Written by Kait Matthes, PA-C
Craters. Divets. Holes. These are just a few of the more comical names that my patients have used when referring to their large pores. Unfortunately, some of us were blessed with larger pores than others and it seems that minimizing pore size is a very common pursuit of many.
Pores are the opening of the oil glands in our skin and often increase in size with birthdays. Despite what you may hear, you can’t actually decrease their size. However, there is good news in that there are things that we can do to make them less noticeable!
The best thing you can do for your pores is to keep them CLEAN in the first place. We recommend using a gentle cleanser twice a day (my all-time favorite being Obagi® Foaming Gel, or Gentle Cleanser for more sensitive skin). When pores get clogged with dirt, makeup, etc. they become more visible. Oh, and pickers beware. Any trauma to your pores will not only make them more noticeable and last longer, but it can actually cause the pore to stay bigger forever.
The next best thing you can do is to use the RIGHT products. Retinoids are a class of prescription products that with time help keep your pores clean by making them “less sticky.” I write for these medications all day long and really believe that everyone who cares about their skin should be on one. Makeup sometimes only makes the pore problem worse, especially if you aren’t regular about cleansing. Also, instead of using extra makeup, one of my tips is to use a good makeup primer which will help you be able to use less makeup product. Two favorites of mine are Colorescience® Face Primer and Glo® Minerals Face Primer. A toner can also be added to the regimen which helps alter the pH and can make our pores seem smaller by lessening the amount of oil that is on our skin.
Finally, resurfacing techniques such as Micro-Needling and Fraxel® Laser Resurfacing may help to minimize the appearance of pores while treating other issues such as lines and wrinkles, brown spots, etc.
So go ahead and throw away that magnifying mirror already. No one else looks at you that closely so you shouldn’t, either!
