Large Pores – Causes and Treatment

Depending on the skin type, the types of pores on the skin also differ, but they turn into a problem when they turn into large pores and appear clearly on the skin of the face. You may see some experiments on the Internet to open and close the pores, but in fact this is not the case. The pores do not open or close, they simply enlarge and expand. A skincare routine can be followed to prevent its expansion in the future, but it cannot be hidden or narrowed.

You may have heard that steaming the face helps open the pores, but in fact, steaming helps make the fatty substances inside the pores slide out, thus making them easier to expel. There is a lot of misinformation and false treatments for this problem, so the real causes must be diagnosed and treated.

What are Pores?

Pores are the small openings on the surface of the skin. They help the body sweat and cool. They produce an oily substance called sebum, which works to moisturize the skin and keep it soft and supple. However, under the influence of several factors, the pores may expand and appear clearly on the skin, which causes a problem for many people.

Large Pores Causes

Large pores appear with age. Dermatologist Jinli Wu says, “Everyone wants to return to the delicate, flawless skin of childhood, when pores were invisible, but with age, pores tend to appear larger, and expand under the influence of several factors:

Heredity

Genes are an important factor that plays a big role in pore size. Often, if your parents have large pores, you will face the same problem.

Aging

As we age, the skin loses collagen and elastin, which are proteins that provide structural support to the skin, causing large pores.

Skin Oil Production

Oil production increases in the forehead, chin, and nose area, so the pores appear wider in these areas of the face. Sweat, makeup residue, and dirt are among the most common causes of clogged pores in this area, which leads to enlarged pores, so you must get rid of them and wash your face well before sleeping.

Exposure to Sunlight

Excessive exposure to the sun without protection leads to skin damage and increased thickness, enlarging the pores. It also leads to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, and the removal of water from the skin, which reduces the firmness of the skin and increases its sagging, and thus the pores appear more clearly.

Hormonal Changes

The pores begin to expand at the beginning of puberty as a result of hormonal changes. The sebaceous glands begin to produce more oils. Some girls may notice increased pore expansion during the menstrual cycle, a period that is often accompanied by the appearance of pimples.

Clogged Pores

Failure to clean the skin leads to the accumulation of fats and dead cells, causing clogged pores and thus expanding them.

Large Pores Treatment at Home

• Following a skin care routine: The skin care routine includes cleaning it on a daily basis, to avoid clogged pores and keep it healthy and fresh, keeping it hydrated and soft using a suitable moisturizer, as well as using toner on a daily basis that tightens the pores. Proper care of your skin will make the pores appear less visible.
• When buying skin care products, look for products that are non-comedogenic. This means that they will not clog pores. Products that cause clogged pores will increase the problem of large pores. When choosing any product that you will apply to your face, make sure that it is oil-free and does not clog pores.
• Clean the face twice a day to prevent clogged pores. Daily cleaning makes the pores clean and fresh, and prevents the accumulation of oil. Use warm water, not hot, because it may cause skin irritation, making the pores appear clearer. Choose an oil-free daily cleanser that does not clog the pores. Wash your face gently in the morning and before bed to ensure clean and healthy skin.
• Use retinol, which is a type of vitamin A that makes your pores appear narrower. It works to increase cell renewal and open pores, and it stimulates the production of collagen, which maintains the freshness of the skin. Choose one of the skin care products that contains retinol. The best time to use it is before bed, because it increases skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. Retinol causes mild skin irritation. To avoid allergies, wash your face, then wait 30 minutes before using the product. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid using the product.
• If you suffer from acne, use a product that contains salicylic acid. Products that contain a small amount of salicylic acid are suitable for daily use. If the product causes any allergies to you, use it once every two days.

Also read: Acne is Not Only for Teenagers!

• Use sunscreen every time you leave the house, even if the weather is cloudy. Your skin needs protection from the sun’s rays. Excessive exposure to the sun’s rays makes the skin lose its firmness, thus expanding the pores. Choosing a sunscreen suitable for your skin with a protection factor of 50 or more helps protect your skin from the sun’s rays. To learn more about choosing the right sunscreen for your skin, read: Get to Know the Sunscreen
• Treat your skin gently: Massaging or rubbing irritates the skin, causing the pores to expand. Also, pressing the skin to extract blackheads causes the pores to appear more clearly, so you must treat blackheads correctly and avoid digging into the skin and putting pressure on them. Also read: Blackheads | Causes and Treatment.
• Use clay masks that absorb oil and restore the face’s natural glow. Kaolin is a natural clay that helps extract excess sebum, resulting in smaller pores. Clay masks can be combined with other ingredients to solve skin problems, such as charcoal, which draws out oil, or vitamin E granules to maintain skin moisture. A clay mask can be used weekly.
• Use collagen production products such as retinol, which prevents enlarged pores, vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that enhances collagen production, and glycolic acid, which helps replenish collagen and exfoliate dead skin. For more about the benefits of collagen: 4 Benefits of Collagen for Your Skin and Body
• Moisturize your skin daily to prevent dryness and irritation, which causes enlarged pores.
• Home exfoliation: Exfoliation is the removal of dead cells from the upper layers of the skin, and makes it smoother. There are two types of exfoliation:

Physical exfoliation: Using compounds filled with granules that you can feel with your hands. These granules work to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin.

Chemical exfoliation: Chemical exfoliations contain alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids. Alpha hydroxy acids are derived from natural ingredients, glycolic acid from sugar cane, malic acid from apple cider vinegar, lactic acid from milk, and citric acid from citrus fruits. These acids are soluble in water. It is able to improve rough skin texture and soften it, improve dull and uneven skin tone, tighten wrinkles and hide fine lines. It is ideal for oily skin and treats red and irritated skin. However, exfoliation times must be reduced because it strips the skin of the natural barrier that protects it, which causes It dryness and inflammation, so you must choose the right exfoliant for your skin.

Large Pores Medical Treatments

When pores appear very clear, you should turn to skin health clinics, which offer several types of treatments, including:

• Chemical exfoliation: An excellent treatment for narrowing pores. Chemical exfoliation removes the damaged outer layer of the skin using an acidic solution to improve the texture of the skin. Types of exfoliation vary according to the concentration of the acid used in peeling. It works at several depths of the skin, superficial, medium, or deep, depending on the desired result. Your dermatologist will determine the type of peeling that is appropriate for your skin. Each type of chemical exfoliation has its own solution, and gives different results. Home exfoliation, chemical exfoliation, and intense pulsed light are useful in shrinking and tightening pores. For more about chemical exfoliation, read: Chemical Peeling | Benefits and Types
• Laser: The laser works to rejuvenate and enhance collagen by heating collagen, which helps shrink large pores and hide acne scars. Ablative and non-ablative lasers work to regulate and stimulate collagen, which helps shrink pores. Lasers solve several skin problems by exfoliating the upper layer of the skin and promoting collagen production at the bottom, so laser treatment requires a visit to the treatment center for four to eight weeks.

“Laser treatments can make a more noticeable difference than home treatments, with results that last longer, depending on the type of laser used,” says Dr. Jinli Wu.

• Topical treatments: No topical creams have been proven effective in narrowing pores, but using topical niacinamide can reduce oil flow, which helps prevent enlarged pores. Alpha and beta hydroxy acids and retinol can also shrink pores by dissolving sebum and keeping pores clean.
• Toner: It has astringent properties because it contains alcohol, which depletes the skin’s essential oils, leading to shrinking pores. So toner is associated in our minds with shrinking pores.
• Prescribed medications: A dermatologist can prescribe some types of medications to treat large pores and acne, such as powerful retinoid products Retin-A® (tretinoin), which are considered stronger than other options, but require a prescription.

“For patients with active acne, oral medications, such as Accutane® (isotretinoin) or spironolactone, may be prescribed to treat acne,” says Dr. Jinli Wu. “These medications tend to reduce oil production, which results in shrinking pores.”

• Micro-needling: An effective way to fill the skin and shrink pores. Dr. Jinli Wu says, “We use a micro-needling device to make small holes in the skin, with very soft and sterile needles, which creates a small shock in the skin, which stimulates the wound healing response. This leads to the production of collagen, Which strengthens the support structure around the pores.”

It is not considered a painful procedure, but you may feel some discomfort. After the session, your face will appear a little irritated.

Large Pores Prevention Tips

• Not focusing on the pores: Dr. Jinli Wu says, “People tend to focus on their pores and look with a magnifying glass. My advice is to get rid of the magnifying mirror. No one looks at your face closely.”
• Cleansing the face in the morning and evening: Studies have revealed that the size of the pores changes throughout the day. Dermatologists have noticed a clear shrinkage of the pores in the morning after washing the face. Therefore, cleansing the face daily contributes to keeping the pores shrinking and not expanding. This is not only about cleansing the pores but maintaining hydration as well because lack of moisture contributes to increased sebum secretion to maintain a certain level of skin moisture, which leads to enlarged pores.
• Protecting the skin from premature aging: Aging reduces the firmness of the skin, causes the skin to lose its elasticity and cohesion, and the skin begins to lose elastic tissue and protein, so pores begin to appear clearly. So it is best to follow a routine to protect the skin from premature aging.
• Follow healthy habits to maintain healthy skin, such as getting adequate sleep. Sleep allows the skin to recover from daily stress, and restores the skin’s health and freshness. Not getting enough sleep causes dry skin, loss of moisture, dull skin, as well as enlarged pores, and also protects the skin from dark circles. For more: Dark Circles under the Eyes – Causes and Treatment .
• Follow a healthy diet: Your diet directly reflects on your skin. Excessive sugar intake greatly harms the health of the skin. Sugar harms the skin because it causes the binding of collagen fibers, which causes damage to collagen and elastin in the skin, so the skin becomes flabby and dry, and pores appear clearly. You can replace sugars with fruits and vegetables to maintain the health of your skin and enhance the production of collagen in the skin. Read also Collagen Rich Foods that Help You Produce It Naturally.
• Correct cleansing of the skin: Improper cleansing of the skin causes dirt and bacteria to leave behind blackheads, so you must know the correct way to clean and purify the skin, using an appropriate lotion that cleanses the skin of excess oils and dirt, and maintains skin moisture, and continue using toner on a daily basis; to maintain natural pores. It is important to focus on cleaning the skin and keeping it healthy and fresh, while maintaining its moisture.
• Do not press or rub the skin violently, as this causes further expansion of the pores. You can warm the skin with a slightly hot towel, before washing the face. This will facilitate the removal of dirt from the skin and open the pores.
• Do not expose your skin to direct sunlight, try to reduce the duration of your exposure to sunlight, and keep applying sunscreen whenever you leave the house. Also read Sunburn, How Do I Deal with It?
• Moisturizing is very important to prevent enlarged pores. You should pay attention to choosing a moisturizer suitable for your skin, which works to improve the skin’s texture, nourishes it with the necessary elements, and prevents the formation of fats that cause blackheads and wide pores. To choose the appropriate moisturizing cream: Night and Day Cream to Moisturize and Nourish the Skin
• The skin renewal cycle depends on the creation of new keratinocytes that push upward to replace the old, damaged layer when it peels off. However, several factors may slow down this process, such as premature aging, exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun, and decreased metabolism. These factors slow the formation of keratinocytes, which leads to the accumulation of fat and the expansion of pores. Effective control of skin texture depends on cleansing and moisturizing it, which greatly helps in keeping the pores tight and healthy.

Do not forget that the process of improving skin texture and maintaining pore health takes time before seeing any result. It takes from six months to a year to get the skin you dream of, so you must follow a skin care routine and apply the previous tips to get healthy, smoother skin, and get rid of the problem of large pores. May you stay well.

Frequently Asked Questions about Large Pores

Sources

healthline

medicalnewstoday

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