It’s a common misconception that hot water expands your pores while cold water contracts them. In an effort to remove the dirt and gunk from deep pores, you may have even experimented with different water temperatures.
This is one of those beauty myths that just won’t go away. The skin’s hair follicles are connected to numerous tiny muscles. When it’s cold, these poles contract. Additionally, the skin is attached to all of the superficial facial muscles.
Please read on for more information.
Can Warm Water Open Your Pores?
Using warm water to “open” your pores is technically impossible. Your pores cannot voluntarily open and close regardless of the temperature of the water because they are not muscles. The pores cannot be physically made smaller or larger by anything. However, there is some logic behind washing your face with warm water to help open your pores.
Warm water can help remove the dirt, grime, and sebum that has built up inside your pores even though it won’t actually open them up.
Because the oil is sitting in your pores and stretching them out, the more oil and gunk you get into your oil gland and subsequently the hair follicle, the larger your pores will appear.
Hot water can alter the skin’s structure, make it more malleable, and loosen internal substances so they can be more easily flushed out, which may give the appearance that the pore is smaller. Make sure not to raise the temperature too much, though.
You may be more prone to eczema, breakouts, and irritation if you steam or use water that is too hot because it degrades the skin’s protein structure.
We recommend the Skin Gym Voda Facial Steamer if you’re considering doing some home steaming. Cleaning pore-clogging dirt and debris out with it is gentle and effective. But make sure to rehydrate the skin after steaming.
For immediate hydration after steaming, we advise massaging a nourishing moisturizer into the skin, such as Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane.
Can Cold Water Close Your Pores?
Cold water won’t make your pores bigger or smaller, just as warm water can’t make them bigger or smaller. Despite the fact that the pore is not a muscle, there is some evidence to suggest that exposure to cold water can cause the arrector pili muscles that run next to the pore and along the side of the hair follicle to contract involuntarily.
The autonomic (involuntary) nervous system includes the rector pili muscles. So, whenever you feel embarrassed or cold, your body automatically stimulates that muscle, resulting in goosebumps.
The arrector pili muscle can partially block a pore’s opening when it flexes. However, there is no change in the size of the pore if the muscle does not contract as a result of splashing cold water.
When it comes to pores, closing typically means shrinking. In an effort to shrink those large pores, you use ice-cold water to quickly freeze your face.
But that’s not how it operates. You see, your pores’ size is genetically determined. You cannot alter the situation in any way.
Pores can, however, enlarge. Too much debris, such as extra sebum and dead skin cells, causes the pores’ walls to stretch, giving the appearance that they are larger.
If you want to fix this, you have two choices:
- Use exfoliants or moisturizers with salicylic acid to unclog the pores. They’ll revert to their original size as a result.
- Use serums or moisturizers with retinoids to speed up cellular turnover and stimulate collagen production. Skin becomes tighter as a result, and skin that is tighter has smaller pores.
Oh, and don’t forget to pile on the sunscreen. UV rays deplete collagen and elastin; as a result, pores sag and stretch. They appear larger due to that as well.
Is It Pointless To Wash Your Face In Cold Water?
Not really. Oil production can be reduced with the help of cold water. something to do with controlling skin temperature. Sebaceous glands are prone to over-produce sebum when it’s too hot, going into overdrive. Breakouts result from that invariably.
However, if your skin isn’t prone to breakouts and you’d rather slap your face than wash with cold water, don’t bother. Use lukewarm water only. It works effectively and gently.
Read More: Is It Good For Your Skin To Wash Your Face With Cold Water?
The Bottom Line
So there you have it. Apply exfoliants, retinoids, and sunscreen to minimize the size of your pores. No matter how much you splash cold water on your face, nothing will happen. You can wash your face in warm water to remove makeup.