

Microdermabrasion is another treatment option that can improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of pores. The chemical solution used in the peel penetrates the pores in the skin, helping them to release the dead skin cells. But when you stop taking it, your pores will return to their original size.Ĭhemical peels can improve the skin’s texture and minimize the appearance of pores by peeling off the old layer of skin. While you are taking Accutane, the medication actually shrinks oil glands and dries out the skin. Accutane, a strong prescription medication for severe, cystic acne, reduces the amount of oil released by oil glands. These treatments are generally applied to the face at night, as they are sensitive to light. Prescription-strength acne medications such as retinoids (Retin-A, Differin or Tazorac) can help to unclog pores, which makes them look smaller. Most procedures are painless and can be performed in your dermatologist’s office with no or very few side effects. There are many different treatment options to reduce the appearance of pores and improve the overall texture of your skin. Treatments to Minimize the Appearance of Pores Collagen is also naturally lost during the aging process, which decreases the skin’s overall elasticity and can make pores look larger.Įven some makeup and skin products with harsh, heavy ingredients can irritate the skin and cause pores to appear bigger. Ultimately, this structural damage makes pores expand and look bigger. UV rays are also bad for your pores because they weaken the collagen and tissue that supports pores. “Pimples and other acne lesions tend to stretch out pores, making them bigger, and picking or squeezing them makes it even worse and can cause trauma to the skin, permanently widening the pore.” “When dead skin cells and sebum get trapped in a pore, it can cause a pimple or blackhead to form,” says Dr.

The most common contributors to enlarged pores over time are acne and sun damage. There are, unfortunately, several factors that can actually stretch your pores and make them bigger. “Over-the-counter lotions and other non-prescription treatments won’t actually shrink pores, but there are some things you can do to make your pores appear smaller.” What Makes Pores Bigger? “The size of your pores is determined by your genetics,” says Dr. Everywhere you have a hair on your body, or a hair follicle, there is a pore that goes along with it. Each one contains sebaceous glands that produce oil. Pores - the tiny dots on the surface of your skin that are especially noticeable on your nose and sometimes on your forehead - are actually the openings of hair follicles. The truth? Not with over-the-counter treatments. When skin gets dehydrated, the oil glands can kick things up a gear to compensate, which, not unlike over-watering your plants, can be problematic.There are a lot of products on the market today that claim to clear your skin and shrink your pores, but is it really possible to shrink pores on your face? Drying air conditioning, extreme heat or even sun damage can be culprits in making pores seem enlarged. Where you live or work can impact what you see in the mirror, too.

So if you have naturally oilier skin, your excessive sebum is more likely to weigh down pores causing you to notice them more. This clog then effectively stretches the skin around the pore, and so, pores appear larger. On a nitty-gritty level, when dirt, makeup or oil build up on the skin’s surface, these impurities can easily sink into our pores and get lodged in there. Although sebum acts as a natural moisturizer for the skin, all this excess production can be a big nuisance. If your sebaceous glands are having a grand time and overproducing sebum, this causes large pores, which can lead to oily skin. Each of our pores contain a sebaceous oil gland, which produces the skin's natural oil - sebum.
