The skin is the largest organ of the body and has about 5 million pores, most of which cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Out of this number of pores, about 20,000 of them are on the skin of the face, and inside each of them, there are sebaceous (fat) glands and hair follicles (bulbs).
These holes allow the skin to breathe, but not like what happens in the lungs. Skin pores help to cool the body and transfer fat, impurities and dead cells to the surface of the skin.
Open skin pores are mainly seen on the face and especially on the forehead, around the nose and on the cheeks in the form of sunken openings.
Interestingly, ordinary people know this type of skin as “orange skin”.
Large pores can give skin a dull appearance, especially if they become clogged with bacteria, dirt, oil, and dead skin cells.
Open pores are not a medical concern, but they are visually disturbing to many people, including young women.
Many cosmetic brands claim that they can close or shrink open skin pores, but you should know that skin pores cannot be opened or closed.
Also, they cannot be made smaller. When we say that we want to open the closed pores of the skin, we mean to clean the skin deeply and remove excess oil and dead cells, and when we want to close the open pores of the skin, we mean to do something that makes better the appearance of the skin.
In fact, the pores of the skin are not closed, but they can be made to stand out less on the skin.
So, wherever this text talks about the closing or opening of the pores, it does not actually happen but only appears like this on the surface.
In the following, we offer you some golden solutions to get rid of the ugly appearance of open skin pores.
Toners clean the skin pores, clear the skin, adjust the pH of the skin and shrink the skin pores.
It’s good to know that washing your face with soapy cleansers can’t have the effect of a toner because soaps or cleansers can’t penetrate the skin’s pores.
All skin types can use toner, but using toner is essential for people with oily skin.
Exfoliators help remove substances such as oil and dead cells that clog pores.
There are different types of exfoliators in the market, the most important of which are mentioned below:
Retinoids and their derivatives are present in many exfoliating products.
These products are mainly used half an hour after washing the face at night and before going to bed.
When starting to use retinoids, it is better to use low percentages two to three times a week and gradually increase the amount.
However, some people experience skin irritation with the same procedure, so we recommend them to use other exfoliators mentioned below.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that products containing retinoids should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
They are also known as fruit acids and are found in citrus fruits, apples, grapes, etc.
If your skin becomes swollen and inflamed or red spots appear on it after using exfoliators, it means that either the product is not suitable for you or you should have used that product for a longer period of time.
Consultation with a pharmacist or a dermatologist can help you in this regard.
Use masks, Especially those with clay, activated charcoal, or oatmeal. Masks help remove impurities from pores and make pores appear smaller.
Masks that contain clay, activated charcoal, and oatmeal are more useful in these cases. If you have blackheads in addition to open pores, masks that dry on the face are more suitable for you.
Incense can help clean skin pores and make them appear smaller. You can also use some plants and essential oils (lemon, tea tree, chamomile, etc.).
Washing the face prevents the closing of the pores and the accumulation of impurities in the skin and reduces the oiliness of the skin.
Cream cleansers are suitable for dry or sensitive skin, and gels are suitable for mixed and oily skin. For example, dry skin cream cleanser is one of the suitable options for people with dry skin.
Wet your face with lukewarm (neither cold nor hot) water. Then, massage the cleanser on the skin with gentle circular movements for one minute.
Always remember to use lukewarm water to wash your face. Hot water can irritate the skin and lead pores to appear more open.
Do not forget to use moisturizer; even if you have oily skin, you can use moisturizers suitable for your skin.
Use sunscreen daily, even if the weather is cold or rainy.
Before you suffer from sunburn and skin problems caused by the sun’s rays, Choose a good sunscreen that, In addition to preventing sunburn, blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays at the same time, has an SPF of 30 or higher, and is also water resistant.
If you use exfoliating cream during the day, you must definitely use sunscreen during the day.
When buying sunscreen, note that the words “non-comedogenic” are written on the product.
Any manipulation of the skin can cause skin irritation and enlarged pores.
People with open pores should not use scrubs.
Although it is said that skin scrubs are useful, they not only do not clean the skin as they should but also cause skin irritation and inflammation.
As a result, when the skin is inflamed, more pores show themselves.
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In this method, the doctor uses tiny needles to stimulate collagen production in the skin. This improves the texture of the skin and increases its strength.
Like any other procedure performed in the office, microneedling has its own side effects, which include swelling, itching, redness and a little bleeding.
Co2 laser is a non-invasive way that uses a carbon dioxide laser to eliminate the outer and damaged layers of the skin, and by targeting the first and second layers of the skin, it helps regenerate collagen and stimulate its growth.
The laser affects only the damaged parts of the skin and thus cures skin damage.
The fractional RF method is the most modern method of skin rejuvenation, especially for removing open skin pores.
A safe and minimally invasive method that can give you pleasant results without the hassles of surgery.
In this method, radio waves are used safely to penetrate the middle layer of the skin, stimulate collagen production and create other changes in the skin structure.
The radiofrequency needle machine simultaneously inserts a number of very fine needles into the skin slowly and painlessly, and in a very short period of time (about a tenth of a second) after the needles enter the skin, radiofrequency waves enter directly under the skin and with this makes the skin produce collagen and elastin.
The amount of entering the needles under the skin can be adjusted and is used based on the type of skin and the desired area.
This device very quickly introduces radio waves to the middle and lower layers of the skin and creates the necessary temperature for optimal effectiveness.
Fractional cleansing and the use of radiofrequency waves in several stages cause the pores to shrink. It is more durable than other methods and does not have the possible side effects of lasers.
This type of laser is also used for deep and open skin pores, and it is also used to treat skin cracks.
Compared to other methods, this method has a shorter recovery period and requires approximately three to five treatment sessions
Related: “Does Laser Skin Rejuvenation Hurt?“
Although, to date, the most effective treatment for enlarged facial pores is ablative and invasive treatment, recovery time, scarring, and darkening of the treatment site may limit its use.
In the latest methods used in facial rejuvenation treatment, the endolift device is used for skin pores.
This device has been able to receive significant satisfaction from volunteers in removing facial pores in addition to rejuvenation.
In this method, the recovery period is very short, and this method is performed simply and without causing discomfort to the patient.
Ultrasound waves with specific energy and frequency enter the deep layers of the skin in the desired position, and by creating heat, they stretch and lift the forehead skin and stimulate collagen production.
To put it simply, in the method of removing open skin pores with end lift, a very thin optical fibre is used, which is inserted into the superficial hypodermis.
In this area, laser energy is transferred to stimulate the deep and superficial layers of the skin to tighten and contract the graft layer.
This energy also stimulates the cells responsible for the formation of new skin collagen and reduces excess fat.
The use of broad-band light therapy (BBL) as a treatment method with a low recovery period and high effectiveness is of great interest nowadays.
Among the effects of this method, we can mention the increase in the activity of fibroblasts, the hyperplasia of fibroblasts, and the regeneration of collagen and elastin strands.
Simultaneous thermal stimulation to the surrounding tissues due to the absorption of light by the blood can cause healing of the area, which may be related to sebum secretion.
Many people claim that cold water can clog pores. Although cold water can help soothe irritated skin, it does nothing to affect the actual size of your pores.
Baking soda is not recommended at all. Baking soda can damage the skin and dry it out.
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If you have open pores, never forget this phrase!! Non-comedogenic means that the ingredients in the product will not clog your skin pores.
If you have oily skin, it is better to use oil-free products
Preferably use products that have the word ‘mattifying’ on the label. Mattes absorb excess skin oil and prevent excessive light reflection on the skin surface.
Some matting compounds in this type of product are clay, dimethicone, starch, cyclodextrin, and titanium dioxide.
The menstrual cycle can affect pore size. During ovulation, the amount of hormones increases, and the pores appear larger.
After ovulation, as the amount of hormones decreases, the pores appear smaller again.
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Sebum is an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands of the skin. Pores allow sebum to reach the surface of the skin. Otherwise, the skin will be completely dry.
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In most cases, the size of the skin pores is related to genetics. Oily skin, ageing, long-term exposure to sunlight and hormonal changes also affect the size of pores.
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Yes. Home remedies and medicine help to solve this problem. If home remedies fail to treat open pores, see a dermatologist.
Enlargement of open facial pores is one of the skin complications that causes your facial skin to become uneven and smooth.
By learning about the factors that cause this condition and choosing a definite and effective treatment for it, you can make your open pores smaller.
One thing you should remember is that choosing a suitable skin routine and using non-comedogenic products can prevent the enlargement of open skin pores.
Therefore, even if you choose a clinical treatment such as microneedling or laser, you must perform your skin routine regularly and correctly to keep the open pores on your face smaller.
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Dr. Majid Zohrabi started treating his patients in Dubai in 2022 and continues his activities in private medical centers in the UAE.