Enlarged pores are an unfortunate result of hereditary, aging, acne and environmental factors affecting the skin. The most common areas affected are the T-zone of the forehead and face.
Nobody likes noticeably enlarged pores, and yet they are a very frequent complaint in the dermatology world. One of the areas most commonly affected by this everyday affliction is the ‘T-zone,’ or the area between the eyebrows and central forehead, delineated by the cheeks, nose and chin.
Highly visible to the naked eye, skin with enlarged pores can appear rough and uneven. The good news is that patients with enlarged pores can be easily treated using a combination of at-home and nonsurgical pore reduction treatments with little to no down-time.
Pores are the portals through which sweat and sebum exit the body, and enlarged pores are exactly what they sound like: pores on the skin which appear larger than the rest.
Research has shown that the primary causes of enlarged pores are excessive sebum, decreased elasticity around the pore, and increased hair follicle volume (when the pore at the end of a hair follicle becomes clogged). These causes are typically the result of hereditary factors, aging, acne, and environmental toxins which affect the skin.
The natural aging process, for instance, renders the pores less elastic, making them appear more prominent, while those suffering from acne have a buildup of bacteria, which, once cleaned out, can leave their pores looking ‘stretched.’
There are some highly effective ways of reducing the appearance of large pores, but treatments should be adhered to regularly for long-lasting results. Many people find the best enlarged pore treatments are a combination approach, comprising several at-home skin hygiene practices and a SpaMedica skin treatment program.
Laser skin resurfacing is considered among the most effective large pore treatments available. These non-invasive treatments not only reduce the appearance of large pores, but they also make the skin appear more evenly textured and healthy.
Fractional CO2 lasers are highly versatile and can treat acne scars, enlarged pores, fine lines and wrinkles, to name a few. The laser pulses CO2 energy below the skin’s surface through tiny holes in a scanner, at the same time stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin. After treatment, cells grow back stronger and faster, resulting in smoother and tighter looking skin.
Chemical peels can be very effective at treating large pores. A glycolic acid peel is capable of deep-cleaning pores, removing blackheads, fighting acne, evening out and brightening skin tone, and smoothing rough skin, all of which are benefits that can help reduce the look of enlarged pores.
A SilkPeel treatment can similarly decrease the appearance of large pores by providing intense exfoliation to improve the skin tone. During your consultation, your doctor will help you decide which of our many chemical peels is best-suited to your needs.
When your skin is heated, the body gets rid of unwanted cells, and that’s the basis of the FotoFacial, which uses non-invasive beams of radiofrequency, infrared, and intense pulsed light (IPL) energy to treat enlarged pores. In other words, rather than lasers, a spectrum of light is used to reduce pore size. And, unlike lasers, an IPL device sends out more than one wavelength of pulsating light to treat a range of skin conditions at the same time, so you’re likely to leave with smoother, more even, and more youthful looking skin.
Drinking plenty of water is always a good idea for good health, but many people don’t realize that staying well-hydrated also effectively moisturizes the skin from within, removes toxins from your pores, and improves your overall complexion. Aim to drink the recommended eight glasses of water per day. If plain water seems boring, add a little lemon, cucumber, or berries for a hint of flavour.
When left on overnight, your makeup can combine with dirt, oil, and bacteria that have built up over the course of your day and block your pores. In other words, sleeping without removing your makeup is bad for your skin and can worsen an existing problem with enlarged pores.
If you’re in a rush, use cleansing wipes to quickly remove makeup, but it’s best to equip yourself with makeup remover and properly cleanse your face each night before you sleep.
While many people with oily skin avoid moisturizer fearing it will make the problem worse, moisturizing lotions used after washing and patting the skin dry can have the opposite effect. Just because your skin has a lot of oil doesn’t mean it has enough water. Moisturizers work by hydrating and softening the skin, which prevents it from drying out and triggering a whole host of other skin issues. Moisturizing after washing can actually keep your sebum production in check and prevent pores from becoming blocked, which in turn helps reduce their appearance.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends exfoliating your skin just one to two times per week to help get rid of dead skin, dirt, and excess oil, all of which can clog your pores. More often than this can over-strip your skin. There are many exfoliating products to choose from, manual exfoliators and scrubs among them. Particularly if you have an acne breakout, opt for an exfoliant containing salicylic acid, which helps to release debris from the pores and treat acne.
Good face washing habits are the foundation of any large pore treatment. Wash your face every morning and evening to cleanse oil and dirt from the pores, thereby reducing their appearance. Normal or dry skin types should use creamy cleansers, while oily skin types should opt instead for a gel-based cleanser. Always avoid cleansers that contain soap or scrubbing agents as they can strip and overdry the skin, ultimately worsening enlarged pores.
Too much exposure to sunlight can dry out and damage your skin, which can in turn make your pores appear larger. This means protecting yourself from UV rays is crucial to your enlarged pore treatment approach. When venturing outside, protect yourself with a wide-brimmed hat, and sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. For maximum protection, always apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you head outside.
Patients suffering from enlarged pores can be easily treated, using non-surgical pore reduction treatments with little down-time at SpaMedica. Enlarged pores are exactly that, pores on the skin that are larger than all the others. These enlarged pores are more visible to the naked eye and make the skin appear less smooth and even. The most common area for the enlarged pores is on the face.
Pores can become enlarged for a variety of reasons but most commonly it is age or acne. The natural aging process of the skin makes the pores less elastic which makes them more visible. Acne lesions can leave the pore stretched from the bacteria that had build up inside the pore and when the pore is “cleaned out’ it is left larger than normal.
Enlarged pores are an unfortunate result of hereditary and environmental factors affecting the skin, principally of the T-zone of the forehead and face. The T-zone is the area between the eyebrows and central forehead, bounded by the cheeks, nose and chin. It is this area of the face that is most commonly affected by enlarged pores. Pores are exit sites for underlying glandular structures, such as sweat glands and sebaceous hair glands. Enlarged pores can be the result of genetics, that is, hereditary predisposition, to oily, sebaceous and porous skin or it can be as a result of inflammatory conditions, such as Rosacea, erythema and acne.
Recurrence will certainly happen if you do not maintain your result with proper home skincare, sun protection, monthly such as SpaMedica Silk Peels and quarterly SpaMedica laser treatments. Once the areas have been treated with the best SpaMedica treatment program for your skin, your SpaMedica treatment professional will recommend a home regime to protect your investment. SpaMedica has been serving skincare patients since 1997 and is one of Canada’s oldest, most recognized and reputable Laser Skin Care and Cosmetic Dermatology Centers. Our patients also have the advantage of seeing one of SpaMedica’s experienced cosmetic Dermatologists.
The fractional C02 laser treats superficial and deep skin layers to rejuvenate, tighten and brighten the skin.
Fractora is a fractional skin resurfacing and subdermal tissue coagulation tool that is utilized to enhance the results of fractional lasers and surgical procedures.
