Warning! If you're looking at your pores with a 10X magnifying mirror - STOP! Pores will look distorted with those things.
Enlarged pores are most common in people who have very oily skin - and - who don't cleanse regularly. Come on, fess up. We all have days we're just too tired. But if those days and nights keep adding up, our pores are expanding and that is not pretty.
What makes our pores look larger is the fact they are clogged. When they're clogged oil glands continue to pump out sebum that cannot escape. As a result, the edges of the pore stretches out to reach the surface of the skin to release the oil.
Skin with excess oil acts like a sponge and will soak up makeup, dead skin cells and environmental pollutants (dust, dirt, etc.). All of this contributes to larger looking pores.
Blackheads vs Whiteheads
When you have blackheads, known as open comedones, a chemical reaction with the sebum occurs under your skin. Melanin is oxidized and turns the clogged pores a black color.
Whiteheads are known as closed comedones. The follicles beneath your skin become filled with bacteria with a very small opening at the top of your skin. Air isn’t able to enter the follicle. This prevents the bacteria inside of it from undergoing a chemical reaction, so it stays white in color.
It is not good practice to force removal of blackheads and whiteheads. Allowing them to come to surface naturally and gently clearing is the safest home extraction method. Please have a licensed esthetician perform extractions to avoid scarring and further inflammation. Avoid blackheads and whiteheads altogether with proper cleansing.
How to Clear Out Your Pores
While you cannot change the actual size of your pores, you can remove the debris inside and this reduces the stretching of the edges allowing pores to appear smaller and skin much smoother.
Tips to clear out your pores:
- Remove all makeup before bed! Skip this and your pores pay the price.
- Use a cleanser tailored to your skin type and use it in the AM and PM.
- Even though you cleansed before bed, dead skin cells have collected overnight. EXTRA TIP: Change your pillow case WEEKLY to reduce bacterial and dead skin cell buildup.
- Do a double cleanse at night. Once to remove makeup and surface debris, and second cleanse for a deep clean.
- Use a cleanser containing AHAs and BHAs. AHAs like glycolic and lactic acid remove the superficial pore congestion. BHAs like salicylic acid penetrate deeper into the pores and efficiently dissolve oil buildup. Scrub Away the Day is my favorite AHA/BHA cleanser.
- Use a clay-based mask for super deep cleanse. Weekly until pores are cleared, then as needed. Clay-based masks do a great job of absorbing excess oil and debris in pores.
- Oily skin still needs hydration. Choose a water-based moisturizer if you have acne or are acne prone.
- Use LED to reduce inflammation.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Water is skin's best friend.
Follow these steps consistently, and your pores will smooth out and your skin will look fresh and renewed.
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