The skin is the largest organ in the human body and contains millions of pores, with most of these pores not visible to the human eye. Pores are tiny openings on the surface of the skin and are connected to either sweat glands or oil glands. The function of a pore is to allow passage of oil or sweat to the surface of the skin, which allows the skin to cleanse itself.
Enlarged pores can lead to an aged appearance. There are several possible causes of enlarged pores. They include:
- Excess oil (sebum) production
- Ageing (there is less collagen supporting the surrounding pore, causing it to appear more open)
- Skin type and genetics
- Sun damage (causing a reduction in collagen)
While it is not possible to completely eliminate pores as they are needed for normal skin function, we can reduce them in size. Most of the treatments used to minimise the look of pores work to either reduce sebum production and/or increase collagen in the skin.
Here are 7 of the BEST tips or treatments for reducing open or enlarged pores.
1) Regular cleansing of your skin.
Washing your face, both morning and night, is easy to do and helps wash away oil and dirt from your pores. Before going to sleep, it’s important to remove your makeup because sleeping in makeup overnight can cause pores to become blocked due to a build up of oil and bacteria. For oily or acne prone skin, cleansing with a salicylic acid based cleanser will help to gently exfoliate and unclog trapped debris and oil, reducing the formation of blackheads and skin blockages. This can be used on your face, chest and back, or any areas that are prone to blockage.
2. Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin is especially helpful if you suffer from blocked pores, acne or pigmentation. Chemical exfoliants work best, look for products with Salicylic, Mandelic, Kojic and Azelaic acid. We recommend starting slow by using them 3 times per week and working up to using them every night. The Radiance brightening cream by Dermaceutic is a good quality exfoliator which has a cocktail of different acids making it great for reducing the look of enlarged pores, skin brightening, and reducing pigment spots for a unified and radiant complexion.
3. Retinol
Retinoids are a must when trying to reduce the look of pores. They work by increasing cell turnover, reduce sebum production and upregulate collagen production in the skin. The multi modality effects of Retinol make it a winner. The trick with Retinol is to introduce it slowly to your skin care routine, as using too much too soon can cause irritation and dry skin. We recommend using it in the evening 3 times per week and increasing it slowly to every second night, then every night over the period of 4-6 weeks.
4. Niacinamide
Niacinamide is an antioxidant and B vitamin which when used topically, has been shown to reduce inflammation in the skin and consequently reduce the size of the pore. Niacinamide can also increase the production of ceramides and lipids, reduce sebum production and improve skin elasticity by increasing the collagen production. Niacinamide works wonders when used in conjunction with Retinol and is very beneficial for most skin types including acneic skin.
5. Chemical peels
A chemical peel removes the outer layer of the skin in a controlled manner via the application of acids. There are different depth peels - superficial, medium or deep, all which give varying lengths of recovery time. Generally superficial peels have minimal down time, while medium depth peels may take 7 days to recover. Deep peels are rarely used these days but recovery time may be 2-4 weeks.
Following a superficial chemical peel, the skin may be slightly pink, however it will feel smooth and exfoliated, and your pores will be clearer! A chemical peel can also diminish fine lines, wrinkles, improve dull skin, reduce pigmentation and improve texture.
Medium depth peels include Cosmelan and TCA (Trichloracetic acid) peels. These work by aggressively exfoliating the skin, while also increasing the production of collagen via the body’s inflammatory response. The peel stimulates the skin fibroblasts to start making more collagen in response to the trauma. The improved pore size from the increase in collagen production can be seen from the 6 week mark. The exfoliative effect of the peel will improve the look of pores immediately after treatment.
We use both superficial and medium depth peels at Privée and the peels are tailored to your needs. Generally the more aggressive the peel, the more obvious the results.
6) Radio frequency (RF) resurfacing
This treatment is used primarily for increasing the production of collagen in the skin, which helps minimise the look of pores, improve texture and overall improve the complexion. The treatment ablates tiny fractions of the skin using RF as the energy source. This triggers the body to go into repair mode, increasing the production of collagen. The increase in collagen makes the pores appear smaller and the skin tighter. Down time is usually less than 24 hours with most people being able to resume their normal activities the next day. The skin will feel dry for a week post treatment. We recommend a course of 4 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
7) Skin Needling
Skin needling is a minimally-invasive procedure that involves the use of a micro-needling device to create a controlled micro skin injury. These controlled ‘micro-injuries’ in the skin trigger new collagen synthesis, the result is smoother, firmer and younger looking skin. The increase in collagen surrounding the pore will cause it to look smaller.
Reducing Enlarged Pores at Privée Clinic
Privée Clinic offers the above mentioned treatments at our Bondi Junction Clinic, and our Paddington Clinic (opening soon!). We can also help to recommend and tailor specific skin products which will assist in improving the look of your pores.
If you would like to book a consultation with a Privée practitioner, you can book online or call our customer care team on 02 8041 5725.
