As you grow older, your skin loses it elasticity, which causes your skin to stretch and sag, making pores appear larger. Your skin also thickens as you age, which causes miniscule skin cells to gather around your pores, making pores look bigger.
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.
It never hurts to keep in mind that you need your pores, even if you don't love how they look. They're a natural part of your skin, not a flaw. It can also help to come to terms with the fact that your genes play a role in their size. In other words, you can't make them smaller or get rid of them entirely.
Pore size is genetically determined, so you can't actually shrink pores. You can use pore-minimizing products, cooling treatments and products containing vitamin B3, niacinamide, picolinamide, zinc oxide and collagen to attempt to minimize the appearance of pores.
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. Retinol is most effective when used as night cream.
Exfoliation, sun protection and professional treatments with an esthetician are your best bet. To help mitigate a slower desquamation process, incorporate gentle exfoliation into your daily skin care routine, along with professional peels that clear away build up of dead skin cells.
Milk, butter, cheese and milk chocolate contain high levels of hormones which can lead to an increased production of oil and blocked pores. What to blocked pores leads to? Large pores! Dairy is also lined with acne and other skin conditions.
Cucumber is a natural skin hydrant; the high water content of cucumber helps replenish the skin and tightens it. It is an excellent home remedy for open pores on oily face and skin. Both besan and turmeric are equally effective in shrinking pores. Mix 1 tablespoon of besan with 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises against touching, picking, or popping any type of clogged pore or acne.
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid — in cleansers, lotions, or chemical peels — can all minimize the appearance of pores over time.
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.
Toners can help close pores and tighten cell gaps after cleansing, reducing the penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants into the skin. It can even protect and remove chlorine and minerals present in tap water. It acts like a moisturizer.
Witch hazel acts as an astringent to help shrink your pores, soothe your skin and reduce inflammation.
Chronically large pores, or pores that continually get clogged, can lead to breakouts and adult acne. Hyaluronic acid serum tightens skin and minimizes pores so they shrink and become invisible over time. Smaller pores mean fewer clogs and breakouts.
Best on a budget: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
It targets acne scarring and works to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. The ingredients include three ceramides, niacinamide, and licorice root extract, along with encapsulated retinol that helps to even skin tone and increase brightness.
“Squeezing, picking, pulling, prodding—all of that can stretch the elastic around the pores, which makes them wider and larger, and they won't bounce back into shape. Ultimately, your pores will look larger and become increasingly more visible. The perimeter of your pore is like the neck of a t-shirt.
Are pore vacuums effective at clearing pores and blackheads? “Pore vacuums certainly can be an effective tool in helping to regularly clear pore congestion, however they're not essential component to a skincare routine,” Reszko says.