Skin Pores: The Way Out

Pores are tiny openings in the skin that provide a way for the oil glands underneath to lubricate and protect the surface of the skin. This oil forms a protective layer over the skin and prevents moisture loss and helps to keep the skin soft and resilient. It also helps to prevent injury and environmental damage.

Contrary to all above, open pores is a common problem that also leaves the skin prone to infections, resulting in painful acne and boils.

The skin pores have the key role of providing an outlet for flushing out water, salts and toxins. When the toxic cellular waste is trapped in the skin it leads to poor skin health, infections and other disorders. Often, when our skin pores have to cope with an unusually high and excessive secretion, they enlarge in size giving the skin an unseemly look.

Dealing With Open Pores:
One of the most common, and often effective, ways to deal with enlarged pores is to use a toner regularly. Apply it after cleansing the face.

Home solutions:
Larger pores can be easily fixed with proper cleansing and frequent toning of the skin.
• Vegetable/fruit packs and herbs help in tightening enlarged pores. Applying a pack of mashed tomatoes with a few drops of lemon juice added to it is very effective. So is a face pack of Fuller’s Earth.

• Steaming the face for 5 minutes before toning also helps. First, follow the cleansing routine and then the home-care for arresting the skin pore size.

• Don’t squeeze wax plugs from the pores. It may feel good initially but they will re-fill soon.

• Mix oatmeal with cucumber juice, put it on the face for 2-3 minutes and wash off.

Dermat Solutions
For those whom the problem seems serious may have to resort to dermatological treatments for relief. And remember, there’s no one time cure for the problem.

• Regular chemical peels like TCA (tricloroacetic acid), glycolic acid and yellow peel.

• Mesotherapy and Mesobotox; here tiny amounts of vitamins, antioxidantsdefine, minerals and Botox is injected directly into the facial skin, using very thin needles.

• Microneedling is a technique in which the face of the skin is pricked with very small needles- stimulating an injury. In response, the skin stimulates collagen production that reduces the size of the pores. 2-3 sittings of microneedling, at 4-6 weeks intervals are quite effective.

• Radio frequency can shrink open pores quickly. The smaller pores are barely visible after the treatment, and the larger ones are less obvious. Repeated sessions, at monthly intervals are required for improved and sustained results.

• Lasers, especially Erbium laser peel, helps in pores reduction.