Are At-Home Pore Vacuums Actually Safe For Your Skin?
In today's skincare market, your arsenal of skincare tools can be as simple or as advanced as you'd like. You could stick to a simple gua sha being the only additional member of your skincare family, or you could go all out and have a separate drawer dedicated entirely to your micro current device, your facial steamer, your microneedling roller for acne scars, your LED mask, and your derma-planing device, per Cosmopolitan. The list could go on and on.
The tricky part about expanding your skincare device collection is that you could be going a step too far. Similar to skincare, simplicity is sometimes best, and the more factors you throw into the mix, the more confused your skin could get. Considering the fact that facial devices such as pore vacuums are typically reserved for your esthetician, you may be curious about whether it's safe for you to attempt to use one yourself, especially since clogged pores are one of the most unrelenting skin issues that everyone deals with — and sometimes a pore strip just doesn't quite cut it.
So, the thought of a device using suction to literally drag out all of the sebum and gunk from the depths of your pore sounds like a must-have, per Byrdie. But is it a tool that's safe to own?
Pore vacuums should be saved for professional use
When a skincare device's origins reside at the salon where you get your facials, you may be wondering if they're safe to use without an esthetician present. Pore vacuums have gone viral, and with a vast range of options and different price points, it's become very easy to get your own and try the process at home — but is it safe? With such an intense device that uses suction on your skin, it's best to get the answer from the experts.
"Generally, at-home pore vacuums are less powerful than professional devices you would find in a medical office and are safe for most skin types," Dr. John Diaz explained to Byrdie. To him, pore vacuums could potentially be a safe option, but not everyone agrees.
"There are risks associated with vacuum-based extraction devices," Dr. Adil Sheraz cautioned Refinery29. Dr. Sheraz explains that such a harsh device could cause broken blood capillaries which would result in bruising that could potentially be permanent. Dr. Anetta Reszco agrees as she explains that using a pore vacuum can actually worsen an existing skin condition such as rosacea, per Harper's Bazaar.
Similar to many skincare fads, you can find a number of expert opinions online backing either side. However, considering that a pore vacuum is capable of potentially causing bruising or even microscopic tears in your skin, according to Well + Good, it's probably best to leave this one to the professionals.