Discover the Incredible Benefits of a Home Steam Facial Treatment
for Acne and how it can Significantly Improve your Complexion
Steaming the face is a quick home acne remedy for removing acne and acne scars. Steam can easily combat acne. Steaming opens up the pores and increases sweating. The sweat acts in two ways, firstly washing the excess oil, grime and dirt out of the skin and secondly, since it contains salt it has a antibacterial effect, reducing bacteria levels in the skin and giving a thorough but gentle cleansing. Steaming also stimulates the circulation blood to the skin resulting in a greater supply of essential oxygen and nutrients and it moistens and softens the skin too. It also provides the moisture that your skin craves. Acne is based on clogged pores, which leads to blackheads and whiteheads. Steam can stop such clogging from occuring.
To increase the effectiveness of a home steam, some people add herbs or essential oils to the water. These can have very beneficial effects. Rose hip for example is high in vitamin A and useful for skin regeneration. Mint can help to break down the dirt and oil in your pores making it easier for them to be flushed away. Since stress is thought to play a role in acne outbreaks, adding lavender a known relaxant to your steam treatment may help.
Is Steam good for Acne?
First let's consider the effects of steam on the skin. Steam - just very hot water - acts as any heat would in that it helps to open the skin pores. Acne often begins with oils, dirt and bacteria becoming trapped in skin pores leading to infection or inflammation.
Steam opens pores and allows them to breath. Addtionally, the heat itself (be careful to avoid burning your skin) helps to destroy bacteria while the latent humidity re-hydrates and soothes skin that may be inflammed or irritated.
Does steaming your face help with acne?
Think of it this way, the therapeutic effects of a steam room or sauna are well documented. You allow pores to breath, infuse the skin with moisture and help detoxify (detox) your skin. So it is easy to conclude that steaming your face is good for treating acne. The primary issue to consider is that pores close rapidly as they cool.
While steam by itself can open pores and help cleanse and destroy acne nodules and bacteria, acne treatments should be used to target acne and lessen its effects on the skin. While home remedies in many ways a very good start to addressing problems, products for skin care often utilize ingredients that specifically provide uniques benefits.
Acne Steam Treatment
Step 1. Wash your skin with an antibacterial soap or cleanser containing salicylic acid, not regular soap, as it is alkaline and will promote bacterial growth. Don't scrub too hard, as this will irritate your skin further.
Step 2. Exfoliate to slough off dead layers of skin that may have accumulated and trapped dirt or oil.
Pearl Powder is a gentle and extraordianary exfoliator, in addition it clears and heals blemishes and prevents future breakouts.
Pearl Powder removes white heads and blackheads and improves acne scaring.
Step 3. Find a large pot and fill it two-thirds full of water. Put the pot on the stove and wait for it to begin boiling.
Step 4. Add natural acne healing remedies like essential oils or whole herbs to the water just as it begins to boil. Mint helps to loosen dirt and oil in pores and the fresh scent clears sinuses. Rose hips release vitamin A, known for its regenerative properties. Lavender is not only relaxing, but has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Step 5. Remove the pot from the stove after a few minutes of rapid boiling. Place it on a trivet or hot pad on a table where you can comfortably sit, like a kitchen table.
Step 6. Drape a towel over your head. Choose one that is large enough to cover your entire head and still hang over the sides of the pot, like a bath towel. This helps to create a steam bath by keeping the vapors inside the towel's tent rather than allowing the steam to escape into the room.
Step 7. Place your face directly over the pot of water, keeping it far enough away so the steam doesn't burn the skin. Close your eyes and breathe the steam in. If it becomes too hot, simply take your face away from the steam and come back to the steam as soon as you can.
Step 8. Allow the steam and natural acne treatment to saturate your skin, penetrating any existing acne, for 10 minutes or until the water has cooled.
Step 9. Begin an extraction process or finish the steam treatment by rinsing your face with cool water to close the pores.
For the first couple of days the acne proned skin may look worse, as it serves an exfoliant purpose. After a couple of days from steaming, the acne should look a lot better and the skin a lot clearer.
Avoid greasy creams and cosmetics, especially ones that contain oils and dyes, and avoid medications that contain bromides or iodides.
