Pore Shrinkage Should you Believe the Hype?

Pore shrinkage is a myth.
You can clean them out and dress ’em up, but you can’t shrink them

Step aside, sunspots and fine lines.

There is a new obsession in town.

One that has led to skincare specialists coining the term “porexia.”

For those with a neurosis about their pores.

Today, more than ever, we have become fixated on the size of our pores.

But to truly understand how to treat your pores.

You must first understand their anatomy.

Research on Pores

If you think you’re the only one staring into the mirror, obsessing about the size of your pores, you’re not alone.

In a study by L’Oreal Paris of over 2,000 adults, 45% of women wished they could change their pores, and 28% said they were more concerned with pores than wrinkles.

Unsurprisingly, the average adult has approximately 5 million pores on their body, with around 20,000 on their face alone.

The idea that you can unclog your pores, sand them down, scrub them off, or shrink them into oblivion is a fallacy.

That being said, if you’re realistic and don’t expect Photoshop-level miracles, there are some things you can do to refine the appearance of your pores.

Do Pores Age You?

The more visible your pores, the older you look. The best way we can explain this is in the context of a newborn baby’s bum.

The health of a baby’s skin isn’t simply the absence of damaging UV exposure, but also the absence of pores, as they don’t develop until later.

So it’s this baby’s bottom-like appearance that we seek to emulate; it is difficult when fighting the natural ageing action of pores.

And for all their good intentions, you feel like you are permanently fighting a fundamental design flaw.

Understanding Pores

Your skin is covered in tiny hairs. Each hair follicle has a pore at the top and a sebaceous gland that produces oil and releases it onto the skin’s surface.

Pores offer a natural function: removing waste and creating our barrier function and acid mantle, which protect against infection, dryness, and sensitivity.

What Creates a Pore?

Genetics: The number one cause of enlarged pores.
Excess Sebum: When sebaceous glands become overactive, they produce more oil than normal.
Pore Congestion: A buildup of makeup, oil, dirt, and skin cells can form blockages, causing them to stretch and appear more prominent.
The Natural Ageing Process: Decreased pore elasticity causes the skin to lose flexibility. Firm skin makes them appear smaller; ageing causes the skin around the pores to become loose and inflexible, making them appear larger and more dilated.
Environmental Factors: These play a large part. Pores are sensitive to pollution, hot temperatures, and humidity and can increase in size when irritated.

Can you Shrink Pores?

Bottom line: The number and size are genetically determined. The only way to affect their appearance would be to unwind your DNA, which renders shrinkage a myth; I discuss this in greater detail here.

Does Cleansing Help?

Pores are, well, pores. This means dirt, oil, and bacteria can easily get trapped in them.

Regular cleaning will help flush out impurities, reducing the risk of blackheads, breakouts, or acne, and may also temporarily shrink pores.

Can Products Close Pores?

It is a myth that certain products close pores. Pores don’t shrink because they lack muscles around them, which allows them to open and close.

They temporarily dilate when you apply astringent products to your skin, such as alcohol.

In reality, these harsh ingredients strip your skin of its protective barrier, rendering it susceptible to bacteria and an overproduction of oil, which can lead to further problems in the long run.

What are Blackheads?

Blackheads are made of oil that collects in an open follicle and becomes oxidised by the air.

They are often the culprit in causing them to become enlarged, as they permanently enlarge the follicle once they have filled the space with a plug.

Eliminating blackheads will help prevent them from becoming enlarged; follow the link to learn how to get rid of them permanently.

Does Cold Water Shrink Pores?

Pores are not temperature-sensitive. Cold water temporarily dilates them, causing the outer layers of the skin to shrink and appear more open; however, they don’t open and close based on temperature.

Pore Extraction

If you want to perform manual extraction, we recommend using gentle steam to break down hardened sebum, then gently extracting it with a tissue to avoid unnecessary micro-tearing of your skin.

Do Pore Strips Work?

These strips can somewhat clean the skin’s surface; however, they are not capable of deep cleansing.

They remove the superficial portion of a blackhead – the adhesive sticks to the upper portion and pulls the dark, oxidised matter out, instantly removing portions of the blackheads.

Our concern with these strips is that they can irritate or harm sensitive, acne-prone skin. If you’re already dealing with acne or irritation, it’s best to avoid them.

To conclude. The naked truth

So, as you can see, pores cannot be permanently shrunk, no matter what clever marketers might try to lead you to believe.

However, they can appear smaller temporarily. But oil buildup and ageing can stretch them, so the ultimate goal is to prevent them from getting bigger in the first place.

Reducing the oil in the pores and on the skin surface will reduce their visibility.

This article covers all your pore-related questions, including how to treat them gently but effectively.