Pore size is primarily genetic, but other factors may also come into play. The most common causes of large pores are high sebum secretion and decreased skin elasticity. Other factors include chronic acne, hormonal differences, sun damage, smoking, radiodermatitis and vitamin A deficiency.
Pores can become clogged with excess oil, dead skin, or dirt, or they can appear more prominent as a result of too much sun exposure. Other factors that can influence pores becoming clogged include genetics and hormones.
There's nothing richer than clean, healthy pores—and like other elements of appearance, it's common for people to stress over their size. 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.
The bad news is that pore size is genetically determined, so you can't actually shrink pores. However, some products and treatments can minimize the appearance of pores, but none of them are permanent solutions. Pore-minimizing products work by stimulating and plumping the collagen that surrounds pores.
Apply a facial pore cleanser with salicylic acid nightly. "It's a beta hydroxy acid that has increased solubility in oil and can travel deep within pores," Dr. Feely says. You can also talk to your dermatologist about a stronger in-office chemical peel to further clear out pores.
Pore size is primarily genetic, but other factors may also come into play. The most common causes of large pores are high sebum secretion and decreased skin elasticity. Other factors include chronic acne, hormonal differences, sun damage, smoking, radiodermatitis and vitamin A deficiency.
“Since cold water tightens your pores, bacteria and debris can get trapped and won't clear out as easily as using warm water,” explains Knapp. She recommends washing your face with lukewarm water first as a way to remove any makeup and pollutants from the day.
Hormones play a role in stimulating these glands in order to produce more abundant quantities of sebum. That's why the pores on your face, most specifically those on your nose, forehead, and cheeks, may appear larger than they do on other areas of your body.
Smaller Pores
The more water you drink, the better balance of oil and water on the surface of your skin. This can help reduce your pore size, decrease acne breakouts, and reduce blemishes.
Try retinoids
Retinoids, which boost skin cell turnover, could also help minimize the appearance of pores. Williams explains that vitamin A derivatives, like tretinoin and isotretinoin, don't just help clear out clogged pores.
Pore size has always been an issue in the world of “perceived” beauty. Large pores are deemed unattractive, so let's tackle the problem by first getting a better understanding of what a pore is. Then I'll share my six skincare tips for shrinking pores—or at least achieving clear skin and reducing blemishes!
Starting your shave with hot water is good because it opens the pores and softens your hair—but you need to close those pores after you shave or else dirt and crud will get in your pores and cause acne. Do you want acne?
Hold the warm washcloth over your face to steam out your pores. The steam helps loosen dirt, make-up, and such in your pores. Repeat the process. As the washcloth cools, continue to heat up the washcloth with new hot water, and hold it over your face, up to three or four times.
“Unless you've been sweating heavily, have visible dirt on the skin, or have used heavy cosmetics, in some cases washing just with water is adequate.”
According to dermatologist Dr Jaishree Sharad, ice cannot affect the opening or closing of skin pores.
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.
Retinol promotes skin cell turnover and unclogs pores.
Studies show that applying retinol cream reduces pore size and keeps them cleaner, emptying the impurities that otherwise give an oversized appearance.
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.
Witch hazel acts as an astringent to help shrink your pores, soothe your skin and reduce inflammation.
Do you see distinct dots? If you do, your pores are probably on the larger side. Check for large, visible pores on your forehead, chin, and nose, too. If your pores are mostly large across these areas, you have oily skin—because the pores are bigger, more oil comes out of them.
Can drinking a gallon of water a day be harmful? For most people, there is really no limit for daily water intake and a gallon a day is not harmful. But for those who have congestive heart failure or end stage kidney disease, sometimes water needs to be restricted because the body can't process it correctly.