Everyone has pores, of course, but we have come to understand that large pores often indicate an issue with skin that needs attention. These small openings in the skin release oils and sweat and are associated with your hair follicles. If your pores appear larger than usual, it may be due to factors like oily skin, caused by sebum production, acne, non-comedogenic makeup or sun damage.
If you feel anxious about your pores, it might help you to learn more about them and what they need from you to keep them healthy to support vibrant and glowing skin.
Here are five things you should know about your pores and how to improve their appearance.
Table of Contents
1. Your Pores Are a Vital Portal to Your Hair Follicles
The pores on your face serve as the opening of your hair follicles, which is why you see fine hairs sticking out of your pores. Your pores help to keep your skin healthy, allowing the transport of sebum secretion from the sebaceous glands to the skin’s surface. Sebum is a vital component of the outer layer of your skin, keeping it hydrated and protected from the elements.
2. You Can’t Change the Size of Your Pores
Whether your pores are large or small the majority of the time is a matter of genetics. Take a look at your parents or siblings to get an overall idea of the typical size of your family’s skin pores. If your pores are bothering you and are appearing larger than usual, it isn’t necessarily due to their size. It might have more to do with clogged pores, which you can effectively address through various strategies without visiting a dermatologist. Even if your pores are larger than you would like because of genetics, you can minimize their appearance.
3. Keep Your Face Clean
While having clogged pores does not mean you are dirty or lack proper hygiene, it can hardly be overstated how important it is to develop and maintain a face-cleaning schedule. Factors such as excess oil, dirt buildup, inflammation and acne can place stress on pores, causing them to appear larger. Shop for a facial cleanser, such as a gel-based formula, to gently clear away stress-inducing environmental elements from your skin.
4. Use a Pore Minimizing Toner
Search for a face toner that gently exfoliates and minimizes the appearance of pores. The best toner to reduce the size of your pores focuses on exfoliating pore-clogging dead skin cells and preparing the skin for additional pore-focused products and makeup you plan to apply. The right pore minimizing toner is made with high-quality ingredients, such as polyhydroxy acids to gently exfoliate pore-clogging dead skin cells and niacinamide to reduce pore visibility.
5. Exfoliate Your Skin
Exfoliating your skin once or twice each week removes excess flakes of dead skin without causing additional stress or over-stripping your skin while clearing your pores. If you are experiencing an acne outbreak or another condition that is already causing stress to your skin, wait until it clears to exfoliate.
Treat Your Pores Gently to Keep Them Clean and Healthy
Since large pores are sometimes a fact of life, and often a matter of stress to your skin, treat your pores with gentle care by performing regular exfoliation and toning with high-quality skincare products.
