Can You Really Reduce Pore Size?

We try many products to reduce the pore size but do we succeed? What exactly causes large pore size and why are we not able to reduce it? Unfortunately, the skin pore size is genetic due to which we cannot reduce it physically. However, there are many ways with which you can make them look smaller to some extent.

Can You Really Reduce Pore Size?

Causes of Increased Pore Size:

Mostly the reason behind it is sun rays. It damages the skin proteins like collagen and elastin which are the structural proteins of the skin. If these proteins are missing, then the pores expand.

The second reason is popping the pimple incorrectly. Unevenly popping it with your finger tips is wrong and can damage your skin. The best way to pop it is by using a sterile needle evenly after applying alcohol to the skin and steaming. This will kill the bacteria in that area and then it should be popped or removed gently.

There are two factors to be considered regarding pore size which are skin tone and skin type. Usually, those with light skin tones have small pore size compared to those with dark skin tones; and those with oily skin have large pore size than those with dry skin.

This might be because of much active oil glands in each skin pore. Dry skin also has oil glands in the skin pores but they are small in size and not much active like those in oily skin. More than skin tone, skin type is related to the skin pore size.

Treatments:

You might have heard that retinol products can make skin pores appear smaller. It increases the cell turnover and unclogs the skin pore making it look smaller in size. There is a prescription medicine called Accutane which is used for severe acne; it shrinks the skin pore but once you stop using it, the pore size goes back to normal size.

It actually shrinks the oil glands under your skin layer and dries your skin. So, is there any other way to permanently reduce pore size? The answer to this question is non-abrasive laser treatment such as Multiple Fraxel Sessions, Genesis and Medlite. These laser treatments can shrink the collagen and at the same time increase its production.

How To Reduce The Pore Size?

There are few ways you can make your skin pores look smaller.

  1. The Products:

Always use non-comedogenic moisturizers which do not clog pores. Your makeup products should alo be non-comedogenic and avoid all those products with heavy ingredients especially petrolatum and mineral oils which further cause trouble to your skin.

  1. Cleanse:

Remove the makeup and cleanse your face before going to bed; wash your face using a gentle face wash before and after workout.

  1. Exfoliate:

Exfoliate at least twice a week; use products like gels and masks with sloughing ingredients in them. Ingredients like fruit enzymes, alpha-hydroxyl acid and retinol slough away dead skin cells. Use salicylic acid in case of skin breakout; this will remove the dead skin cells while treating blemishes.

  1. Sunscreen:

As you know that sun rays can damage skin proteins like collagen and elastin, it’s very important to use sunscreen everyday especially when you exfoliate your skin. Make sure your sunscreen has minimum SPF 15.

  1. Prescription Medicines:

If you think these tips are not helping you, then a dermatologist can prescribe you a stronger medication like Retin-A-Micro. Visit a dermatologist to get this solved.

  1. Chemical Peels:

You can also opt for glycolic or salicylic acid peels which can remove all the dead skin cells and help in reducing the pore size. You may have to go for 2 – 3 such treatments.

  1. Charcoal

You might have already guessed it right. Charcoal has the ability to bind itself to the impurities and extract it out of the pores. So use charcoal based face cleansers or face wash to remove the impurities everyday. You can also use charcoal face pack once a week to get rid of all the skin dirt.

  1. Superfoods:

Avocados are so skin friendly that can make you look really beautiful. Not just by eating, you can also use it as a face mask. Mash an avocado and mix in a tablespoon of olive oil or honey. Apply it all over your face and rinse it after 20 minutes. Try it once a week and see the changes.

  1. Oatmeal Scrub:

If you are planning to eat oats porridge with sliced banana in it, then you can also plan a face scrub. Just mash a banana in some oats and use some of it to scrub your dead skin cells. Once you rinse your face, use the rest of it to apply all over your face and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse it well and observe your skin.