What are pores?

If enlarged pores are the bane of your skin care regime then read on!

Pores are tiny holes in the skin and there are two types.  One releases sebum, the body’s natural oil the other releases sweat. It is the former, the oil-producing pore that can become enlarged and that causes the most concern for the Skin to Love Clinic’s patients.  We are often asked if there is a way to make enlarged pores simply go away.  Sadly, if you are prone to large pores we can’t get rid of them. But the good news is that they can be reduced in appearance and made less visible.

So, What Are Pores?

The root cause of an enlarged pore – can we blame our genes?

Before we look at the treatments that we use here at our St Albans Clinic to tackle enlarged pores we thought we would look at the root causes and why some people are more susceptible.  Like so many skin issues we can blame both our hormones and our genes. If you have inherited oily skin this indicates that you are producing an excessive amount of sebum which can be a major culprit. If oil collects in the pore combined with dirt or makeup this can stretch the pore-making it looks far bigger than it really is. Other factors such as the skin around the pore becoming less elastic or supply can give the appearance of an enlarged pore or an enlarged hair follicle can cause clogging which again gives rise to larger pores.

Cleanse and moisturise – absolutely!

So, the key to reducing your pore size is maintaining a supple skin and ensuring that your pores do not become clogged.  It may seem obvious but washing your face with warm water and cleansing morning and night is crucial. But take care not to strip the skin of oil as this can stimulate the production of more oil to compensate.  Using a mild toner on oily skin can be beneficial as it helps to cleanse the skin of pollutants. We also recommend regular, gentle exfoliation using an AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) such as glycolic acid, this removes the top layer of dead skin cells giving your skin a deep clean and may help with pore refinement.  Don’t be tempted to use harsh scrubs as this may not help and can damage your skin if it is particularly aggressive. Using a good retinol lotion is not only good for acne prone and ageing skin but may also benefit pore refinement. Keeping your skin firm can delay the onset of age-related open pores so it is worth considering skin firming treatments such Thermage CPT and Regenlite.  If your enlarged pores are due to age then you may benefit from a rejuvenating moisturiser or serum which can help with the loss of collagen, but, do be careful not to use one that is too heavy or you could risk clogging your pores! 

Treatment options at the Skin to Love Clinic

To minimise the appearance of pores we advocate a Clear + Brilliant treatment, this gentle fractional laser not only reduces the size of pores but also promotes a smoother softer skin texture and a more radiant skin tone.  This treatment can be easily incorporated into your everyday skincare regime and can be safely used by patients in their 20s and 30s and beyond.  We’re very lucky here at the Clinic as Jane Lewis is the trainer to other practitioners using this laser in the UK and Europe. So, be assured you will be in very safe hands if you choose this treatment route. Added to that in 2012 Clear + Brilliant was announced as the ‘gold standard’ treatment for pore refining at the annual American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery conference. What’s not to like!

But don’t just listen to us here’s what some of our clients have said about their experience of Clear + Brilliant

“I love visiting the Clinic and am very impressed by the changes I have seen in my skin since I started regular treatments a year ago. My pores have dramatically reduced” Cheryl

“I made an appointment hoping to improve my oiliness and enlarged pores; I have been very pleased with Jane’s help and advice and even after a week I could see improvement.” Mary

If enlarged pores are a concern and you would like to have a chat with one of the team then please call the clinic to book an appointment on 01727 837429 or click here to message us online.

Disclaimer: This blog is not to be used for diagnostic purposes. We are all unique which means that our results, recovery and suitability for any type of treatment will vary. Always seek the advice of a professional should you have any health or cosmetic concerns or to discuss treatments specifically for you.