How To Properly Use A Pore Vacuum

A pore vacuum is a device that is designed to unclog your pores by sucking dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells, and excess oil from your skin in order to get rid of blackheads. According to experts at Byrdie, a pore vacuum can temporarily reduce pore congestion, which can help benefit your skin to a certain extent, but it is by no means a miracle device. Your pores will inevitably become clogged again.

While at-home pore vacuums tend to be less powerful than the professional ones you might find at a dermatologist's office, they can still provide exfoliation to help clear out your pores. However, high suction settings may cause irritation and micro-tears in the skin or exacerbate skin conditions like rosacea and active acne if used incorrectly. People with darker skin tones should also exercise caution when using pore vacuums. In rare cases, they can cause small vessels called telangiectasia to develop on the skin. 

In order to use a pore vacuum correctly, however, there are a few steps you'll need to follow to ensure that everything goes smoothly. According to Greatist, the first thing you should do before using a pore vacuum is wash your face. Using a deep cleanser to wash your face and then patting it dry can help get rid of any excess debris on the surface of your skin.

Once that's done, you can pick up the device and make sure the nozzle is clean before turning it on. Be sure it is on the lowest suction setting, as a higher setting could damage your skin. Then place the suction tip on the area of your face you wish to target and move the device in long, smooth patterns along your clogged pores. Don't pass over the same area more than three times, warns Healthline. When you're done, you can clean any debris off the nozzle and sanitize it with alcohol before putting it away. While you'll likely need to use the vacuum again, don't use it more than once a week.