5 ways to minimize your pores
Understanding your pores
We have pores all over our body apart from the palms of our hands and the soles of our feet. These tiny openings on the surface of the skin help regulate our body temperature by allowing sweat to escape. They also release sebum, a natural oil, to maintain moisture in the skin.
A variety of factors can impact how visible your pores are, including genetics and age, hormonal changes and sun exposure. When they become clogged with dirt, dead skin cells or excess oil, it can cause breakouts and, over time, acne. While you can’t – and shouldn’t – change the size of your pores, there are steps you can take to minimize their appearance.
How to minimize their appearance
- Cleanse consistently
Regular cleansing is important in removing blockages from your pores but beware harsh products that will strip your skin of its natural moisture. Opt for gentle cleansers that ensure deep cleaning without irritation and follow up with a quality chemical exfoliator. Avoid scrubs as these can damage your skin.
- Choose the right skincare ingredients
When selecting your other skincare, look for key ingredients that can help manage sebum production like salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acids and niacinamide. Incorporating advanced retinol products for skin repair into your nighttime routine is an effective way to regulate oil production for refined pores.
- Utilize clay masks
If you have oily skin, you could use clay masks intermittently to absorb excess oil and impurities, safeguarding against clogging and the associated breakouts. Every week or two weeks is best as you don’t want to risk drying out the skin. Charcoal cleansers are similarly beneficial and can be used more regularly.
- Analyze your diet
Did you know that there’s a clear correlation between our diet and the health of our skin? High-glycemic foods like refined carbohydrates and processed foods high in unhealthy fats can spike blood sugar levels, stimulating sebum production, while dairy can cause inflammation. Try to up your intake of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids to combat inflammation and healthy proteins which help skin repair. Vitamin A and zinc are also skin heroes!
- Consider professional treatments
If you’ve tried the skincare and followed the diet advice for a good period of time and you’re still unhappy with the appearance of your pores, you could consider professional treatments with a licenced dermatologist. These include non-invasive procedures like microdermabrasion and minimally-invasive options like chemical peels which remove dead skin cells and promote cell turnover for lasting minimized pores.