This may be one of the most asked skincare questions of all. Many people want to know how to reduce the size of their pores and for good reason. Your pores have a dramatic effect on the look and feel of your skin. The good news is that it's absolutely possible to change the size of your pores with a commitment to a few strategies. Keep reading to figure out a few things you can do to achieve smaller pores.

Why Do I Have Large Pores?

There are several reasons why you may have enlarged pores.

1. Genetics

The size of your pores along with your skin type is determined by your genetics. Those with oily skin types will have larger pores. Sweat, oil, and dirt (which we'll
talk about later) affect the size of the pores. These substances stretch out the walls of the pore and make them appear larger. You will probably notice that your
pores are larger in the t-zone of your face which is where the most oil is produced.

2. Age

Age affects many aspects of your skin, your pores included. Over time, your skin loses its elasticity. The collagen in your skin will break down as you get older,
causing the pores to fall deeper into the skin. This makes the pores appear larger.

During the teenage years, there are many hormonal shifts going on that cause acne and excess oil production. For this reason, the pores tend to be larger during the younger years.

3. Care

As we'll talk about further, your skincare greatly affects the size of your pores. Whether you have oily skin or not, the way you care for your skin can dramatically help with the size of your pores. The most important thing is keeping your pores clean and clear of dirt, oil, and sweat which can eventually harden and keep the pores stretched out. In order to reduce the size of your pores, you'll have to clean them out and ensure there is nothing in there to stretch them out.

How to Minimize Your Pores

Cleanse

As we have discussed, sweat, oil, dirt and other gunk can build up within the pore, causing the walls to stretch out. These can also harden inside the pore creating a blockage that keeps the walls of the pore stretched out (often in the form of blackheads and whiteheads). This blockage will need to be removed by extracting the debris that has built up within the pore. You can do this yourself manually or go to a professional.

Scrub

Using a facial scrub or cleansing brush regularly works to exfoliate the skin and break down dead skin cells. It smooths out the top layer of the skin, instantly making the pores appear smaller and the skin appears smoother. It also helps to further remove dirt, oil, and makeup from within the pore. This is a very easy way to reduce the size of your pores and exfoliate your skin regularly.

Exfoliating Acids

These can include exfoliating toners or peels that contain chemical exfoliants such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid. These products go beyond the surface level of the skin and work deep within the pore to dissolve debris and dead skin cells that have built up within the skin. Using an exfoliating acid regularly will help keep the pores clean and also make them appear immediately smaller.

Chemical Peels

Along with exfoliating acids, chemical peels go deep within the skin to dissolve dead skin cells. Professional chemical peels are stronger than the ones you would do at home and they provide more dramatic results in terms of shrinking the pores, re-texturing the skin to smooth out roughness and bumps, and evening out the skin tone. These treatments can be pretty intense, so it's important to go to a professional you trust to determine what treatment will be best for your skin type.

Retinoids

As we age, the collagen in our skin breaks down, causing the pores to go deeper in the skin. A retinoid works to rebuild collagen in the skin and help restore plumpness and elasticity. Using a retinoid consistently overtime will provide both immediate and long term results as you age. Using a retinoid, you will not only notice smaller pores but also smoother skin.

In all, there are several strategies you can use to reduce the size of your pores. By making these adjustments and being consistent you are sure to notice a major difference in your skin especially if you tend to be on the oily side of skin types. We hope you find these tips easy to incorporate and helpful!