Vent: My old boss in Chicago swore by steaming for a full 15 minutes before extractions

I used to think it was way too long and would dry out the skin, but after trying it on a stubborn case of closed comedones last month, I saw a real difference. The pores were just so much more ready, and extractions were cleaner with less redness. Has anyone else found that longer steam times, even past the usual 5-10 minutes, work better for certain skin types?

2 comments

2 Comments

abbyk103d ago

My dermatologist in Seattle told me to never steam for more than three minutes. She said that much heat and moisture can actually weaken the skin barrier over time, making redness and sensitivity worse in the long run. I tried longer sessions like you mentioned and my rosacea flared up badly for a week. It might work for a one time extraction, but I worry it's causing damage that isn't immediately obvious. I stick to a warm washcloth now for a minute to gently soften things up.

hayes.tara3d ago

Totally get what you're saying, and @abbyk10 has a good point about barrier damage. I have oily, tough skin and found a ten minute steam works for me before I do my own extractions, but I would never push it past that. It's definitely a "know your own skin" kind of thing.