I'm Embarrassed by My Large Pores

Most people have some features they aren’t pleased with, whether the size or shape of their nose, fine lines and wrinkles, or even large pores that disturb the look of a smooth skin tone.

Fortunately, there are treatments that can help. At 817 Surgical Arts, facial and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Emily Johnson and her staff offer many options, including facials, microneedling, and chemical peels. When you come in for your consultation, we address all your concerns, drawing up an individualized treatment plan to help you meet your aesthetic goals.

Why are my pores so big?

Pores are the openings in your skin that allow sweat and sebum (oil) to move from subsurface glands onto the surface of your skin. Genetics primarily determine your pore size, but other factors contribute, including:

• Oil production: More sebaceous glands are located in the center of your face, which is why it’s more oily
• Gender: Males have more sebaceous glands and oilier skin, leading to larger pores
• Aging: Collagen and elastin proteins provide structural support for pores; as levels decrease as you age, your pores widen
• Sun damage: Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays breaks down collagen and elastin, reducing skin firmness and allowing pores to grow larger
• Hormonal changes: Pores become more visible during puberty when shifting hormones cause sebaceous glands to produce more oil; pore size also changes during a woman’s menstrual cycle

There’s no way to shrink pore size permanently since genetics mostly determines size. However, you can minimize their appearance by clearing away oil and debris and increasing your skin’s supply of collagen and elastin. Try not to squeeze your pores too much or use an extractor tool to remove debris, as both can cause scarring. Instead, rely on products and treatments that gently clear out the pores.

What can I do to shrink my pores?

While you can’t override genetics, there are a number of ways you can minimize the appearance of large pores.

Adopt a good skin care regimen

Wash your face in the morning and evening with a gentle cleanser. Ensure you only use oil-free or noncomedogenic products (they won’t clog your pores).

Apply sunscreen

The sun’s UV rays can easily damage the collagen and elastin that shore up your skin, so use a broad-spectrum sunscreen whenever you go out. You might also want to consider hats, long sleeves, and other physical blockers that protect your skin from the sun.

Get a chemical peel

A chemical peel clears your pores of dead skin cells and excess oil, helping them appear smaller. If you just want a quick over-the-counter peel, look for ones that contain glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, or salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid, both of which exfoliate (remove) the top layer of dead skin cells. You can use most every two weeks.

Better yet, come into 817 Surgical Arts for a medical-grade chemical peel, including:

Micropeel 30

This peel uses glycolic acid to weaken the bonds that hold dead, damaged cells on the skin’s surface. It chemically exfoliates your outer skin layer and accelerates cellular renewal to improve skin tone and texture.

Smart TCA Peel

This peel uses trichloroacetic acid, stronger than alpha and beta hydroxy acids. It exfoliates dead, dry skin cells while improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also effectively improves skin laxity, shrinks enlarged pores, and removes stubborn discoloration.

Use retinol

Retinols are derivatives of vitamin A, with over-the-counter and prescription-strength options available. Mostly famous for fighting acne and wrinkles, retinol, like the hydroxy acids, helps clear out dead skin cells, unclog pores, and increase collagen production to support skin structure.

If OTC products aren’t helping, prescription options like Retin-A® (tretinoin) may prove effective.

Try microneedling

There are OTC microneedling rollers, but do yourself and your skin a favor and come into 817 Surgical Arts and let a professional do the job.

Microneedling uses rollers with hundreds of tiny pins that create “micro holes” as they move over the skin. Those holes register as injuries, and your skin responds with a wound-healing response, recruiting growth factors and producing new stores of collagen and elastin to shore up the skin. With a more even tone, your pores appear much smaller.

Are you embarrassed by your large pores? 817 Surgical Arts has several treatment options that address the problem. To learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Johnson, call us at 817-241-5375 or book online today.