- A pore is the opening at the skin of a hair follicle. The average adult has around 5 million hairs on his or her body, and as many pores.
- The size of your pores can be affected by genetics, age, ethnic background, and whether or not you smoke or have sun damage.
- If pores become clogged by excess oil, dead skin cells, or bacteria, a whitehead or blackhead may form over the pore. Prevent build-up of oil, skin cells, and bacteria by gently washing your face twice a day with water and a mild facial cleanser.
- Pores can’t actually “open and close” contrary to popular belief.
- You can’t get rid of pores, but you can reduce the appearance of them with products including retinoids and exfoliants. Or you could try an alcohol-based toner, which can give the temporary illusion of tighter pores.
- Protect yourself from the sun. Sun and aging thicken the outer layer of skin, and as the tide of skin cells rises, they form a rim around pores making them seem bigger than they really are.
- Oily-looking skin tends to make pores look larger. Washing your face regularly to cut down on oiliness will improve their appearance. Solutions or medications containing salicylic acid can dry out the skin and help you maintain clear pores.
- Debris, such as dead skin cells, collects around the edges of pores, making them look bigger. Topical vitamin A treatments can prevent skin cells in the pore from sticking together and clogging it up, and help reduce the ridges or rims that develop around pores.
- Do not squeeze, poke or rub a blocked pore, It adds more hand oils, dirt and unwelcome physical pressure which will aggravate a pimple. Worse, you may stretch out your pore more.
Learn more about your what is happening with your pores with OKU, the world’s first skin scanning device that enables consumers to see below their skin’s surface and analyze and address their skincare problems. Learn more at getoku.com
If you want to stay up to date with our blogs, you can do so by following us on Facebook and Twitter.