How to Steam Your Face Safely with Active Acne

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror before noticing an eruption that came with tremendous pain and trying out everything to solve this issue? Well, you are not alone because many others go through this experience as well. In order to look presentable, most people have to depend on traditional solutions that have been passed down through the generations to help unclog their pores.

Facial steaming is a process that has been used through generations for relaxation purposes. If your body has an inflamed area, then you should avoid using any substance on it like steam for long periods of time.

Temperature and moisture content on our skin during an acne break-out is very complex. Steaming the face can aid to remove debris stuck in the pores. It also makes it possible for the oily skin to remain soft in order to allow you to get what it needs to have in order to cure acne.

Nevertheless, too much heat may cause severe swelling. It will also increase the cystic redness in our skin and make your skin get exposed to some damages in the form of spreading bacteria such as acne to our faces.

In order to ensure that your skin does not suffer any damage while you perform a steam face at home routine, it is vital if you wish to use steam therapy in a controlled way. 

In this guide we will explain what you need to know about the steaming face acne treatment.

Key Takeaways

1. Temperature control is necessary although warm steam is fine as super hot steam will irritate any active cystic lesions.
2. Maintain a safe distance from your water source of at least 8-12 inches to avoid burns.
3. Timing yourself for active acne during any active acne flare up by making sure to give yourself breathing space for 5-7 minutes maximum.
4. Right after the steam follow your moisturizer, since in actual fact steam opens your barrier at that point of time.
5. Don't try to pop active pimples because steam opens and closes our pore for us which then means it cleans and shrinks pores.

Golden Rules of Acne Friendly Steaming

Following these basic steps you can be assured of avoiding accidentally causing an explosion as you're boiling your water:

1. Use your clean skin only

Do not use heat on your skin when there are cosmetics, pollutants and sunscreens on your face. 

Steam helps to open up pores. If your face is dirty then this garbage will penetrate further into your skin causing a new acne outbreak.

2. Warming it up, not burning it

You have had breakouts of pimples for some time, and that has caused your skin barrier to lose strength. 

In addition, the steam actually can harm the fatty acids on the surface of your skin.

3. Less is more for acne

If you have normal skin type you can use steam therapy once a week but if you have acne then using steam more than twice a week can cause too many stimulations for you.

4. Don’t steam broken skin

If you have any open wounds with pus then you should not use steam until it heals completely.

5. Sanitize your equipment

Whether it's a professional grade facial steamer machine or simply a bowl used at home for cleaning your face.

Be sure you have properly disinfected this equipment to remove any and all germs and bacteria.

Easy Steps to Steam Your Face at Home

In order to make sure the steam face at home session will be safe while having active acne breakouts then please take care of your skin properly. Please follow the below instruction to enjoy your relaxing spa experience without getting upset with your skin like right now.

1.Pre-steam deep cleanse

Wet your face with lukewarm water and apply the tiny amount of Alite anti-acne face wash embedded with charcoal for 30-60 seconds.

The charcoal powder acts as a magnet to pull out the grime, dirt and oils from your body before steaming in order to prevent your pores from clogging.

2.Pure water base

Heat the water to a boil (about 3 to 4 cups) and let stand for about three minutes prior to steaming.

Use warm water not hot water, because then the oils would be more powerful and could irritate your eyes including essential oils and tea tree oil.

3.Safe steam treatment

Put your face 8 to 12 inches away from the warm water bowl covered with a cloth made of a clean towel for 5 to 7 minutes.

Close your eyes and turn around when it becomes too hot to breathe.

4.Post-steam clay mask

Use a light coat of a mild clay mask on your acne prone areas for about 5 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

Never let your clay dry before you break it down as in this way you will dehydrate your ingredients.

5.Active serums

After you ensure that all moisture has been extracted, smooth on anti-inflammatory creams containing ingredients like niacinamide or hyaluronic acid to your skin. 

It is always best to avoid any retinol or strong chemical peels immediately after heating up the skin.

6.Skin hydration

Finally, put on a light layer of oil free and water-based gel moisturizer known as non-comedogenic moisturizer.

Never forget that this step otherwise you will end up with dehydrated skin that will go into shock mode and produce too much oil causing breakouts.

Some Major Precautions After Steaming Your Face

1. Fresh pillow cases

Since steaming is going to keep you moisturized, always sleep on a new or an empty pillow case whenever you are steaming.

2. No cotton pillow case

Always use ultra smooth material such as silk or bamboo to reduce friction against healing acnes and prevent extraction of moisture from skin barrier while sleeping.

3. Scent free towels

Make sure that you use a fresh towel while creating the steam cloth and never use any harsh detergent such as bleach on the towels as they can easily irritate your skin having active acne breakouts due to the vaporization of heat.

4. Clean your beddings

Always clean your bedding materials and shower caps to get rid of dead skin cells and oils from hair products that may cause breakouts.

What Are the Do's and Don'ts of Facial Steaming for Acne?

In order to help you understand how to steam face acne safely without any guesswork, keep this simple comparison chart handy before your next session.

This simple comparison will make sure that there is not too much steam and hence your skin does not get damaged by it. These rules will help you stay cool even during an active period of your acne breakouts. They will protect your fragile skin from getting overheated and allow you to enjoy a safe and hygienic spa treatment at home.

Conclusion

An effective routine of steam face care at home is perfect for your skin care requirements as far as you take into consideration your problem zones which require special attention. In order to do that, you should keep some distance between yourself and the source of steam with moderate heat and cleanliness to unclog the pores without causing additional discomfort to your body.

Remember this tip when dealing with facial steaming pimples on your face. Skin is an organ that requires time and treatment to recover and become perfect. Take care of yourself and be kind to your body; and follow this treatment for healthy and beautiful skin.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can steaming your face work effectively by itself in dealing with acne breakout and eruption?

A mild steam facial would not cause your acne to erupt by itself as well. Instead of heating your pores using the steam, it will soften them a little bit on the outside while at the same time releasing their clogged oils from the inside. Refrain from popping those acne that are about to erupt out of your skin.

Q2. Is it okay for me to use a facial steamer on my face daily as I have an oily skin type?

Absolutely not! No matter how much grease you have, steaming every day will strip away the protective fatty layer from your skin. It will make you stressed with that effect, and thus you’ll end up sweating more which can worsen your acne problem.

Q3. Can I apply steam to my face when I'm currently using acne medication?

In case if you are currently under a potent topical prescription treatment like accutane, tretinoin, or clindamycin then your skin barrier is very fragile and sensitive. Do not apply any steams on your face, instead consult your physician regarding it due to the reason that it can lead to extreme peeling and redness.

Q4. What should be done if there is a burning rash on my face when I am taking steam baths?

If you suddenly find yourself blushing very much and experience throbbing and the feeling that it is too hot, stand up from this tent immediately. Splash your skin with some cold but not ice-cold water and apply aloe vera gel to cool down the process. Either the temperature is very high and you may burn yourself.