I have large pores on my face, how can I shrink them?

Large pores are a very common issue, and unfortunately before we even get our high school diploma our fate is set.  Many people will notice their pores getter "larger" as they age, but the size of our pores is actually an indication of how much oil you produced in your teens. They appear larger as we get older due to gravity and weakening of the elastin fibers in our skin (meaning our skin isn't pulled back as tight). For those of us that were rapidly pumping out the oil in high school, the walls of our pores stretched wider leaving us with larger pores. And for the lucky ones that didn't have much oil, their pores continue to remain small and unnoticeable.

The good news? You can definitely make them look smaller. Here are some simple tips:

1) Temporary but quick and easy - wash your face with very cold water. This will constrict your vessels making your pores look tighter. Unfortunately it is extremely temporary, but if you are in need for quick improvement you can't get much easier than this!

2) Exfoliate often - this takes more diligence, but it is still pretty easy and results are longer lasting. You can get your best results by using a physical exfoliant (facial scrub with microbeads, etc) and chemical exfoliants on a regular basis. You can liken this to sanding an indent out of a piece of wood...we are trying to "sand" down the skin and get rid of dry, dead cells to make our pores less noticeable. SkinCeuticals has a micro-exfoliating scrub and clarifying cleanser with natural microbeads for daily, physical exfoliation. As for a chemical exfoliant, there are daily, mild products with chemical such as glycolic acid to get into the pores and help keep them cleaned out. For this, SkinCeuticals also carries a products such as C + AHA, Blemish + Age Defense, and Renew Overnight (to name a few).  Stronger chemical peels can be performed at medical spas, which should be performed by a trained professional.

3) Use a product with retinol - this is a long-term approach, but the most effective one.  Although it takes a few months, retinol is truly the most scientifically proven ingredient to retexturize and reveal smoother skin with less visible pores, fine lines, as well as wrinkles. Results can be relatively dramatic, so if you aren't using a product with retinol, you should start now! SkinCeuticals has great retinol products to help you resurface your skin and turn back time.

Although there is no magic wand I can wave to make your pores shrink immediately, the right combination of products and your discipline to use them faithfully can make a dramatic difference. Contact us today to get introduced to our scientifically proven products as well as chemical peels performed by our trained professional. As always, we offer free consultations for your skin care needs.

--Jean Gustafson, MD
    bāre medispa