A person’s pores may be more or less noticeable depending on their skin type. There are two types of pores: one releases the body’s natural oil, called sebum, and the other releases sweat.
It is not possible to get rid of large pores, but there are ways to reduce their appearance, such as:
- Using water-based products.
- Applying a clay mask.
- Avoiding too much sun exposure.
- Professional skincare treatments.
9 Ways to improve large pores:
Why do pores become enlarged?
Tiny hairs cover a person’s skin, except on the palms of the hands and on the feet. Each hair follicle has a pore at the top of it. The hair follicle has a gland inside it that produces oil. This gland is called the sebaceous gland. When the sebaceous gland releases oil, the oil rises to the top of the skin and collects in the pore.
The main causes of enlarged pores are:
- Excessive sebum: This is when a person’s sebaceous gland produces a lot of oil, leading to oily skin.
- Decreased elasticity around the pore: This is when the skin becomes less flexible, it usually happens when the person reaches from 35 to 45 years old.
- Increased hair follicle volume: This is when the pore at the end of the hair follicle becomes clogged. When oil collects in the pore and combines with dirt or makeup, the pore can become blocked. This blockage stretches the pore, making it look bigger. If the pore remains clogged, a pimple may develop.
- Genetics and the size of a person’s pores help determine how active a person’s sebaceous glands are.
Although, having large pores is not a health concern, pore size is an aesthetic consideration that can annoy anyone, so let´s study how to improve the appearance of large pores:
1. Choosing water-based products
Moisturizing products contain various active ingredients, including oils. Skincare professionals recommend using oil-free products, including water-based makeup. This can specially benefit people with oily skin, products with high in humectants rather than oils are very useful when it comes to reduce pores.
The excess oil contained in oil-based products may not be suitable for people with oily skin and large pores because it can make pores appear larger.
2. Washing the face both morning and night
Washing the face is basic skin care, we recommend you to follow specific steps to do it correctly:
- Washing the face up to twice a day, or more after sweating a lot or doing sports.
- Using lukewarm water and gently applying a cleanser with clean fingers.
- Choosing a gentle cleanser that is nonabrasive and does not contain alcohol.
- Avoiding scrubbing or rubbing the skin.
- Patting the face dry with a clean towel.
- Washing the face every morning and evening helps wash away oil and dirt from the pores. This can help make them less visible.
3. Choosing gel-based cleansers
A gel-based cleanser is suitable for people with oily skin who want to make their pores less visible. So, instead of moisturizing cleansers that may leave residue in the pores and increase oiliness, you can choose a gel-based one that helps clear oil from the pores, reducing their appearance.
4. Exfoliating
Exfoliation is key in every skincare regimen, however, it is essential for a person with oily skin, if this is your case, you should exfoliate once or twice a week to remove dirt, excess oil or residues that can clog the pores, such as:
Suitable exfoliating products may contain: salicylic acid, lactobionic acid and gluconolactone, mandelic acid.
Important note: It is important not to exfoliate more than twice a week, as this can dry out the skin. Although exfoliation helps keep pores unclogged, pores can look bigger if the skin becomes too dry.
5. Moisturizing daily
Moisturizing oily skin may not be recommended by many sources, however, all skin types should be moisturized with right products, for instance, an oil-free moisturizer can help reduce pore enlargement.
How to moisturize oily skin?
A person should first wash and pat the skin dry, then gently apply an oil-free moisturizer to help hydrate and soften the skin, this will allow the oil from the sebaceous glands to penetrate more deeply into the skin, rather than staying in the pores on the surface.
6. Applying a clay mask
Clay absorbs sebum, so a clay mask once or twice a week can help remove additional oil from the pores. Preventing them to becoming enlarged and make them less visible.
It is advisable to do this on a different day than exfoliating, as overtreating the skin may cause irritation, which can cause pores to appear enlarged and can lead to blemishes.
7. Always removing makeup at night
ALWAYS, remove makeup before going to sleep. This is essential for all skin types and conditions. Sleeping in makeup overnight can cause the pores to become blocked due to a buildup of makeup, oil, and bacteria.
8. Wearing sunscreen
This is another essential step for all skincare routines, it is crucial to take care the skin from sun rays. When it comes to large pores, sun exposure can dry the skin, making them appear larger. It is recommended to choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or over.
9. Professional treatment options
Skincare experts recommend laser, chemical peel, and medical microneedling to improve the appearance of pores.
Laser treatments:
Laser treatments: Laser works by using a focused beam of light that has a specific target to stimulate the growth of new skin cells by removing top layers of the skin, this helps to eliminate acne scars, dark spots, wrinkles or fine lines and improve overall skin texture an appearance.
Chemical Peels
Chemical PeelsExfoliating treatments like chemical peels remove the upper layers of dead skin, helping to stimulate collagen production, enhance cellular turnover, reduce the dull appearance in order to reflect a light better skin appearance.
Medical Microneedling:
Medical Microneedling:The medical microneedling, also known as Dermapen and Rejuvapen, is actually minimally-invasive working as a collagen induction therapy to promote rejuvenation and a host of skin-boosting benefits. The pen uses 11 super-tiny needles in the tip which can be adjusted by the professional according to the patient´s needs, to create small punctures on the top layer of the skin which would cause the body to create new collagen and elastin.
At Renew Esthetics Medical SPA, we have the treatments that include any of the procedures above, however, in order to provide a personalized package, we invite you to an initial consultation so our skincare experts can evaluate and determine the best course of the treatment that suits your needs. We have amazing discounts this season!
IDALIS BAILEY
Skincare Expert
Nurse, MBA – Marketing, NYS Licensed Medical Aesthetician & Certified Laser with more of 15 Years Experience
