Benefits of steaming your face

Many readers have written to enquire about the benefits of facial steaming. Steaming is a deep cleansing method that uses hot water vapour to open the pores.

The steam dilates the skin, making it easy to remove embedded dirt, blackheads and grime from the pores. Steaming helps to loosen blockages and clears pus from pimples. Don’t steam skin that has severe pustules (pus-filled spots).

Steaming procedure

1. Wash face with soap or cleanse and tone followed by a rinse with warm water.

2. Boil water and pour in a bowl. Bend over the bowl, cover your head, and face with a towel, ensuring that steam does not escape. Close eyes and hold your head 12 inches over the steam. Steam for 10 minutes, or until water starts to drip from your face.

3. After steaming, use a piece of damp cotton wool to squeeze out the pimples and blackheads. Do not injure the skin by forcing out stuck blockages. Blood should not ooze from the treated  areas.

4. Pat face with toner to close the pores.

Steaming has other therapeutic purposes. It can be used to reduce nasal congestion when you have a cold.  Simply add a drop of mentholated balm to the water and then breathe in the steam for a few minutes.

For a good night’s sleep, add a few drops of lavender oil to steaming water. Inhale for five mins at bedtime. Clear a headache naturally by steaming with herbs. Add a bunch of fresh rosemary sprigs to the water and steam ace for 5 minutes.  

The author is the national director of the safe skin care initiative. Query? Email: [email protected]