As if wrinkles and sagging skin aren’t enough, enlarged pores are also part and parcel of the skin aging process. It is a fact that our pores to get bigger as we age. So if you have it bad now, I have news for you – it’s going to probably get worse as you get older.
Whilst fighting the multiple signs of aging, we rarely pay attention to our pores. We much too busy being concerned about the unevenness of our skin tones, fine lines and double chins, to even notice this ever growing skin problem. The pores on our skin can get enlarged for two reasons: oily skin and aging.
Understanding What Causes Pores to Become Enlarged
As we age, our skin becomes thinner, and it loses elasticity as well as collagen. As these two factors diminish, the skin loses its ability to keep the pores closed. Due to this fact, you might easily assume that all women experience the same thing as they age, but this is not so. Some people do not develop visibly enlarged pores, whilst others do. Why is that?
Individuals with thicker and more oily skin and over-active sebaceous glands tend to be more prone to developing larger pores as they get older. There are pros and cons to this skin type, so don’t feel too disheartened. On the bright side, people with oilier skin are less likely to develop fine lines and wrinkles, it’s fair isn’t it?
If you have a normal skin or dry skin type, the appearance of pores will be quite subtle until you get to the age of 40 and over. This is the period of your life where your collagen levels decrease, and your skin loses its ability to protect itself as efficiently as it did when you were younger. Sun damage in particular is the leading contributor to large pores.
Most people only think that overexposure to the sun leads to age spots and freckles, but they rarely realize that their pore size get affected as well. What causes wrinkles is the same one that causes your pore size to increase – UV radiation.
Tip: if you don’t want enlarged pores, avoid sun tanning and always make sure you have sunscreen applied when you’re outdoors.
Large pores can also be caused by dirt and oil trapped within the pores, that is why deep-cleansing the skin is a very important step that should be performed daily (see below for the right way to cleanse your face) to keep the opening of the pores free of plugs like blackheads.
So what can you do today to help minimize the size of your pores?
Step 1.
To start, clean your pores out thoroughly each night without fail. Using a good facial cleanser is good but that is not quite good enough, you’ll need to also perform a sweep with a cotton pad soaked in toner to 
ensure a thorough clean. Even if you think you’ve thoroughly washed your face, you’ll be amazed with the amount of dirt the cotton pad picks up.
Facial cleansers and toners need to include glycolic acid to help with the dislodgement of dirt and the dissolving of sebum, otherwise your skin isn’t really going to be clean.
I just can’t stress how important glycolic acid pads are! These are a crucial follow up to your cleansing routine. You’ll need to look for the type of pads that contain high percentage of acid, yet pH-balanced so it doesn’t leave you with dry skin.
If you end up with a dry feeling on your skin, chuck it out as this skincare product isn’t right for you. It should leave you with a fresh, moisturized, clean and tingling sensation after you wash your face, to let you know it’s working – products that don’t are just not deep-cleansing your skin sufficiently and are a complete waste of money.
Step 2.
Rejuvenate your skin with a good serum. You’ll need to get your hands on with a cream or serum that penetrates deeply enough and contains important vitamins and antioxidants and amino acids to stimulate collagen production.
Using a light cream or serum is important because oily creams can cause clogged pores and you’ll just end up with either blackheads or acne breakouts. Avoid areas like the T-zone, and focus more on the skin around your eyes. These parts of skin are almost always dry and really need all the moisture they can get.
Step 3.
You can also add a microdermabrasion cream to your skin care routine at home a few times during the week, but no less than twice a week. This will help with the exfoliation of the dead layer of the skin as well to promote newer skin cells. I keep talking about exfoliation because it’s an important step in minimizing pore size by cleaning out all the dirt and allowing the pores to naturally close, resulting in a smoother, more beautiful skin texture.
Many people like having chemical peel treatments but I’m not a big fan due to the redness and irritation it causes to the skin, and not to mention the recovery time it takes. Most of us will not be going for lunch time peels anyway unless we want to come back to work red-faced.
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