Enlarged pores are a major problem for millions of people, but the sad fact is that you can’t really physically alter their size. This, however, doesn’t mean that there is nothing you can do about this issue. Understanding why your pores become enlarged and using a variety of specialized treatments and cosmetic products will allow you to manage this skin frustration efficiently.
Why Do Your Pores Get Enlarged?
Your pores can become too large due to many reasons, and not all of them can be controlled. To understand them better, you need to know exactly how pores work. Angela Palmer, an expert for VeryWell Health explains this in detail, but the most important outtake is that it’s only oil pores that cause this type of issue. And they become enlarged if they are clogged or otherwise affected by external factors, which causes the sebum production to increase.
When this happens, pores enlarge and the risk of developing acne increases, which means inflammation, which means even more issues with the pores. There is also the opposite problem, if your skin is too dry, it will literally shrink, thus causing pores to appear larger.
Beyond these factors, there are also two causes for enlarged pores that are mostly beyond your control:
- Genetics. You might simply be born with pores that are bigger than average.
- Aging.
When you age, collagen in the skin breaks down making it sag. The less supple your skin is, the more visible the pores.
All these facts considered, there is one most important thing you need to understand. There is no way to change the real physical size of your pores, explains a Coral Gables dermatology expert Dr. Flor A. Mayoral. Unless the visible enlargement caused by an external factor, like inflammation, you won’t be able to make your pores shrink to have picture-perfect skin. No one can do this and the majority of those pictures are photoshopped anyway, so you shouldn’t try to achieve the inhuman beauty standards they set.
However, Dr. Mayoral also highlights that you can make your pores visually appear smaller. To do this, you’ll need to develop a beauty routine that will treat this issue consistently. “Miracle” beauty products that claim to shrink pores, on the other hand, have very little actual effect. Depending on their formulas, they might turn out to be harmful in the long run, because they disrupt the healthy function of oil pores.
How to Make Your Enlarged Pores Appear Smaller
First of all, as explained in the study by Frederic Flament et al., enlarged pores aren’t a skin condition. This means that they do not affect the actual health of your skin and do not require a medical intervention.
As you can’t alter their size physically, you need to focus on making your pores clean and your skin healthy and supple. This way, even larger-than-average pores won’t stand out much, and you’ll be able to cover them with makeup without issues.
To achieve this kind of effect, your skincare routine must include the following steps:
- Cleanse the skin every morning and night using a cleanser that fits your skin type.
- Exfoliate once a week (exfoliation is the most important step for dealing with enlarged pores as it removes contaminations from them, which makes them smaller visually).
- Use pore-tightening facial masks with clay.
- Get regular chemical acid peels from a professional dermatologist (they will also remove any blemishes left by acne, which also makes the skin appear healthier).
- Moisturize with a non-oil-based product 2-3 times a day (depending on your skin type).
- Always wear sunscreen (UV rays speed up aging).
You should also consult an experienced dermatologist at the CLÉO clinic, who will be able to develop a more personalized treatment that will take into account your unique skin condition.
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