Pores
Pores are tiny openings in the skin which play a vital role in maintaining the health of the skin. Each pore allows sebum (skin oil) to travel from the sebaceous oil gland in the middle of the dermal layer to other parts of the skin, down to the hair follicle and up to the surface. This keeps the skin moist and protects it from dehydration.
Is it possible to make your pores smaller?
Technically, no. The size of our pores is mainly determined by genetics. There's no way you can actually make your pores physically smaller, and it is a common feature of oily skin (fortunately, if you have dry skin, you probably won't have this problem).
However, you can make your pores appear smaller. Larger pores tend to get clogged up with and surrounded by dirt, dead skin cells and bacteria because of their size, and all that gunk serves to highlight their existence, making them more visible. For this reason, proper cleansing and exfoliation is essential.
Other things that may make the pores appear larger are the following:
Aging, which causes the skin to lose its elasticity and dilate pores.
Prolonged sun exposure causing damage to the skin, leading to a microscopic thickening of cells around each pore creating a rim-like effect.
Blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and pustules. The pores accommodate the compacted grime, bacteria and continuous production of sebum by dilating. Blackheads, in particular, make pores appear dark (hence the name) and easily visible.
Tips to “Shrink” Your Pores
Though you can't technically make the pores you were born with smaller, you can follow a skincare regimen that keeps your pores clean, thereby reducing the chance of dirt and debris from clogging them up.
Use a good cleanser. The importance of this tip can't be stressed enough. Choose something that is appropriate for your skin type and deep cleans. A product that's alcohol or oil free is usually the best choice for problem skin. You may also want to find something that's free of perfumes as well, since the ingredients used to add scent may often be irritating.
Follow with a toner or astringent. To restore the pH balance of the skin, an alcohol-free toner can be used while the role of an astringent is to recondition the skin and remove any residual dirt and oil.
End with a good moisturizer to hydrate the skin, maintaining its suppleness. To protect the skin against sun damage, use one with an SPF rating of 30 or more.
Cosmetic Treatments for the Pores
There are several cosmetic treatments available to minimize the appearance of the pores. Procedures such as a chemical peel and microdermabrasion can remove the gunk clogging the pores along with the uppermost layers of the skin to reveal the fresher skin underneath. Laser skin treatments like photofacial rejuvenation, laser skin resurfacing and laser skin tightening may also help clear out the pores while also kickstarting the production of fresh cells and collagen.
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Spider Veins
Dilated Veins
All About Stretch marks
Acne
A Brief Overview
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Acne Cosmetica
Acne Coverup
Laser Acne Removal
Skincare and Treatments
Microdermabrasion
Dermabrasion
A Brief History of Chemical Peels
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Skincare Ingredients
Taking Care of Problem Skin
Pores
Other
Body Odour
Tattoos
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Technical Tattoo Information
Common Reasons to Remove Tattoos
The Sun
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Sunscreen and Sunblock
