What Causes Pores?
Have you ever wondered what causes pores and why? Here is an overview of what causes pores and a list of products that will help with your pores.
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Pores are inevitable; it’s something that we all get and must deal with. Your skin needs pores to moisturize and keep your skin intact.Treating your pores can be frustrating if you don’t know what products to use or how to use. But don’t worry, I am giving you the best tips on how to treat your pores and what products are best to use.
You are going to learn about what causes pores, how to avoid/treat pores, how to unclog your pores and more.
Knowing how to unclog your pores and using the correct approach is going to help you minimize/reduce your pores.
This post is all about what causes pores.
What Causes Pores?
To understand what causes pores you first need to understand what a pore is. A pore is basically a small opening in your skin where particles pass by. These openings release sebum (your body’s natural oil). According to LibreTexts these are mostly found in the skin (except in the palms of your hands and soles of your feet).
There are 2 types of pores: oil pores and sweat pores. Oil pores are caused by excess oil that is produced by your body and sweat pores are caused by excess sweating. When either one of these occurs it can lead to your pores getting clogged.This can happen due to excess oil, dead skin cells, sweat and other impurities on your face.
Where are Pores mostly Found?
Pores can mostly be found in areas where the skin produces excess oil. Here is a list of the most commonly found areas.
- T-Zone
- Nose
- Chin
- Inner side of cheek
Reasons why we get pores?
There are various reasons why we get pores and it varies for everyone. Below is a list of the most common causes of why we get pores.
- Oily skin
- Acne prone skin
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Stress
Can I permanently get rid of pores?
Simple answer is no. You can’t get rid of your pores permanently because they are completely natural. Pores are needed to keep your skin looking youthful and hydrated.Even with a treatment your pores do not permanently go away, however it will help minimize and reduce your pores.
Short Term fix for pores
As mentioned above you can’t completely get rid of pores. But there is a quick solution if you are looking to go out for girls night and don’t want your pores to be the center of attention. The solution is to rub ice directly over the areas where your pores are visible. This will temporarily absorb the oil from the surface of the skin and shrink your pores for a few hours. Remember that this is only temporary and will have no impact on long term effect or appearance.
Long Term fix for pores
The best way to reduce and help keep your pores to a minimum is by taking care of your face and using products on a daily basis. Using products on a daily basis is going to have an impact in the long term, remember that consistency is the key.
How to unclog pores?
You may be thinking that the best way to unclog pores is by picking or squeezing them with your hands to get the gunk out. But you DO NOT want to do this! Not only is this going to cause your pores to get wider and larger, it’s also going to make them more visible and could cause scarring. I’ve been guilty of this and let me tell you it’s not easy to get rid of the scarring.
Instead try one of the methods below & see what works best for you.
- Steaming: steaming your face is going to open up your pores and make it easier to clean out.
- Nose Strips: nose strips are going to instantly unclog your pores by removing the excess dirt, oil and blackheads.
- Exfoliating: exfoliating is going to remove dead skin cells that are on the surface of your skin. Note that if you have dry skin this can irritate your skin.
- Extractor: using a comedone extractor is going to be safer than using your hands and more effective. A comedone extractor is going to remove blackheads and white heads. See here to know more about comedone extractors.
Pore Minimizing Products
You can also use products to unclog and help minimize your pores. When choosing a product to unclog your pores look for products that have salicylic acid and are non-comedogenic (meaning it will not clog your pores). Products that have these ingredients are best in reducing the appearance of your pores. Below are 3 tried and true products that I have used and work well for minimizing your pores.
-
Mary Kay ( Pore Minimizer)
Benefits
- Oil and fragrance free
- Suitable for dry to oily skin
- Non-comedogenic
-
Clean & Clear (daily pore)
Benefits
- Oil free
- Suitable for all skin types
- Removes impurities
- Affordable
-
Biore ( pore strips)
Benefits
- Fragrance free
- Suitable for combination, oily and acne prone skin
- Instantly unclogs your pores
- Affordable
Why do pores keep on clogging up?
Keeping up with pores and using products on a daily basis is essential in making sure your pores stay unclogged. Below is a list of the most common causes of why your pores keep getting clogged.
- Climate
- Genetics
- Age
- Stress
TIPS
- Do not sleep with makeup. Makeup like foundation and concealer will clog your pores.
- Use products containing salicylic acid and non-comedogenic
- Minimize foods like sugars and dairy
- When touching your face, always make sure to wash your hands. Your hands are constantly touching everything and touching your face will spread germs from your hands to your face. Gross!
TAKEAWAYS
- Know that pores are needed and you can’t permanently get rid of them.
- You know your skin best so test & use products that will not irritate your skin and work best for you.
- When using skin care products make sure to always read and follow the instructions listed.
This post was all about what causes pores.
Sources
Libretexts. “5.3b: Sebaceous (Oil) Glands.” Medicine LibreTexts, Libretexts, 14 July 2020, https://med.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Anatomy_and_Physiology/Book%3A_Anatomy_and_Physiology_(Boundless)/5%3A_Integumentary_System/5.3%3A__Accessory_Structures_of_the_Skin/5.3B%3A_Sebaceous_(Oil)_Glands.
