No one wants to look at their cheek and feel as though they are gazing at a slice of Swiss cheese. Enlarged pores are an unwelcome nuisance. A nuisance that, unfortunately, affects a lot of us in our quests to achieve optimal beauty and a flawless facial canvas. The good side, is that with the right care, many times these suckers can be minimized, if not erased completely.

The first thing to consider when you want that seamless-looking appearance, is what causes enlarged pores. The most common cause is over stretching. When the skin produces sebum at an excessive rate, or sebum and bacteria are not properly washed from the skin, the oil settles into the pores, and leads to stretching. Fortunately, this can be controlled. Factors that may contribute to enlarged pores that you can’t control include aging and genetics.
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As the skin ages, it loses collagen, the substance that keeps it flexible and tight. A loss of collagen enables the pores to lose their elasticity, and subsequently, their tight shape. As with many skin issues, if your parent(s) have problems with bigger pores, chances are that you may, as well. Below, we’ll look at some of the ways you can control the look of your skin.

Skin Care

Optimal skin care should be placed at the top of your list when trying to control enlarged pores. Moisturization is of the utmost importance. Providing your skin with proper moisturizing will cause it to produce less sebum- that stuff that clogs your pores and leads to enlarged size. Gentle exfoliation one to three times a week is also key. Exfoliation helps remove the bacteria, oil, and dirt that fill your pores. This can be done with a facial scrub. It’s a good idea to find one with Retinol or Vitamin C, because these ingredients will increase the elastic collagen in your skin. Steaming your face can remove the harmful junk, as well. To do this, hold your face over a basin of very warm water for one to three minutes. Take note not to wash your face immediately, so that the pores can close naturally.

Cosmetic Change

Many cosmetics out there have products that are not good for our skin at all. They clog it, and do not allow oxygen to freely flow through. Ironic that we use it to “become beautiful”, yet it can cause enlarged pores, acne, and wrinkles, huh? The good news for you, is some cosmetics out there actually benefit your skin. That’s right, benefit. If this sounds like what you’re looking for, head on over to your favorite makeup pick-up and invest in some mineral makeup. Many minerals improve complexion and overall skin tone, as well as, let the skin breathe. They don’t clog pores, either.

Medication

If your pores fail to shrink with any other methods, are severely enlarged, or are accompanied by acne, your doctor may be of some assistance to you. Medications, such as Retin-A or prescription Azelic acid can help. They work much like an exfoliator, and remove gunk from pores, but also kill bacteria.

Enlarged pores are a downer for a lot of women and men, alike. Fortunately, with the help of the above mentioned treatments, you can get closer to achieving the pore-less, air-brushed finish you’ve always wanted.