Skin Problems-Large Pores
Invisible pores have been touted as a hallmark of beautiful skin. Yet more than a few of us look in the mirror and confront a complexion whose texture looks more like the surface of the moon than satin-smooth. Maybe we should all stop peering into our magnifying mirrors!
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to actually shrink your pores. But you can take steps to avoid making pores even larger and learn makeup techniques that will make them less noticeable.
Pores are tiny openings in the skin-the points of entry of hair follicles, sweat glands and oil glands, from which oil flows to the surface of your skin.
If you’re bemoaning your large pores, don’t! They serve a purpose: to secrete oil. The size of the oil glands located on your nose, cheeks, and chin, determines the size of your pores in these areas. In fact, if your pores weren’t the size they are, you’d likely end up with a bigger problem: pimples. Too much oil trying to drain from too tiny pores could lead to blemishes.
To prevent pores from enlarging in the first place, don’t squeeze blackheads. It can rupture the hair follicle, causing scarring that permanently enlarges that pore.
Also, stay out of the sun. As you get older, the damaging effects of the sun on your skin will finally catch up with your pores. Sun damage can cause blackheads, which enlarge pores. Then, as your pores try to expand, the material in them gets trapped. So if you haven’t already begun to wear a strong sunscreen, now’s the time to start.
Experts agree that you can’t reduce the size of your pores. Pore size is inherited, and there’s no way you can get around that. But you can make pores look less noticeable. Here’s how.
Keep your skin clean. Blemishes will make your pores more visible, so keep your face clean.
That doesn’t mean you should scrub with harsh cleaners; it may spur your skin to generate more oil, and the more oil your skin pumps out, the larger your pores can get. Cleanse gently with mild soap instead.
By the way, you may have heard that you can close your pores by steaming your face or alternately turning the water in your shower hot and cold. But this is the beauty equivalent of an old wives’ tale: Pores can’t be opened and closed like a window!
Use an astringent-sparingly. Alcohol based skin care products can temporarily close pores by irritating the skin, creating a swelling effect around the pores. But don’t use too much astringent, too often-you may close your pores but end up with dry, flaky skin. Better to save an astringent for special occasions-before a big night out, for example. The pore-tightening effect is temporary, however-an hour or so.
Mask the problem. Face masks-especially those formulated with clay-draw out some oil from your skin, which will temporarily make your pores appear smaller. But they can also dry out your skin if you’re not careful. Choose a brand formulated specifically for your skin type (dry, oily, or normal) and follow directions to the letter. If you have sensitive skin, you probably shouldn’t use masks at all.
Apply any mask thickly-too thin an application can work too well, ausing parched, tight skin.
