According to skincare experts, it is best to leave your pores, nose, and skin untouched. This means resisting the urge to pick, squeeze, or pinch your nose, as engaging in these activities (no matter how satisfying they may feel at the time) could lead to even more issues. “If you squeeze your blackheads, you can cause the follicle to rupture and induce the formation of an inflammatory lesion, or cyst,” dermatologist Dr. Kathleen Cook Suozzi told Everyday Health. But the potential consequences don’t end there.
“If you constantly squeeze your pores, the wear and tear of squeezing will eventually make your pores bigger over time, so I don’t usually recommend this method,” board-certified dermatologist and founder of Idriss Dermatology in New York Dr. Shereene Idriss shared with Cosmopolitan. Instead, dermatologists recommend a hands-off approach.
Rather than using your fingers as extraction tools, it is more effective to follow a proper skincare routine to address concerns about what is inside your pores, such as sebum and dead skin buildup. You’ll also want to forgo the pore strips and pore vacuums, as they only provide temporary solutions. Sebum will naturally accumulate again, and these methods can potentially harm your skin if used repeatedly.