Open and Closed Pores

[Jaybird180]

I am curious about something in particular:

Excuse the "sillyness" of the question

Why is it important to close the pores after a shave with cold water? Wouldn't it be okay to just get dressed and allow time and the normal day to close them?
I'm not 100% certain, but I seem to notice more issues when I splash with cold water after a shave.

Conversely, why is it important to open them before a shave? I understand softening the hair, but....?

 

[huntmol]

Not trying to be mean, just did a Google search and this is what I found:

From: http://askville.amazon.com/pores-face-open-close/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=6939979



Our pores do not have any muscles and do not open and close. This is a complete myth. What we see as "opening" and "closing" is our pores’ reactions to either being clogged by gunk (causing the "open" look) or our pores’ reaction to our facial tissue swelling from astringents (causing the "closed" look). Here is some evidence to back this up:



One spa expert says:
"...I can’t tell you how many times I read about a product or a procedure that they claimed "opens the pores." It started to drive me crazy because pores don’t open -- or close. Pores stay the same size no matter what you do. Steam, exfoliation, paraffin masks, hot towels -- none of these open the pores. They CAN, however, soften the sebum and dead skin cells that clog the pores, making extraction easier. I know that sometimes esthiticians talk about opening your pores, but don’t believe them. In fact, it’s a tip-off that they don’t know their stuff. "
http://spas.about.com/b/2007/07/06/spa-writing-faux-pas.htm

A doctor from the Palo Alto Medical Center says this:
"Pores do not open and close. They can get clogged with dirt or oil, so gentle cleansing is important. But vigorous scrubbing, exfoliating, special products, do not open or close pores."
http://www.pamf.org/preteen/doctor/

Even pageant experts weigh in here:
"...They do not open, they do not close. If your pores are appearing larger it is most likely because dead skin cells have built up on the pore. This is why exfoliation is important. Exfoliation helps to buff away dead skin cells and keeps the pores looking smaller and cleaner. Now, I will tell you that picking and squeezing on your pores can stretch and scar them. So obviously this is a no-no."
http://www.pageantfaces.com/faqs.htm

And here’s what one dermatologist has to say:
"Myth #3: You need to steam your face or use an astringent to open or close your pores. There’s no magical process or product that will cause your pores to "open" and allow impurities to rise to the skin’s surface. By the same token, splashing cold water on your face - or doing anything else for that matter - won’t cause the gates to slam shut on your pores. Simply put, "pores are pretty stationary," says Susan C. Taylor, M.D., a dermatologist in Philadelphia...What you’re doing when you steam your face is causing the blood vessels to dilate and the skin to swell slightly. Similarly, "astringents and toners slightly irritate the walls of the pores and make them swell, causing the pores to look smaller," Baumann explains. But they haven’t actually changed in size. Even in the best-case scenario, their diminished appearance won’t last for more than 24 hours. For a longer-lasting effect, you can help pores look closed and tight by keeping them clean. Wash your face at least twice a day."
http://www.societyhilldermatology.com/articles/shapeAug05.html

 

[krissy]

Huntmol GREAT INFO THANK YOU !!!!

 

[Jaybird180]

Somewhat you've confirmed my suspicions. Thank you. So my process of rinsing with warm water to remove newly cut hair debris and shaving gunk is okay AND I don't HAVE to splash with cold water (I didn't like to anyway).

 

[Basset]

I'd thought the point of the cold water was to reduce the amount of oil buildup following a wash or shave; hot water tends to dissolve excess oil in the pores, and cold water tends to reduce oil production. I'd read that somewhere a long time ago.

 

[strat1117]

I just like the way a cold water splash feels after a shave. I don't need any more reason than that.

 

[DrLongandStrong]

It was my understanding that using hot water on the face before shaving was to open your pores so that it would be easier to cut the facial hair further down resulting in a closer shave.

And using cold water onto your face after shaving is supposed to close your pores to help reduce the amount of 'bad' stuff (oils, germs, etc.) that goes into your pores which could clog it and result in acne or infections.

 

[BatNastard]

Interesting stuff. Whatever the reason, I've found that the cold water rinse makes all the difference when I bike to work - keeps the sweat from stinging me.

I've been wondering about something perhaps related; I learned recently that the reason you don't want to run ice cold water on a burn is not because it will "shock" the skin but because cold prevents blood flow to the area, when blood flow is what you need in that case. Does the same thing happen with a cold splash and, if so, is it desirable?

 

[heirkb]

This is indeed great info

Edit: And that is a great question. I guess this would be true for a bigger cut that needs scabbing, but I think a weeper should be fine. Check your own experience. Weepers and nicks heal up pretty quickly, right? Therefore, the cold water, the styptic, the alum, the whatever you're doing must be working for you.
Of course, unless it isn't

 

[Captain Morgan]

It was my understanding that using hot water on the face before shaving was to open your pores so that it would be easier to cut the facial hair further down resulting in a closer shave.

And using cold water onto your face after shaving is supposed to close your pores to help reduce the amount of 'bad' stuff (oils, germs, etc.) that goes into your pores which could clog it and result in acne or infections.

I think that the purpose of using the warm water before a shave is to soften the beard by expanding the cuticle of the hair. The expansion of the cuticle allows for water to enter into the inner layers of the hair that then swell causing the hair to soften and stand up (slightly).

As far as the cold water, it is part of my routine and it works for my skin. Opening or closing the pores is all a matter of perspective.

 

[Fernando]

I just like the way a cold water splash feels after a shave. I don't need any more reason than that.

- Me too.

 

[huntmol]

I think that the reason cold water works well after a shave is because it is an astringent:


An astringent substance is a chemical that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. The word "astringent" derives from Latin adstringere, meaning "to bind fast". Two common examples are calamine lotion and witch hazel.

Astringent medicines cause shrinkage of mucous membranes or exposed tissues and are often used internally to check discharge of blood serum or mucous secretions. This can happen with a sore throat, hemorrhages, diarrhea, or with peptic ulcers. Externally applied astringents, which cause mild coagulation of skin proteins, dry, harden, and protect the skin. Acne sufferers are often advised to use astringents if they have oily skin. Astringents also help heal stretch marks and other scars. Mild astringent solutions are used in the relief of such minor skin irritations as those resulting from superficial cuts, allergies, insect bites, or fungal infections such as athlete's foot.

Some common astringent agents include alum, oatmeal, acacia, yarrow, witch hazel, bayberry, very cold water, and rubbing alcohol. Astringent preparations include silver nitrate, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, Burow's solution, tincture of benzoin, and vegetable substances such as tannic and gallic acids. Balaustines are the red rose-like flowers of the pomegranate, which are very bitter to the taste. In medicine, its dried form has been used as an astringent. Some metal salts and acids have also been used as astringents.

From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astringent

 

[BatNastard]

So it doesn't "close the pores" but it does constrict the tissues?

I guess this would be true for a bigger cut that needs scabbing, but I think a weeper should be fine. Check your own experience. Weepers and nicks heal up pretty quickly, right? Therefore, the cold water, the styptic, the alum, the whatever you're doing must be working for you.

Weepers do close quickly, which I guess is what I'd want from reducing blood flow. I'm wondering if the reduced blood flow has other happy effects, like above. Is that how cold water constricts tissue?

I don't usually use a dedicated astringent as my beard area is a bit dry; this explains why I like my CW splash so much.

 

[DrLongandStrong]

cold water as an astringent.....never thought of it that way.
very interesting answers in this thread!

 

[Gringo]

I always wash my face with cold water for over 30 seconds after a shace. I do this not for "closing" pores (which you can't, as I understand now), but to reduce blood loss. A cut in the warmer, puffier skins tends to bleed for a longer time than a cut that was washed with cold water. It really, really helps for me. The blood dries faster and the cut isn't even noticeable after one wipe with a towel

 

[SavantStrike]

I always wash my face with cold water for over 30 seconds after a shace. I do this not for "closing" pores (which you can't, as I understand now), but to reduce blood loss. A cut in the warmer, puffier skins tends to bleed for a longer time than a cut that was washed with cold water. It really, really helps for me. The blood dries faster and the cut isn't even noticeable after one wipe with a towel

When you have to think about it that much... I'm scared...

How much blood do you normally lose during a shave??