How pores become larger

Pores has a significant role to our skin health by providing oil which keeps the skin soft, moist, and hydrated. The appearance of pores on our skin, however, should not be easily visible. Larger pores which are easily noticeable indicates its condition of being dilated, infected, or clogged with oil. When pores are clogged with oil from the sebaceous glands beneath the skin, the oil begins to accumulate inside the pore linings, expanding the diameter. This makes the pores visible on the surface of the skin.

Causes

There are several risk factors to larger pores. The most common ones are genetics and age factors. People who have got thick and oily type of skin tend to develop larger pores than those with thinner and less oily skin. As people get older, their skin starts to lose its elasticity, causing pores to easily dilate. As a result, the skin thickens, causing tiny cells to collect around the pore edges, causing them to be noticeable. Larger skin pores can trigger acnes and pimples, especially because the pores are usually clogged by dirt and bacteria, causing pus-like drainage beneath the clogged surface.

Home remedies to make pores smaller

Permanently eliminating large pores may not be possible, especially when the problem is triggered by both genetics and age risk factors. However, there are some home remedies which can be used for making the pores less noticeable.

• Washing the face regularly

Most commonly, large pores occur because skin pores are clogged with bacteria, oil, dirt, or cosmetic leftover. Enlarged pores tend to undergo inflammation, which may develop into pimples and acnes. Thus, it is important to get rid of the substances that may clog the pores by washing the face regularly. However, do not over wash as it may eliminate the face natural oil and dry the skin out. Instead, wash your face twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime. Use mild facial soap and avoid over-scrubbing the face.

Some people also find out that replacing the commercial facial washes with natural oats is better for shrinking large pores. If you want to use this remedy, mix a tablespoon of instant oat with warm water and stir until the oats reach soft consistency. Leave it for some minutes to cool down and use it for washing your face.

• Ice cubes

If you need to shrink facial large pores to make your make-up last longer, ice cubes is the most effective remedy. Applying ice cubes to the skin will give it tightening effect, making the pores less noticeable. Smaller pores produce less oil to the facial skin and thus, keep the make-up last longer. To use the remedy, roll an ice cube around the facial skin, focusing on the areas with larger pores, such as the cheeks. However, be sure to give intervals as ice cubes may numb the skin.

• Scrubbing

The main cause of large pores is that the pores are clogged with oil. Hence, it is important to unclog it by releasing the accumulating oil. Light scrubbing which is done regularly—twice a week, for instance, will help unclogging the pores. It also get rid of infesting bacteria which may reside in the clogged pores. To do this, massage your facial skin gently in circular motions. Do not scrub excessively as it may irritate the skin. Sugar and honey scrub is a natural remedy you can make at home. It is side-effect free, as long as you use raw honey to make the scrub. What you do is making a thick paste made of a spoonful of sugar and enough raw honey. Afterwards, massage the face, focusing on the large pores, in circular motions. Rinse with water thoroughly and pat the face dry.

• Put on facial mask

Facial mask can be applied once a week as a treatment for shrinking large pores appearance. You can apply any commercial tube mask containing astringent, such as lemon or tomatoes mask. Or you can make the mask by yourself at home, which is more natural and affordable. To make facial mask which has shrinking effect on the pores, you can use an egg white. This will tone the skin, making it even and thus, minimize the appearance of large pores on the face. To make the mask, mix the white of a small organic egg with a tablespoon of cornstarch and stir it with fork or whisk. Apply the homemade mask onto the face and lie on your back for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, until the mask dries completely. Afterwards, rinse with warm water and clean face towel.

• Sunscreen

Large pores is also triggered by excessive exposure to sunlight. The ultraviolet makes your skin dry and thus, the large pores more visible. To minimize the appearance, wear sunscreen when doing outdoor activities to protect the skin from sunlight.

• Lemon juice

Lemon juice which is an effective astringent can also be used as a remedy to shrink your large pores. To do this, cut a lemon into two parts and squish the juice. Soak a cotton ball in the juice and dab it gently onto your face to shrink large pores and minimize its effect. However, lemon juice may trigger dry skin, so that it is essential to follow the treatment with oil-free moisturizer or to precede the treatment with a dab of rosewater.