"Retinoids clear clogged oil and dead skin cells to make pores appear smaller," Dr. Feely says. That explains why women noted improvements in their pore size when they applied a retinol every night for three months, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Look for a product made with retinol or alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid. Prescription topical retinoids are also used to treat large pores. Pore strips may also do the trick. They help remove the uppermost portion of the blackhead, leaving the pore opening clear.
If you use it every two or three days, you may start seeing results after about ten weeks. If used weekly, it could take up to three months. Every person's skin is unique though, and results may vary.
If you suddenly see the pores getting bigger on, for example, your nose, it's the sebum glands in the pores on your nose which have been working overdrive 24-hour shifts. With all this extra sebum to bag up, your pore will eventually begin to lose elasticity aka your pore size will stretch.
Exfoliate to Refine Your Complexion
One of the best ways to make pores look smaller is to use skincare products that help refine your complexion. Some of the best ingredients for the job include retinol and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid.
extreme stress. poor skin care habits (such as not washing your face twice a day, or wearing oil-based makeup) dry skin (ironically, having dry skin can make pores more noticeable due to an increase in sebum production and accumulation of dead skin cells on the surface of your skin)
Laser Treatments
Several treatments are available at Dermatology and Laser Centre. Fractional ablative laser skin resurfacing decreases the appearance of pores and acne scars. For enlarged pores, Dr. Gallacher uses the Vbeam laser as well as fractionated CO2 lasers.
Combination skin is characterized by overactive oil glands in the T-zone. As a result, the nose, chin and forehead of combination skin are more prone to clogged pores. When sebum builds inside pores, they must expand to account for the excess oil, giving them an enlarged appearance.
Witch hazel acts as an astringent to help shrink your pores, soothe your skin and reduce inflammation.
While there are many treatments available to address pore size, microneedling stands out as a successful way to improve pore size, skin texture, and discoloration, as well as, taking care of the appearance of those fine lines you try to hide.
In-office glycolic or salicylic acid peels are also helpful for enlarged pores, blackheads and acne. More aggressive and long lasting treatments include a series of Clear + Brilliant Laser resurfacing treatments, which help increase collagen around the pore, thereby tightening it.
As with ordinary blackheads, a pore can become clogged when a hair follicle gets overloaded with a mix of sloughed off skin cells and sebum. Similar to grease clogging a drain, sebum can cause a build-up of oil in the pore. Microscopic dust and dirt particles can become part of the mix.
How does it help to shrink large pores? Niacinamide has been found to help balance sebum (oil) excretion rate and also improve elasticity to tighten up the skin around pores, making them look smaller. And it's gentle so even extra-sensitive skin types can reap its benefits without the risk of irritation!
Antioxidants like vitamin C, retinols, and exfoliating acids are all key ingredients in pore-minimizing serums because they can unclog congested pores, clear dead skin, and reduce excess sebum.
Hyaluronic acid serum tightens skin and minimizes pores so they shrink and become invisible over time. Smaller pores mean fewer clogs and breakouts.
Overall, the study concluded that intradermal low molecular weight hyaluronic acid fillers do in fact have the potential to reduce pore size — and that's in addition to improving the skin's overall texture and radiance. What's more, they also found the the injections to be safe!
Eating foods rich in vitamin A (sweet potatoes, carrots, winter squashes, dried apricots, bell peppers, cantaloupe and tropical fruits) help reduce oil gland activity, thus reducing the appearance of large pores.
Retinol has similar benefits, but it's stronger than niacinamide. It's also known to cause irritation, redness, and dry skin. Pairing the two ingredients is safe and can make retinol easier to use. Niacinamide helps hydrate the skin, which reduces the risk of irritation caused by retinol.