning, and moisturizing your skin after your steam session.
Facial steam after a hot shower: I highly recommend steaming your face after a hot shower because the temperature in the bathroom will be warmer than usual. This helps your pores stay open a little longer, giving you more time to apply your favorite skincare products or have time to use a face mask for 10 to 15 minutes.
Steaming and Exercise
It’s worth noting that just like steaming, exercise can also have a beneficial effect on the skin. When we exercise, our body temperature rises, and we start to sweat. The sweat can help to flush out toxins and impurities from the skin, similar to how steaming can help to loosen debris from the pores. Also, exercise also causes our facial temperature to rise and moves blood towards our face, which in turn also opens up our pores.
This makes it super important to remember to cleanse your face before exercising to minimize the amount of dirt and oil on the skin. This can help to prevent breakouts and keep the skin looking clear and healthy.
Ways to “Close” Your Pores After Steaming
While pores don’t technically “close” after steaming, there are ways to minimize their appearance. Here are some tips to help “close” your pores after steaming:
- Use cold water: After steaming, splash your face with cold water. Cold water can help to constrict the skin and minimize the appearance of pores.
- Apply a toner: A toner can help to balance the skin’s pH and minimize the appearance of pores and toners are usually cooling as well, giving the same effect as cold water. Look for a toner that contains witch hazel or salicylic acid.
- Moisturize: After steaming, it’s important to moisturize the skin to help lock in hydration.
- Use a face mask: A face mask can help to further tighten and firm the skin after steaming. Look for a mask that contains clay or charcoal.
- Avoid touching your face: After steaming, and applying skincare products avoid touching your face or applying makeup for at least an hour because our skin is softer and more
Conclusion
Steaming can help to open up your pores and make it easier for dirt and debris to be removed from your skin for while, but how long they stay open can range from 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much collagen you have in your skin, the temperature of your surroundings and how you treat your skin after steaming.
While pores don’t technically “open” and “close” during steaming, the heat and moisture can still have a positive effect on the skin and cause your pores to enlarge or shrink, and using the words “open” and “close” helps people to visually understand how facial steaming can help them in their skincare routine. Just remember be care not to burn yourself and by using the right methods and the golden period of time when your pores are “open” to make the most of your steaming routine.
