Why Are My Pores So Big? Explained!

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Have you ever looked at your face in the mirror and seen huge pores? We all wished that we can make the skin look so smooth and poreless. But that is impossible.

Although you can’t get rid of pores, there are different products you can use that are marketed to help shrink them and make them look less obvious.

But first, it’s important to consider: “Why are my pores so big?” With that question answered, you’ll be better able to remedy your big pores.

For today, we’re going to help you discover what makes your pores big and what things you can do to help shrink them and make them less visible.

Contents

Pores: Explained

Before we discover why these pores are big, let’s first get to know what they are. First of all, a pore is simply defined as an opening in your skin.

They are actually all over the body and not only on your face. One of the most important functions of the pore is to help you regulate the body’s temperature.

The pores are openings where sweat can go out so that the skin can better cool down. There are also pores that contain hair follicles and the sebaceous gland.

The sebaceous gland is what produces oil or sebum. The oil that is produced and gets out of the pore is very important for the skin. With it, the skin is moisturized and better protected.

Although many don’t want to have oily skin, the production of it actually helps the skin by preventing the skin surface from absorbing too much water. The thin layer of oil on the surface helps our skin fight dehydration.

Why Are My Pores So Big?

All people have pores. But some have more visible pores than others. If you take a closer look at your pores, you’ll see that some of them are more easily seen than others.

Take your face for example.

Do you see the pores on your nose and the front part of the cheeks and forehead? Well, you’re not alone. The pores on those parts are quite visible on pretty much everyone.

When we say that our pores are so big, we often mean these pores because they are the ones that we mostly see. The main reason for big pores is genetics, age, hormonal cycle, sun damage, and clogging.

Unfortunately, with age and genetic factors, we can’t really do anything about them.

Some people are simply born with larger pores compared to others.

Age

Due to age, the elasticity of the skin is affected and you may observe that the skin stretches or sags.

That is also the reason why you’ll observe that it seems your pores have grown bigger as you age.

Hormones

With the hormonal cycle, there are times when the sebaceous gland produces more oils than it used to. Due to that, the pores can appear larger and you’ll see that there’s excess sebum on the skin.

Other Factors

Apart from those factors that we cannot really control, there are also some factors that are due to our habits that make our pores bigger.

First of all, if you don’t use sun protection, sun damage can be a common reason why your pores appear large. That’s because too much sun exposure also dries up the skin.

When the skin detects that it is too dry, it will try to correct that by producing more oil with the sebaceous glands, which in turn results in bigger pores.

Similarly, over-washing or washing the skin with products that are too harsh and overly drying could also cause it to feel dry.

With the oil production increased, it is more likely for the pores to get clogged. The more clogged they get, the larger they’ll appear to be.

What Can You Do To Minimize Pores?

As we’ve mentioned, there are different reasons why your pores could be bigger than typical. Some things we can’t really do anything about. But don’t lose hope.

There are still a few things you can do to help minimize the appearance of your pores.

1. Wash Your Face Regularly

One of the simplest things you can do to help minimize your pores is to regularly wash your face. This will help remove the excess oil plus other debris and the skin cells that are on the surface of the skin.

When they are removed, it would be less likely for your pores to get clogged and appear bigger than they usually do.

Do make sure that you don’t use facial washes that could be too harsh on your skin because they can also dry it up and trigger it to produce more oil.

If you tend to have oily skin, one of the best ingredients to look for in a facial wash is salicylic acid . This substance not only helps with your oil problems.

On the other hand, those with dry skin are better with cleansers that contain AHA or alpha hydroxy acid. These help with the exfoliation of the skin to remove the dead skin cells.

It is also better for keeping the skin moisturized.

2. Exfoliate The Skin

Another way to help reduce the appearance of the pores is to exfoliate the skin. Exfoliation will help remove the dead skin cells on the topmost skin layer.

Aside from preventing these skin cells from potentially clogging the pores, exfoliation also helps make your skin look better by making it look brighter and smooth.

Although exfoliation should be regularly done, you should also not overdo it. Make sure that you carefully select the exfoliator to use.

There are two different types of exfoliators that you can use. First is the physical exfoliators, which manually remove the dead skin cells.

These have scrubbing particles in them that you can actually feel with your hands as you use them. You may know them better as face scrubs. Just don’t rub them too vigorously or you might end up damaging your skin.

The other way to exfoliate is through No products found.. These might seem harsh but they are actually very gentle on the skin.

They could either be alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids. AHAs usually come from natural ingredients like lactic acid from milk or glycolic acid from sugar canes.

These are also water-soluble and do not only help with the exfoliation process but also help boost the skin’s moisture levels. That makes them work great on fine lines and wrinkles as well.

The BHA’s on the other hand include salicylic acid and they do help with the exfoliation but they work at a deeper level. These are oil-soluble, making them great for those who have oily skin.

They work within the lining of the pores and help greatly with those who have redness on their skin.

See also:

Moisturize The Skin

Another thing that you should not forget to do is to moisturize the skin. As we’ve mentioned, skin that is too dry will react by producing more oil that could clog the pores and make them look larger.

After cleansing your face, don’t forget to moisturize the skin afterward. There are many different types of moisturizer available and you should select one that matches your skin type.

Boost Collagen Production

You can also use products that help boost collagen production in your skin. With enough collagen in your skin, it will plump up.

That also helps minimize the pores because the walls are pushed, which makes the opening look smaller.

A few examples of ingredients to look for would be retinol, Vitamin C, and glycolic acid.

Retinol and Retinoids don’t just help boost collagen production, they also unclog the pores and help with the faster cell turnover.

Vitamin C increases collagen production while also helping the protection of the skin when it comes to sun damage.

Glycolic acid is another chemical exfoliator that also helps increase the production of collagen.

Just make sure that you carefully check all the products that you use for compatibility.

Although they could all help in minimizing the pores, there don’t always play well together.

Use Sunscreen

Finally, you should also not forget to use sunscreen whenever you go out. Even if you are not going to the beach, it is still important to protect your skin from the sun whenever you go out.

There are various sunscreens that you can wear. There are also some that you can wear even under your makeup so you don’t have to be afraid of looking all white.

Additionally, there is also makeup that has sunscreen combined in them so you don’t have to use a separate one while using them.

Protecting your skin from the harsh rays of the sun helps prevent it from drying up, looking flaky, and getting sunburned. Using sunscreen also greatly helps lessen the risk of you developing skin cancer.

This is particularly true after using retinol.