Similar to many chronic skin conditions such as acne and ageing skin, having large pores is more common than you think.
While this skin problem is entirely cosmetic, enlarged pores can lead to your skin looking dull and rough. The thing is, enlarged pores isn’t just an issue that adolescents face. Anyone can have it, and it can be seen in all ages and ethnic groups. In some women, pore size can also fluctuate at different parts of the menstrual cycle.
So, why is it worth taking a closer look at your pores? Regardless of your skin type, enlarged pores have the potential to be clogged with dirt, bacteria, oil, or dead skin cells, which eventually turn into a dreaded, nasty acne breakout.
A quick recap on pores
Pores are the tiny openings where the hair follicle grows out of the skin that serves important functions such as releasing our body’s natural moisture. They can be broken down into two categories: oil pores and sweat pores.
- Oil pores: Connected to the sebaceous glands, it is seen all over your skin except the palms and the soles of your feet. These pores are usually the biggest where the oil glands are most active, which for the majority of people, is the T-zone. Usually, when people mention enlarged or blocked pores, they are referring to the oil pores.
- Sweat pores: Like oil pores, sweat pores can be found all over your body. Connected to the eccrine glands, sweat pores are usually minuscule, unlike oil pores. You typically won’t be able to see the pores with the naked eye. However, if they are overactive, they can cause hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
Causes of enlarged pores
One thing is for sure: enlarged pores can lead to a host of other skin problems if dead skin cells get clogged deep inside a pore. Here are some of the biggest causes of enlarged pores:
· Genetics
If you have family members with large pores, chances are, you will also have larger pores. Yes, this means if your ancestors have them, enlarged pores are inevitable.
Those who are genetically predisposed to oily skin will also have a higher chance of having larger pores; the increased activity levels within the sebaceous glands release oil more actively that causes pores to look larger.
· Ageing
When you grow older, your natural collagen resources start to break down – causing your skin to lose its elasticity. This means your skin will stretch open and sag, causing the pores to become more visible.
Moreover, skin cells will gather around the pores due to the skin becoming thicker. Hence, the pores will also look bigger.
· Sun Damage
When you enjoy the sun for many years, it can expand your pores. This is because damage from the sun can dispel collagen, elastin and moisture from the skin, causing the tissue beneath the skin to shrink. This pulls at the edges of the pores to make them sag and look bigger.
Alternatively, the sunlight can cause inflammation and thicken skin cells. These scorched cells will pool around the edges of the pores to make them look larger.
Treatments for enlarged pores
Contrary to the claims and amazing promises given by a variety of toners, cleansers, or other skincare products, there is no way to permanently close or shrink your pore size.
However, while you cannot reduce the size, you can make them appear smaller or prevent their expansion. Firstly, it is important to invest in a good cleansing and exfoliation routine to keep your pores clean. Another way to minimise the appearance of your pores is to go for laser treatments that trigger collagen production.
We offer a wide range of treatments to help you minimise your pores and improve your overall skin texture and quality! Below is a list of treatments we offer for tackling enlarged pores:
The long-pulsed laser is an FDA-approved treatment that not only helps with the appearance of large pores but also fine lines and wrinkles that is caused by photodamage from UV exposure.
Emitting a wavelength of 1064nm, the laser energy can be delivered deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen and initiate rejuvenation from deep within the skin. With collagen being replaced, it can smooth out the fine lines and wrinkles to tighten the skin. In addition, it also restores a firm grip around pore openings, making the enlarged pores look smaller since they will not be as stretched.
Our aesthetic clinic is the first to offer this treatment in Singapore that can produce excellent results after 2 to 4 treatment sessions with minimal downtime and side effects!
INFINI RF is a micro-needling radiofrequency (RF) treatment that can be used to not only treat enlarged pores but deep acne scars. Using multiple patented micro-needles to penetrate and deliver heat energy into the skin, the advantage of INFINI lies in its depth – reaching up to 3.5mm below the skin to stimulate collagen production, thus allowing the skin to naturally rebuild itself.
As a result, the synthesis of new collagen improves skin elasticity and tightens enlarged pores. With minimal downtime and extremely low complication rates, our aesthetic doctors can successfully treat enlarged pores and produce results in far less time and treatment sessions than traditional laser treatments!
Pico MLA is a promising treatment for enlarged pores due to the concept of Laser-Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) which induces controlled damage to the skin to facilitate repair and collagen remodelling. Working at an extremely fast speed and extremely short pulse duration, the treatment causes tiny globules of bubbles that are filled with collagen during the recovery process to raise indentations from scarring while minimising pore size to give the skin a smoother appearance.
The treatment also works well as a laser for acne scar removal; providing quicker results with minimal pain and downtime as compared to traditional lasers.
The Edge Fractional CO2 laser is the gold standard for improving acne scars, ageing skin, fine lines and wrinkles and enhancing overall skin texture. Able to target multiple skin issues at a time, it is a minimal-downtime treatment that focuses on treating a fraction of the skin’s surface at a time to stimulate collagen production.
By forming new skin cells to replace old, damaged skin, overall skin elasticity is improved; thus causing your pores to shrink and become more refined.
You might already be familiar with Botox, a muscle relaxant that is typically used to shape the jaw for a slimmer face. In contrast, “micro-botox” is an injectable technique which involves the injection of lesser amounts of Botox into the top layer of the skin to tighten the pores and tame oil and sweat production.
A 2020 study done with 35 patients showed micro-botox treatments as effective in reducing facial pore size in just one treatment session, in addition to the improvement of skin texture and oiliness!
If you are someone who is dealing with pesky acne and enlarged pores – we also offer the Q-switch laser – a cost-effective and FDA-approved treatment that can be used to remove unwanted spots and marks, acne scars and minimise pores. The laser light is also able to eradicate the sebaceous glands and remove acne-causing bacteria to control acne without any side effects!
At the end of the day, pores should not be the enemy that stands between you and flawless skin. Contact us to learn more about the best acne spot treatment that also targets enlarged pores and book your consultation today!