Who doesn’t want a smooth glass skin? Can’t think of anyone. But what exactly stops us from achieving one? The answer is- Open pores. They may not be visible clearly from a distance, but as you look closer at your skin you will find small pits known as pores. These pits might be small, but they play a big role in hampering the beauty of our face. They make our skin look very dull and aged. Not only that, as these pores increase in size, they worsen our skin condition. In order to treat them right and achieve your dream skin, it’s important we go to the roots of the matter.

What are open pores?

The literal meaning of pores is a minute opening in a surface through which microscopic particles can pass. Taking into consideration our skin, pores are tiny holes on the skin surface of a hair follicle. But what exactly are open pores?

To start with, a hair follicle has an oily gland inside it, which as the name suggests is responsible for producing oil. As this oil starts collecting in the pore, it dilates the pore and such pores are known as open pores. People who have oily skin have pores which look more dilated than people with dry or normal skin.

In order to prevent them from happening, it is first important to understand what exactly is the cause of their development. The various causes are-

• Excessive sebum or oil secretions: In a person with oily skin, the sebaceous or oil gland produces a lot of oil than usual which results into appearance of enlarged pores.
• Reduced elasticity around the pore: With age, a person’s skin becomes less subtle and eventually loses its elasticity due to which the pores appear enlarged.
• Clogging of pores: Due to dirt and pollution, particles of dust can settle on the surface of the skin. Apart from that, use of makeup products can also contribute towards clogging the pores. Once the pores are clogged, they appear to be larger than their usual size.

These are all natural factors which result in the formation of pores. Since we do not have a control over them, our priority lies in knowing treatments that can cure pores caused due to these factors.

Treatment

Initially, it is advised to resort to at-home natural treatments to cure the appearance of open pores. However many times, even after continuous care, pores may still seem enlarged. In such cases, it is advised to switch onto treatments suggested by dermatologists. We’ll here discuss the various types of at-home treatments and those done by dermatologists to cure all your pore worries.

• At-home treatments and precautions:

1. Cleanse your face twice a day: As discussed earlier, when the skin becomes greasy or when the pores are clogged, they appear to be larger than usual. So in order to deal with this problem, it is important to cleanse your face twice a day as it helps in unclogging the pores, preventing clogged pores and reducing greasiness of the face.

It is advised to use a gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser. Also, avoid scrubbing and using hot water as they can irritate your skin.

1. People with oily skin are more prone to having open pores. So it is advised that they should exfoliate their skin once or twice a week as it helps in removing dirt, dead skin cells and excess oil from the pores. Products containing salicylic acid can be used to do the same.
2. Apply clay mask: Using a clay mask once or twice a week can help to remove oil from the pores and reduce their appearance.
3. Healthy diet and lifestyle: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle which includes exercising daily, eating healthy food and drinking plenty of water can help you in achieving a healthy skin.

Exercising daily increases the blood flow to all parts of the body which helps in protecting the skin from bacteria. As important sweating is, equally important is rinsing your skin after exercising to remove the sweat as leaving it on the skin can further clog the pores.

1. Use retinol: Using a skin care product with retinol can help to reduce oiliness of the skin. As a result, it decreases the appearance of open pores.
2. Always remove makeup before sleep: Most of the problems with our skin occur due to negligence when it comes to removal of makeup. It is very important to remove your makeup before sleep otherwise the products can clog your pores making them look enlarged.
3. Do not miss the moisturizer and SPF: Using moisturizers help in maintaining the sebum balance. Application of sunscreen on the other hand is one of the most important steps towards getting a flawless skin. As we age, due to sun exposure our skin loses collagen and sags making our pores look bigger. Using sunscreen in the early stages can prevent this from happening.
4. Apply aloe vera gel: Aloe vera is really the answer to everything beauty. Using natural aloe vera gel on open pores and massaging it can help in reducing such pores. You can also use bottled aloe vera gel. The gel provides nourishment to your skin leaving behind a great glow.
5. Using cucumber: Cucumber has high water content which helps in tightening your skin. Using blended cucumber slices and using them as a mask can help in shrinking open pores (you can also mix lemon juice in it but make sure to do a patch test first as lemon can have alternate reactions on some people). Apart from that, you can also opt for toners which have cucumber as their base material. Avoid using toners which contain alcohol.

• Clinical treatments:

Sometimes, even after taking all the necessary precautions pores may still appear enlarged. In such cases, there are several treatments done by dermatologists which helps in reducing enlarged pores. These include-

1. Microneedling
2. Chemical peels
3. Laser skin resurfacing

Making small changes in your routine and maintaining your hygiene and health can go a long way. Having that glass skin you have always wanted is nothing but a few steps away.