If you’re like me, then you know how satisfying it is to take of a pore strip and examine the aftermath. However, under the satisfaction of a gunk filled pore strip are the damaging effects it has on your skin. In general, acne comes in all shapes and sizes, but the most notable one on your nose is the blackhead. A blackhead, or comedo, is essentially a closed skin pore or hair follicle that is clogged with oils, dead skin cells, and bacteria. In contrast, if the skin pore or hair follicle were closed, it would be known as a whitehead. Nonetheless, both appear on the skin naturally and can be minimized through exfoliation and a good skin care routine. But before you start exfoliating and using pore strips, let’s examine the harm it can have on your skin.
Do Pore Strips Actually Work?
To simple answer the question, yes pore strips do work. While they are effective in unclogging the buildup within the pores, the effects are not long-lasting. After the use of a pore strip, the pores usually fill back up within weeks. In some cases, pore strips can even pull out the whole sebaceous filaments. Sebaceous filaments line the pores and aid in maintaining a healthy oil balance on the skin. With them removed, the pores become more exposed to other irritating dirt and oils that can be harmful to the skin.
Alternatives to Pore Strips
With more knowledge about pore strips, here are our recommendations for alternatives that will save your skin.
- Peel-Off Mask: Peel-off mask in ways are like a pore strip. However, they are slightly gentler with the skin. Not only can you use a peel-off mask for your nose, you can also use it for the rest of your face.
- Kaolin Clay Mask: Kaolin clay is known for its abilities to pull out toxins from the skin. Thus, clay mask is good with unclogging pore and black heads.
- Charcoal mask: Charcoal mask work in the same way as Kaolin cay as it also pulls out any impurities from the skin.
- Physical exfoliator: Any good facial scrub has the power to remove any dirt or oils hiding within your pores.
- Chemical Exfoliators: Like the physical exfoliator, chemical exfoliators do the same exact thing. A popular chemical within chemical exfoliators is known as BHA, or Beta Hydroxy Acid. BHAs are oil-soluble and are great at getting deep in the skin and removing dead skin cells and excess sebum. A popular BHA is Sialic Acid and can be found in many skin care exfoliators.
Takeways
While pore strips are fun and satisfying to use, they are not recommended in the long run. Using less harsh methods, such as chemical exfoliators or clay mask can help remove dirt and oil trapped in the skin. If you do decide to keep using pore strips, use with caution. Make sure to thoroughly prep your skin with cleanser.