When the pores around the nose and cheeks are enlarged, it gives the skin an uneven appearance that many people want to correct. What most people don't realize is that there are numerous ways to reduce pore size. Pores are small openings in the human skin that serve an important purpose, which is to allow our skin to breathe. Pores play an important role in the skin's ability to secrete sebum and protect the top layer of skin from external environmental influences. But why do some people have large pores while others have small pores? Genes and hormones actually determine the size of your pores. But oily or mature skin can also lead to enlarged pores. People with oily skin, for example, usually have larger pores because sebum, flakes of skin and dirt can accumulate more easily in the outlets of the sebaceous glands. When this happens, the pore becomes clogged and stretched. Once a pore is stretched, it cannot return to its normal size on its own. Regular cleansing and other methods can help to improve the appearance of the skin, while preventative measures can help to avoid large pores before they develop.
What are pores actually?
The word "pore" comes from the Greek term póros, which translates as "opening", "passage" or something of this kind. Its current meaning is similar to the one it had a long time ago in the Latin medical language: porī (pores) referred to small openings in the skin where sweat or sebaceous glands were located. There are around 300,000 pores on an adult's body - tiny openings formed by sebaceous and sweat glands and hair roots.
Your pores play an important role in the secretion, elimination of pollutants and self-cleansing function of your skin. What many people don't realize is that sebum serves an important purpose. It coats the skin with an oily acid mantle that protects you from germs, bacteria, viruses, fungi and environmental influences due to its pH value and at the same time provides sufficient moisture for healthy skin. The small openings on your skin are not only used for perspiration and temperature regulation, but also support the skin's metabolism. The pores help with both the oxygen supply and the absorption of skin care products.
Pore care is important to keep your skin clean and healthy - so sweat and sebum can be eliminated smoothly without causing blackheads. Many people think that pores open and close. In reality, there is neither opening nor closing of the pores. What actually happens is the softening of your skin under warm water during cleansing, making it easier to remove impurities from larger looking pores.
How do enlarged pores develop?
The truth is that some women have fewer pores and others have more, but this difference is purely genetic. However, how the skin develops can also be influenced by lifestyle. Things like smoking cigarettes, sunbathing without sunscreen or too little sleep take their toll over time - even if the damage is not immediately visible.
Please avoid cigarettes and alcohol when you are stressed and meditate for a while instead. Also, make sure you apply sunscreen before you leave the house! It's worth noting that natural ageing also leads to larger pores; children have barely visible pores. This is because components of connective tissue such as hyaluronic acid break down over time, causing the skin to loosen and pores to become larger.
How can you reduce enlarged pores?
Large pores can be quite a nuisance, but luckily there are ways to combat them. Not sure which remedy is best for you? Here are a few helpful tips and tricks that might help.
Regular cleaning
Every evening it is important to cleanse your skin and remove make-up. An experienced dermatologist will then recommend using a non-drying toner without alcohol content (preferably with some AHA or BHA). In addition, the use of an electric facial cleansing brush can be beneficial.
Using the right active ingredients
Using the right skincare is important if you want to treat large pores. Knowing which active ingredients to use and targeting them is the key to an optimal skincare routine that can (visually) reduce the size of your pores. Note: Don't expect a miracle cure from promising creams and serums - they may shrink your pores back to their original size, but they won't make them disappear completely.
To refine your pores, look for serums with niacinamide, retinol and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients have been proven to improve the tone of your skin, provide it with sufficient moisture and prevent the overproduction of sebum. Another tip against large pores is BHA: salicylic acid peels are lipophilic - meaning they dissolve the oil. BHA penetrates deep into the pores, frees them from accumulated sebum and dirt and thus regulates sebum production.
Witch hazel water is a lesser-known solution for enlarged pores. Its anti-inflammatory action targets the root of pimples and excess sebum, resulting in smaller pores and an overall smoother skin appearance. Zinc and tea tree oil are other cosmetics that can achieve similar results.
Correct care
People with oily or blemish-prone skin are more prone to enlarged pores. For this reason, it is important to take proper care of your skin. You should avoid using overly rich or oily textures as these can clog your pores. Instead, opt for light skincare products such as moisturizing fluids or gels.
Healing clay or clay
Masks containing healing ingredients or clay are ideal for treating large pores. They absorb excess sebum and prevent the formation of blackheads or pimples. Some masks with healing clay also have an astringent effect, which tightens the skin - including the pores - for a certain period of time after application. This refining effect ensures a smoother complexion and smaller-looking pores.
Peel-off products
Pore Strips are used, as the name suggests, to cleanse your enlarged pores. The small strips are applied precisely to the affected area of your face. Leave them on your face according to the product's instructions and then peel them off. Although the adhesive strips are primarily intended to work against blackheads, they mainly remove follicle threads, i.e. oxidized and excess sebum, for about 30 days. Pore strips are much more aggressive than clay masks. They can cause redness and irritation on sensitive skin. In some cases, they also remove flakes of skin, which disrupts the skin barrier. Fun fact: Permanent hair removal methods such as waxing have a similar effect! So you kill two birds with one stone.
Sun protection
One of the most important aspects of any skincare routine is the inclusion of UV protection! This is not only important on days with direct sunlight, but every day: UV radiation is always present everywhere, even when it is cloudy. Sunlight not only causes irreparable damage to the skin, it also enlarges the pores: in the short term, it enlarges the pores of the sebaceous glands. In the long term, however, UV radiation damages the elastin and collagen fibers, which leads to premature skin aging and sagging. The solution: apply a cream!
Make-up and make-up removal
If you don't have much time, use make-up to retouch or 'remove' large pores. A good primer will fill in pores and even out your complexion. When buying, avoid primers that contain silicone as they don't allow your skin to breathe, clog pores and make the problem worse. Apply a BB cream or foundation after your primer for more even skin coverage. And don't forget - cleanse your skin thoroughly every night! If you forget to remove your make-up from time to time, it's no big deal. However, if you regularly go to bed without removing your make-up, you may have problems with the regeneration of your skin. During the night, your skin is active and working to build new cells. Environmental residues and make-up from the day can prevent or slow down this process. When you sleep with make-up on, it also clogs the pores and enlarges them.
Are there any home remedies for pores?
Yes, these also exist. There are even a few, let's take a look at them.
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Steam bath
Discolored, dark blackheads make large pores particularly visible. They form in the pores when sebum production is excessive and clogs them. The black coloration is due to the oxidation of dead skin cells. Discolored, dark blackheads make large pores particularly visible. They form in the pores when sebum production is excessive and clogs them. The black coloration is due to the oxidation of dead skin cells. A steam bath can help to cleanse your pores and remove dirt and sebum. To make a chamomile oil steam bath, boil about a liter of water and mix it with a few drops of chamomile oil. After relaxing for ten minutes with a towel over your head, uncover your face and gently wash it with lukewarm water and mild soap.
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Cucumber mask
Not only are cucumbers delicious, but they can also help reduce the appearance of large pores. Try this cucumber mask: slice a cucumber and place it on your freshly cleansed face, avoiding the eye area. You should feel a cooling, cleansing and firming effect - perfect for oily and large-pored skin! The cucumber slices need about 20-30 minutes to work optimally. If you don't have that much time, you can also just use cucumber juice: Squeeze the cucumbers with a sieve so that the juice comes out, then apply it to your face with a cotton ball. After twenty minutes, wash it off with cool water.
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Apple cider vinegar
Cloudy apple cider vinegar is a natural, tried and tested home remedy for reducing the size of pores. It not only kills bacteria, but also has an anti-inflammatory effect. Make sure that you do not apply the vinegar too concentrated, otherwise it can easily cause skin irritation. To use this remedy, mix apple cider vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:3. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and apply it to your problem areas. After twenty minutes, wash the area with cool water.
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Baking powder
Did you know that one of the many benefits of baking soda is that it can help with large pores? The small grains act as an exfoliant, removing dead skin cells, environmental dirt and excess sebum. Mix two tablespoons of water and two tablespoons of baking soda to make a light paste and then massage it into your face. Rinse thoroughly and apply facial care products as usual!
Which professional facial treatments are suitable for large pores?
Creams and makeup can temporarily cover large pores, but they will eventually reappear. Professional or medical treatments are a longer-term solution that effectively reduce the appearance of large pores.
Microneedling
The cosmetic procedure known as microneedling uses very fine needles that move along the surface of your skin. This creates tiny perforations that increase blood circulation in the skin and stimulate it to produce elastin, hyaluronic acid and collagen. The treatment also promotes cell regeneration, which leads to a lasting refinement of enlarged pores.
Laser
Erbium lasers can smooth the surface of the skin and also make pores appear smaller. However, depending on the initial condition of your skin, you may need 2-3 sessions.
Aquafacial
The Aquafacial treatment is a multi-step process that uses a minimally invasive technique to remove old skin cells. An AHA solution is then applied to your skin, which softens deposits in the pores and prepares it for deep cleansing. Sebum deposits, blackheads and dirt are removed from the pores thanks to the vacuum effect. Finally, your skin is supplied with moisturizing active ingredients. The result: minimized pores and a radiant complexion.
Hyaluronic acids
Non- or only slightly cross-linked hyaluronic acids injected into the skin can improve moisture retention and stimulate collagen synthesis to tighten the skin. As a rule, this treatment should be carried out once or twice a year.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion was first used in surgery to remove scar tissue. It can be an effective method to improve the appearance of the skin and reduce pores to their original size. The top layer of skin is gently removed using a polishing device with a diamond attachment. Dead cells are removed to reveal fresh and radiant skin without enlarging the pores.
How do I prevent enlarged pores?
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UV protection
Without sun protection, your skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, which can lead to premature ageing and skin cancer. Coarse-pored skin can be the result of too much sun exposure as it damages elastin and collagen fibers over time. Apply a cream with SPF every day, no matter what time of year. There are sun gels that feel like a light cream on the skin and do not weigh the skin down or clog the pores.
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Do not do it yourself!
Keep your hands off pores yourself! If you pick at blackheads or pimples, you could unintentionally damage or enlarge the pore.
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Lifestyle
Although some may realize it, many people don't realize that changing their daily habits is the most difficult step on the road to healthy skin. A healthier lifestyle in general is the key to flawless skin. Smoking and alcohol consumption, for example, can cause large pores and blemishes.
Conclusion
Pores are completely natural and useful. If you think they look too big, there is a lot you can do about it. With our tips, the right skincare and suitable treatments, you can quickly get to grips with this.
