Hydration Is Key Dehydrated skin can worsen the appearance of large pores, making them more prominent. Opt for a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturiser to prevent clogged facial pores while ensuring your skin remains adequately hydrated.
When dehydrated areas of the face begin producing extra sebum in attempts to lubricate and moisturize the skin, it increases the chances of developing clogged pores. This can make already large pores appear even larger as they expand with oil and other debris.
Sun damage: Overexposure to the sun's rays can lead to larger-looking pores. Comedogenic makeup & skincare: Pores that are blocked with dirt, oil, and dead skin cells can lead to (you guessed it) larger-looking pores. If a makeup or skincare product is non-comedogenic, it won't clog your pores.
Vitamin A deficiency is a common cause of open pores on the skin. Vitamin A plays an important role in promoting cell turnover, which helps keep your pores clear and free from debris. When you don't get enough vitamin A, it can lead to clogged and enlarged pores that are difficult to treat.
With dehydrated skin, you might notice that your skin has a tired-looking appearance, with darker shadows and under-eye circles. You may also observe signs of dehydration that come and go depending on activities, the season, lifestyle changes, or even a cosmetic or skincare product.
In the early stages of dehydration, your body tries to hold on to fluid causing water retention. Water is drawn into the blood vessels, causing them to swell. This leads to areas of the body, especially the face, becoming bloated and puffy looking.
For mild cases of dehydrated skin, it may only take a few days of consistent moisturizing and drinking plenty of water to see a significant improvement. However, more severe cases of dehydrated skin may take several weeks of consistent treatment to see an improvement in hydration levels.
The smaller the pores, the clearer your skin appears. And in many cases, size does matter: enlarged pores, for starters, can indicate clogging and/or oil and bacteria buildup. So what is the “need to know” on pores—those pesky complexion-dotting nuisances we wish we could airbrush away, magazine-style?
Vitamin C Benefits for Oily Skin and Clogged Pores
Vitamin C is perfect for oily skin types because it minimizes the appearance of large pores, soothes temporary redness and promotes an even skin tone.
Results: The enlarged pores of the nose and forehead were more prominent than in the cheeks. Pore counts were increased with age, and the increment was significant between the 30's and 40's.
Citrus fruits: Oranges, lemons, and grapefruits are like a vitamin C power-up for your skin. Vitamin C is a superhero here, boosting collagen production and making your pores less noticeable. Plus, these fruits have natural acids that gently exfoliate, keeping your pores clear and happy.
Use a Cleanser with Salicylic Acid or Baking Soda
Salicylic acid can work wonders for those with oily skin types and heavy pore buildup. This chemical exfoliant dives deep into the pores, penetrating past the skin's sebum to remove impurities while preventing breakouts.
Staying hydrated, however, is not the holy grail cure for clearing congested pores. There is no statistical evidence to show that drinking water can clear your skin. It does ensure that all the cells in the body are properly hydrated, especially skin cells, which can improve skin function.
Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in, leaving it unable to maintain optimal hydration levels. This imbalance directly impacts your skin (your body's largest organ!) and causes noticeable changes in appearance and texture.
Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations stimulate the hyperactivity of sebaceous glands and trigger the production of excessive sebum, which results in large open pores. Acute Skin Conditions And Nutritional Deficiency: Chronic radiodermatitis and vitamin A deficiency are other uncommon causes of enlarged skin pores.
Ask about prescription medications
“For patients who also have concerns about active acne, we can prescribe oral medications such as Accutane® (isotretinoin) or spironolactone to treat it,” says Dr. Wu. “These medications decrease oil production, which decreases the appearance of pores.”
Studies show that applying retinol cream reduces pore size and keeps them cleaner, emptying the impurities that otherwise give an oversized appearance. Retinol is most effective when used as night cream. While there are plenty of over-the-counter products available, a dermatologist-prescribed retinol is most effective.
Avoid consuming sugary and processed foods in excess as they can cause inflammation and have an impact on skin health. Avoid smoking because it damages collagen and elastin, which can cause sagging skin and larger pores.
Can you reduce pore size, or get rid of them altogether? Because enlarged pores are largely determined by genetics, we can never physically shrink them, but we can effectively minimize their appearance by keeping them clean and free from build-up of dirt and dead skin cells.
The typical culprits here are oil-based products and formulas that have dewy, shimmery, or otherwise reflective finishes. The sheen of that makeup on pores can emphasize the uneven texture of the skin, calling attention to all the little nooks and crannies and making enlarged pores look even bigger.
Generally, if your skin is hydrated, it will appear firm, plump, and smooth, oftentimes with a bit of a natural-looking glow.
If you drink 8 ounces of water, it will generally be in your bladder within 20 minutes. So, it's a good idea to plan your restroom breaks if your bladder doesn't give you the warning signal. Additionally, there's no health benefit to consuming large volumes of water. Drinking more than 12 ounces at once is excessive.