If you’re missing your regular salon treatments, DIY skin treatments are a popular alternative. The facial steam—a relaxing and detoxifying treatment—is a common add-on to most in-office techniques, and is very easily replicable at home too. But as some extoll the benefits of cooling down the face to reduce inflammation, questions about the pros of adding extra heat to the skin crop up. We spoke to two dermatologists about their take.
What are the benefits of steaming your face?
“Steam baths and face steaming for glowing skin have been super popular, making the process, which leaves your skin clean, flushed, and glowing, synonymous with good skin,” says Dr Apratim Goel, dermatologist and laser surgeon, Cutis Skin Solution. Because of the heat, blood vessels get dilated which improves the blood circulation, increasing the oxygen intake of your skin and making it healthier. “Improved blood circulation promotes the formation of collagen and provides anti-ageing benefits for the skin. It has a feel-good factor. It makes the skin healthier and cleans up the pores,” says Dr Rinky Kapoor, The Esthetic Clinics. She recommends it to those with acne-prone or oilier skin as it loosens up the pores blocked by sebum, and removes the excess dirt as when pores are dilated, it is easier to unplug.