Is Steaming Your Face Good for Your Skin?   

There are lots of reasons to steam the face. It can be used to treat colon acne, sinus pain, cold or flu, different types of acne like cystic and fungal acne to name a few. 

Steaming is done by placing a bowl of hot water or herbal water on the face and that vapour/steam then opens up the pores and cleanses you from within. 

A steam bath is an excellent way to revitalize your skin. It is one of the most natural things, which can be done at home to remove acne, brighten up the skin, make it glow and bring out a brightening effect. 

Steaming the face is an effective way to get rid of pimples and impurities. Apart from treating acne and pimples, steaming also makes the skin soft and supple. 

Steaming the face is a great way to open the pores and deeply cleanse them for better absorption of skin products like facial packs and serums. 

Steam helps get rid of acne-causing bacteria, accumulated dirt and oil from the face. It also shrinks pores, adds radiance to the skin and makes it look fresh.  

5 Benefits of Facial Steaming for Skin

The benefits of steaming the face are endless. Below are some of the top benefits of steaming the face to improve your skin health.

1. Steaming Your Face Can Close Large Pores

Steaming your skin can help close large pores and remove dirt and oil from the skin's surface. Steaming the skin is a great way to help with acne as it can help open pores and flush them out. Treating acne this way is a more natural way to approach acne as opposed to taking antibiotics or Accutane.

2. Steaming Your Face Can Improve Blood Circulation In The Skin

Steaming the face is one of the most popular ways to beat the winter blues. It helps in improving blood circulation in the skin, skin gets rid of all its impurities, pores are cleaned, it improves the complexion, it clears the face from acne, pimples etc.

3. Steaming Your Face Can Reverse Aging Effects

Steaming also helps in removing wrinkles, protecting your skin from dust and pollution and treating acne and pimples. It can easily combat the effects of aging like loose skin, fine lines, age spots, etc. 

4. Steaming Your Face Can Reduce Dryness

If you want to get rid of the dryness and irritation, you can steam once or twice a month at max. You can also steam your face with milk if you get irritation from regular water steam. Moderation is the key to a successful steaming experience because oversteaming has some side effects too like dryness and irritation for which you don't steam regularly.

5. Steaming Your Face Can Provide A Glowing Skin

Steaming helps to get rid of dirt, dust, grime and bacteria that get accumulated over time on the skin surface. It rejuvenates the skin by giving it a glowing appearance. Steaming effectively helps in cleaning our pores by flushing out the oil, dirt and grime from the skin pores. Steaming also helps in opening up the pores to facilitate further cleaning of the skin by application of facials or other home remedies.

Essential Oils To Use While Steaming The Face

With the weather getting cooler, it's time to start thinking about your skin's extra dryness. We all know it is never ever good to over-dry out skin. And with colder weather, it becomes even more essential to keep our skin nourished and moist.

The success of a steam facial treatment is based mainly on the quality of the steam that is generated. It is the steam that helps the pores of the skin to open. 

This creates a smooth flow of blood to your skin thereby ensuring a better supply of nutrients and oxygen. When these two elements combine, they produce a lot of energy which makes the skin glow and glow.

While steaming your face you should make sure that you use only herbal essential oils, which are known to be greatly beneficial for the skin.

In addition to this, it is also beneficial to add some aromatherapy oils to enhance your spa experience. These oils will help you unwind and relax before getting into your steam facials. 

The essential oils and herbs that can be used while steaming your face are:

Rosemary: Rosemary essential oil soothes and calms the mind while at the same time improves circulation and blood flow.

Chamomile: Chamomile can help with skin inflammation and dermatitis, making it great for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Lavender: Lavender can treat dry skin or eczema due to its relaxing aromatherapy benefits.

Geranium: Geranium oil derived from the geranium flower is a natural astringent that tightens and tones the skin. 

Essential oils are always the best to steam your face to bring out deep cleansing, purifying and cell regeneration.

Side Effects and Risks Associated With Facial Steaming

While there are several benefits of steaming the face, there are certain precautions that should be taken into consideration while steaming the face to avoid any kind of risks. Let’s take a closer look at them in detail.

Typically, steaming the face is done to open up the pores and also it helps in having gentle exfoliation or to remove dead skin cells.

A full steam bath should be at least twice a week. During steaming, open pores are exposed to the dirt present inside the skin. This dirt should be removed by using lukewarm water so that it can cleanse all the dirt to avoid infection or acne.

Steaming your face too often can cause redness in the facial area because of hyper-aggregation of blood in this area. It can also cause freckles on the face. 

While steaming the face, it is important to avoid the risk of getting burnt. It is recommended that you steam your face twice a week, but always make sure you are not doing it too often. The rule of thumb is not to overdo it, as you don't want to damage your skin with excessive heat.

Take Away

Steaming is not just for your face, it can also be done for getting healthy hair. Steaming helps in making the hair strands smoother and shinier. Hair steaming also helps to bring natural oils back to the hair-end while releasing dead hair cells at scalp level. This leaves hair soft, shiny and healthy. Nourishes the scalp with essential vitamins and minerals, making it healthy and vibrant. Corrects scalp disorders naturally without harsh chemicals, providing relief from the itchy, dry, flaky scalp. Strengthens hair follicles for better hair growth.