Why Are My Pores So Big?

In many cases, bigger is better, but when it comes to your pores, the opposite is true: Smaller pores are better for both your health and your beauty.

However, pores can sometimes stretch and expand because of several factors that the experienced team at Skin Med Spa sees regularly in their patients.

If you’re concerned that your pores have gotten larger, read on to find out why — and what you can do about it. 

What are pores?

Pores are tiny openings in your skin that play an important role in keeping your body healthy. Some are sweat pores, which help regulate your body’s temperature, but most are hair follicles containing a tiny hair root and a sebaceous gland that produces your body’s natural oil, also called sebum, which helps moisturize and protect your skin.

How do pores get bigger?

The size of your pores is largely determined by three factors: your genetics, your age, and your hormones. Some people simply inherit large pores just like they inherit hair color or height. Plus, as you age, your skin loses its elasticity, causing your pores to stretch, sag, and become more visible. And, during your body’s hormonal periods, it produces more oil than normal, causing excess sebum to collect on the surface of your skin, making your pores appear larger.

The excess oil can also clog your pores with dead skin cells and dirt, and as the oil tries to escape, it stretches the edges of the pores even more. Other bad habits that can increase pore size include overwashing your skin and spending too much time in the sun.

Can you shrink your pores?

The bad news is that you can’t technically shrink the size of your pores. The good news, though, is that you can minimize their appearance by developing a few good skincare habits.

First, use a gentle cleanser twice a day to keep your skin clean and clear without overwashing and overdrying. Second, exfoliate a couple of times a week to get rid of dead, dry skin cells while stimulating new cell growth. Third, use a lightweight moisturizer with SPF to keep your skin hydrated, while also blocking UV rays that would break down the collagen that keeps the walls of your pores nice and tight. (We recommend DefenAge skin care products for the best results.)

To get a jump start on this process, you can try an Italian Peel Bio-Revitalization, which delivers the benefits of a chemical peel without actually using a peel. Not only does the Italian Peel make your skin smoother and brighter, it can also reverse some of the common signs of aging and reduce pore size. 

Laser treatments may also help improve your large pores. The Tetra CoolPeel CO2 is a carbon dioxide laser that is the gold standard for skin resurfacing. The laser energy removes the outer layer of skin (including wrinkles, lines, and blemishes), which clears out much of the dirt and dead skin cells that are clogging your pores. 

Another effective treatment for large pores is the Opus Plasma, which uses radiofrequency technology to rejuvenate and resurface your skin while promoting collagen growth. This will clean out your pores, making them nice and healthy again.

If you’re dealing with large pores, a few of these methods may help you at home, or if you’d like the providers at Skin Med Spa to help shrink your pores, request an appointment today!