Our skin naturally has numerous pores that are open. However, it becomes an aesthetic concern when such pores get too large to be visible on your face. Open pores tend to appear as whiteheads and blackheads and may be caused due to excess sebum accumulation and other reasons.

 At CNF in Bengaluru, our doctor identifies the exact reason behind you having visible open pores and then suggests the right treatment to help you get rid of them.

Understanding Open Pores

You may want to get rid of large open pores to look better with flawless skin. However, you should understand them better before you opt for a treatment.

What are Open Pores?

Open pores are those pores on your skin, which have gradually become larger and more visible. The pores help your skin to breathe by exceeding natural oil or sebum on its surface. Large open pores tend to occur in skin portions with a high amount of sebaceous glands, mainly in the “T-zone” of your face. 

The enlarged pores degrade your skin texture and look visually unpleasant in males and females having oily and combination skin. This concern is common among teenagers going through hormonal changes and adults experiencing hormonal imbalance and having aging skin.

Common Myths about Open Pores

Here are some of the most common about open pores:

Myth 1 – People Have Only One Type of Pore

Pores are tiny openings in your skin which are of two types – oil and sweat pores. However, only the oil pores, also called “hair follicles” are visible on your chin and nose areas. Oil pores secrete sebum oil and pass it to the surface to keep your skin healthy, moisturized, soft, and supple. Sweat pores pass sweat from the glands to the skin surface and keep your body cool. 

Myth 2 – All Clogged Pores are Blackheads

Clogged pores occur because of excess oil production and dead cells, known as “keratin”. The oil pores on your face release oil because of which clogged pores are common. A blackhead appears on your face when oil and dead cells block the pore openings.

Oil passes to the skin exterior and gets black, thus it’s known as the “blackhead”.

Myth 3 – Frequent Makeup Application Clogs Pores

Makeup never gets inside hair follicles and block pore openings. Certain ingredients in cosmetics and beauty products can irritate your skin and trigger someone to build up. Try to use only non-comedogenic products on your skin as they can prevent breakouts and reduce the appearance of large pores. 

Myth 4 – Pore Sizes are Changeable

Pore sizes can’t be changed even with the repeated application of the best creams and serums. As pore sizes are usually genetic, your skin may have large pores if your parents had them. However, you can reduce the appearance of large pores by exfoliation or laser treatment, which boosts collagen that passes to the follicle walls and reduces the size of pores. 

Myth 5 – Pores Can Open and Close

Pores won’t open and close as they only dilate. As the pore openings get clogged and the produced oil does get removed, the left oil accumulation dilates pores. Streaming and other heating methods won’t open the pores and may loosen up the extra buildup and bring  it to the surface which helps in easy removal. Ensure you don’t apply extra heat as it may cause skin concerns. 

Myth 6 – Nose Strips and Face Masks May Shrink Large Pores

Nose strips and face masks only remove the accumulated oil and dirt, which makes the large pores less visible. Permanent solutions, like laser treatment, can boost collagen production and reduce the appearance of large pores in your skin. 

Myth 7 – Repeated Washes Prevent the Blocking of Pores

People have a misconception that washing your face repeatedly every day clears the clogged pores. Washing only helps in removing accumulated oil and dead cells that cause breakouts. Overwashing may irritate the surface of your skin causing dryness and redness. 

Myth 8 – Dry Skin Prevents Large Pores and Blackheads

Enlarged pores are common in oily and combination skin. However, dry skin may also develop large pores. Aging, hormones, genetics, and sun damage can increase the size of pores and make them look bigger irrespective of your skin type. 

Myth 9 – Sun Exposure May Clean Pores

It’s a myth that sunlight may dry out the extra sebum and shrink the large pores. However, consistent sun exposure may increase the size of pores since UV rays decrease collagen which strengthens the skin texture. 

Pores look broader on the skin surface with the decrease in collagen production. You should apply non-comedogenic sunscreen to prevent such outcomes. Limit sun exposure to prevent permanent damage to your skin.

The Root Causes of Open Pores

You have open pores that may have been caused because of various reasons. Here are the root causes of open pores: 

Genetic Factors

Large pores may run in the genes of your family. Here are the key genetic factors causing
large pores:

Family History

You may have large pores on your skin because any of your family members have the same. Your skin may be thick because of hereditary reasons that make your pores look large. 

Oily Skin

You may have inherited oily skin from your parents that naturally develops large pores. As your skin swells when pores accumulate dirt, dead cells, and oil, they look bigger than the usual size. 

Natural Factors

You may have large pores because of these natural factors:

Aging

Aging is a natural and inevitable part of your life. As you age, your skin loses elasticity, which makes your pores appear larger than their normal size. 

Gender

Males naturally have bigger pores than females. Women may have larger pores than men because of puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and hormonal imbalance. 

Environmental Factors

Your skin may develop larger powers because of these environmental factors below: 

Sun Exposure

Prolonged sun exposure may develop large pores on your skin. Exposure to harmful UV rays thickens skin and decreases water content and the production of elastin and collagen in your skin. Sun damage can shrink the tissue under your skin that extends the borders of skin pores.

Pollution

Living in a polluted environment isn’t good for your skin as it may get larger pores. Environmental toxins and pollutants can accumulate on your skin, which may clog the pores and cause inflammation. 

Lifestyle Factors 

Your lifestyle habits play a dominant role in causing large pores on your skin. Here are the lifestyle factors that cause open cores:

Unhealthy Diet and Dehydration

A high-carb and oily diet may cause frequent acne breakouts and thereby, enlarged pores. Follow a healthy diet rich in vitamins and nutrients that keep your skin healthy, radiant, and firm. Dehydrated skin may also develop large pores. Drink 3 to 4 liters of water every day to maintain a hydrated skin. 

Stress and Sleep Patterns

Heavy stress can aggravate your current skin disorders, like enlarged pores, and deteriorate your skin health. Perform stress-relieving activities and deep breathing every day to improve your skin health. 

Poor night sleep can also trigger large pores and other skin disorders. Sleep for at least 8 hours every night as your skin undergoes a repairing process in sleeping mode.