Do you find it difficult to conceal open pores on your skin? They are mostly around the nose, cheeks on the face. Though you can cover them up temporarily with make-up, there are also ways to get rid of them permanently. Read below to get the real deal from New York Dermatologist Dr Kiran Lohia, who has brought the latest American dermatological therapies to New Delhi.
Why we need pores in the skin?
A pore is essentially the pathway for oil to reach the skin. At the bottom of the pore is a sebaceous gland, or oil gland, which makes sebum to help keep the skin moisturised and protected. Once made, this sebum or oil travels up through the canal and exits through the pore. This is in fact, essential to keep our skin naturally soft and supple.
Why do pores increase in size?
Certain factors like the ones mentioned below are responsible in increasing the pore size.
Now that you know what a pore is, it is easy to understand why pores can increase in size. In fact, you will notice that people with overactive oil glands (or oily skin) tend to have larger pores. Essentially, with so much oil production, the pores get blocked, which can result in inflammation within the pores. This inflammation and extra sebum causes build-up and stretches the walls of the pore canal. Ultimately, with this constant stretching, the elasticity of the pores reduces, and the opening becomes larger. Read about these face packs to manage oily skin.
Excess exposure to sunlight
Sunlight damages the collagen in the skin ultimately reducing elasticity as well, which in turn leads to increased pore size.
Ageing
Due to the degradation of natural proteins which maintain the skin’s texture and complexion, the skin loses its elasticity and has pores which are bigger.
What daily routine should I follow to improve this condition?
First of all, don’t overwash your skin. When you wash your face more than twice a day, your skin thinks that there is too little oil in it. This makes the glands overproduce oil ultimately making you greasier and your pores look even worse.
Second, use a salicylic acid based cleanser like Sali-Q Active Cleanser that helps reduce oil production by the sebaceous glands.
Third, don’t overexfoliate your skin. When you do aggressive scrubbing, your skin gets dry and inflamed. This causes your oil glands to secrete more protective substances while your pores get clogged with inflammatory byproducts.
