How To Reduce Enlarged Pores?
What Are Enlarged Pores?
Pores play an important part in skin physiology, for one, they allow the skin’s natural oils to surface to protect our skin from the environment. They contain hair follicles, sebum and sweat glands, which means that they can easily become clogged. Dead skin cells from the skin’s outer layer become stuck to the surface, creating the appearance of an enlarged pore. In addition to this these dead skin cells can become coated in oil and provide a feeding ground for bacteria. This leads to blackheads, spots and pimples. We all have pores, although it’s easy to believe that some celebrities and models don’t have them at all!
Airbrushing is now commonplace in fashion and beauty photography, and any, even minor, imperfection can be removed from an image before a magazine or advertisement goes to print.
Enlarged pores pose a problem for many people and can look unsightly or lead to the formation of blackheads, so it makes sense that many people look for ways to minimize pores on the face.
What Causes Enlarged Pores?
Pores can appear enlarged for a variety of reasons – these include:
Genetics
If you have oily or a thicker skin type your pores may be more visible than in someone with dry skin. Enlarged pores are very often hereditary.
Poor Skin Care
If you do not regularly cleanse and exfoliate your skin you may be more susceptible to enlarged pores. Exfoliation can help to keep pores clear by encouraging the growth of new, healthy skin cells.
Oily Skin
People with oily skin are more prone to the problem of enlarged pores. Surface oil collecting on the skin can sit around the edges of pores making them appear larger than they actually are.
Sun Damage
Sun damage causes the skin to thicken and excess cells can collect in the pores, exaggerating their appearance.
Blackheads
Enlarged pores and blackheads go together. Blackheads visually draw attention to pores as they expand the appearance of the pore.
How To Reduce Pores
Minimizing pores is a skin-care goal for many people. The best way to do this is by targeting the factors that can make pores seem larger and more visible. This includes:
- Removing blackheads
- Exfoliating skin debris
- Reducing excess skin oiliness
- Eliminating bacteria on the skin
- Closing or tightening the pores
Home Remedies To Minimize Pores On Face
If you want to know how to minimize large pores naturally there are a several easy home remedies you can try out to help treat this problem.
1. Steam Treatment
One of the most useful ways to soften and unclog skin pores is the steam method. This helps to open pores up and dislodge skin impurities. All you have to do is boil some water and transfer it to bowl or tub.
With the tub standing on a heat-proof surface you cover your head and the tub with a towel creating a ‘steam tent’ – be careful not to put your face too close to the tub if the water is still very hot.
Allow the steam to work on your skin for around 5 minutes. After this time you can wash your face with tepid water and pat dry with a clean towel.
Some experts suggest that if you want to remove blackheads the time to do it is after you have ‘steamed’ your face. This is because the process of steaming softens the skin and opens the pores, making it easier to extract the plug of debris.
Blackhead extraction requires great care, when done incorrectly it can lead to the formation of spots and blemishes.
If blackheads cause your enlarged pores, and you want to remove them, make sure your hands are scrupulously clean. Cover your fingertips with fine tissue to avoid transferring more bacteria to the area.
2. Exfoliation
To keep enlarged pores under control it is recommended that you exfoliate your skin 2 – 3 times per week as pores can become blocked by dirt, debris and dead skin cells.
You can make your own natural exfoliators at home. For all recipes simply combine all the ingredients together in a bowl:
Recipe 1 – Apple Facial Scrub
Suitable for normal skin
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornflour
- 1 teaspoon almond oil
- Pure apple juice added bit by bit to bind
Recipe 2 – Sugar Scrub
Suitable for oily, spot-prone skin
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- A few drops of water
Recipe 3 – Oat Bran Scrub
Suitable for dry sensitive or mature skin
- 1 teaspoon oat bran
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon honey or jojoba oil
To use, massage into the skin for a few minutes using small, gentle, circular movements with your fingertips. Rinse away with tepid water and pat your skin dry.
Be careful not to scrub at your skin too roughly as this may cause irritation. Also avoid exfoliating over areas of skin that are sensitive, blemished or broken.
3. Facial Masks
Facial masks can help to tighten pores and are particularly useful when applied directly after you have steamed your face.
Clay is an excellent ingredient for a facemask as it helps to shrink and tighten pores. You can buy cosmetic clay from a health food store to make your own facemask at home.
To make combine:
- 1 tablespoon of clay
- ½ teaspoon honey
- 1 drop tea tree, palmarosa or rosewood essential oil
Apply the mixture to your face, being careful to avoid the eye area, and leave for 15 – 20 minutes. When the time is up, simply wash the mask away with tepid water and pat your skin dry.
Egg white facial masks are also thought to help tighten pores. All you need to do is separate the white of an egg from the yolk and apply to your skin.
After a few minutes, when the egg white has dried on your skin, rinse it off with warm water before patting dry your skin.