Here’s an interesting fact, for every hair that is located on your body, there is a corresponding skin pore to go with it. Although we cannot see every pore, there are a few that are visible to the human eye. The average adult has about 5 million hairs on their body. Even more fascinating is that about 4.9 million of these pores are small, and only a very small amount of pores are actually causing your acne outbreaks.
When dirt and oil on the face collect around the pores they leave debris that collect. These pores then usually become clogged, and when this happens, it creates a build up of oil and dead skin cells to form in the follicle. Soon bacteria begins to make its way towards the blockage and this growth of bacteria is the cause for inflammation, which then leads to acne outbreaks.
Why are some people’s skin pores larger than mine?
Some people seem to have larger skin pores than others. There can be a few reasons for this. One thing that definitely plays a role is a person’s genetics. Another thing that comes into play is a person’s skin type. Oily skin pores tend to look bigger while dry skin pores seem to be tighter and less noticeable in appearance. Sometimes pores are actually not large at all, but still appear to be so due to the dead cell and sebum that has accumulated around the pore. Another thing that can increase the size of pores is removing blackheads and whiteheads. This is why it is so important to never pick, scratch or pop pimples.
As mentioned earlier, skin pores correspond with every hair found on the body. They also are connected with sebaceous glands. The sebum found in these glands protects a person from microbial infections and helps keep the skin moisturized. Sweat coming out of the pores has the purpose of keeping the body’s temperature constant. It is for many of these reasons that a person’s pores are essential to their health.
Maintaining clean and healthy skin pores is vital in maintaining good health as well as healthy looking skin. Keeping your face free of excess oils can help keep your pores clean and healthy. Using cleansers that are mild and enriched with AHAS help keep acid mantle undisturbed while still helping manage your skin so it doesn’t look as shiny. Using exfoliation agents such as a topical retinoid to remove any excess dead skin cells that accumulate around the pore can also help. Protecting your skin from the sun is another important thing to remember and practice as it will reduce the enlargement and clogging of pores.
An important thing to remember if you are trying to treat your skin pores is to avoid harsh soaps, abrasives, or medications, etc. as they can aggravate the pores and lead to further outbreaks. Treatments that have been found to be quite effective in treating large skin pores are as follows:
Retin-A reduces oil production in the glands and skin exfoliation.
Salicylic acid is a key ingredient in many acne treatments as it works near the surface of the skin to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells which in turn helps prevent pores from becoming clogged and enlarged.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid is an acid derived from fruits and works to make your skin feel softer, smoother, and refreshed as it removes excess oil and dead skin cells.
Before using any of these treatments, always consult a medical professional such as a physician or a dermatologist as the amount and frequency of the dosage is crucial and can be very harmful if used incorrectly or if proper precautions are ignored or not followed properly. When choosing any product to treat acne and pores make sure that it is labeled non-comedogenic. This means it will not clog the pores further. If you are unsure about anything, do not hesitate to ask a professional for help or advice or to explain treatment methods. There is nothing embarrassing about asking for help. However not following instructions can be fatal!
