Do you have enlarged pores that bother you? Many people think that you can’t do anything to treat enlarged pores. The truth is there are many things that can be done to improve the appearance of enlarged pores.
What causes enlarged pores?
There are many different causes of enlarged pores. The first cause of enlarged pores is genetics. Some people just have a family history of enlarged pores. Also, men tend to have larger pores than women. This is partly because men have facial hairs and there is a pore with each hair so there are more pores. Large hair follicles also lead to the appearance of enlarged pores because the hairs come out of the opening of the pore.
Other causes of enlarged pores have to do with changes that occur over time as you age. First, the skin cell growth cycle slows down. This leads to the buildup of dead skin cells on your skin surface. These dead skin cells can clog the pores and keep them open, making the pores look larger. Another thing that contributes to the appearance of pores is collagen. Collagen is the protein in your skin that keeps your skin firm and tight. Gradually over time, you stop making as much collagen. Also, sun and other environmental factors damage and degrade your collagen. By keeping the skin tight, collagen acts to close pores. So when you have less collagen, your skin can’t close the pores as easily.
Other things are hard to control include stress. Any type of stress on your skin can lead to the appearance of enlarged pores. This can be emotional stress from work, home, or school. It can also be stress on the skin from leaving makeup on your skin overnight. Makeup can also clog pores. Hormonal stress such as during the menstrual cycle can also lead to the appearance of enlarged pores; this typically occurs in the middle of the cycle at ovulation.
Finally, your skin type and the environment can change the appearance of your pores. Those with oily skin produce a lot of oil that come out of the pores. This can make the pores larger and if it clogs the pores it can lead to acne breakouts. Humid environments can increase the amount that you sweat and the same thing can happen. Cold or dry environments can decrease the moisture from your skin, causing your oil glands to working harder; this can also enlarge or even clog your pores.
What products can I use for enlarged pores?
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent the appearance of enlarged pores on your skin. First, it’s important to only use products that are noncomedogenic. This means they won’t clog pores. Washing your face twice daily will remove all the dirt and debris that has built up on your skin throughout the day or night. It’s important to wash off your makeup at night so your pores don’t get clogged. This will prevent your pores from clogging. Using exfoliants such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid will remove the dead skin cells that can clog your pores.
There are other products that will help stimulate your skin to make more collagen, or prevent it from being broken down. Sunscreen protects your skin from harmful UV rays that break down your collagen. Vitamin C works in two ways. First vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects your skin from the harmful UV rays that damage your collagen. Second, vitamin C is an important cofactor in producing collagen. Other antioxidants such as vitamin E and green tea extract will protect your skin even more. Products such as retinol and retin-A will make your skin produce more collagen and improve the appearance of your pores. Finally, us a good moisturizer to protect your skin from becoming too dry.
What treatments work for enlarged pores?
There are also many treatments you can do to improve the appearance of your enlarged pores. These treatments either remove dead skin cells or anything else on the surface of the skin, stimulate collagen production, or both. For example, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and facials will remove dead skin from the surface. This will improve the appearance of enlarged pores and provide a brighter and more youthful glow on your skin. There are also a variety of treatments that will stimulate your skin to make more collagen. These include IPL, laser skin tightening, and Ultra Microneedling. Most of these treatments will both remove dead skin cells and stimulate collagen formation.
Don’t let having enlarged pores get you down. There are many things you can do to improve the appearance of enlarged pores.
Dr. Alex has performed over 10,000 cosmetic treatments with many satisfied patients. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Alex in our Encino, CA office.