How to steam your face at home and when it's necessary.

Facial steaming involves the application of steam to the skin. The moisture penetrates deep into the skin, softening it, which facilitates the subsequent removal of blackheads and comedones, as well as enhancing the absorption of cosmetic products by the epidermis.

Before the procedure, the owner of the clinic Redefine Hair Transplant & Plastic Surgery Centre , plastic surgeon and certified dermatologist Harikiran Chekuri , recommends cleansing the skin in a comment to NUR.KZ:

The medical publication Medical News Today lists additional benefits of facial steaming:

Certified dermatologist and co-founder of PowerYourCurls.com , Dr. Hamdan Abdulla Hamed explained to NUR.KZ:

The impact of temperature on the skin's absorption of applied substances has also been confirmed by researchers from the University of Mississippi. They assert that, for instance, a nicotine patch is three times more effective on skin heated to 42 °C compared to 32 °C. This applies to beneficial substances found in skincare products as well.

Facial steaming makes shaving easier for men. The hot steam opens the pores, softens the hair, and facilitates shaving. This reduces the risk of irritation.

Furthermore, adding essential oils such as eucalyptus, lemon, juniper, or pine to the steaming water can help alleviate nasal congestion. For aromatherapy, you can add tea, lemon, aromatic salts, or dried herbs (chamomile, calendula, or lavender) to the water.

According to the American Burn Association ( ABA ), steam temperatures of 60 °C are sufficient to scald the skin, so steam your face with water heated to 43–49 °C. Follow these guidelines:

How to steam your face before cleansing? The medical publication WebMD recommends doing it this way:

The medical publication Healthline suggests using a towel as a warm mask. How to steam your face with a towel? Follow this instruction:

Special devices such as facial saunas or vaporizers can also be used for steaming. They automatically heat the water to the desired temperature and may include additional features, such as steam ionization and blackhead removal.

If your skin tends to be oily, steam your face two to three times a week. In his comment, Dr. Hamdan Abdulla Hamed recommends:

Facial steaming is not suitable for individuals with bronchial asthma, cardiovascular diseases, acute respiratory illnesses, or dermatological conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. If your skin is dry, too frequent steaming can worsen the problem by disrupting natural oil production, leading to dryness and irritation. For those with sensitive skin, steaming may cause excessive redness.

Facial steaming is a simple way to hydrate the skin, improve its microcirculation, and prepare for the removal of comedones and blackheads, as well as for applying cosmetics. This can be done both in a beauty salon and at home with a deep bowl, a large towel, and hot water. However, if you have sensitive skin or dermatitis, steaming may only exacerbate these symptoms.

Attention! This material is for informational purposes only. Do not resort to the methods described herein without prior consultation with a physician.

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Reviewer — top category doctor Lyudmila Anatolyevna Mikhaileko.