Myths You've Been Believing About Large Pores

For some people, large pores are part of everyday life. According to Sarah Chapman, celebrity facialist and owner of Sarah Chapman in London, the reasons some people have bigger pores than others usually comes down to genetics. However, that's not always the case. "Age can also have an impact on pore size as collagen begins to break down in the skin, creating a lack of elasticity and tautness which causes the pores to dilate," Chapman told Hello! Magazine. As a result, many believe that nothing can be done about them. But this is, actually, a myth. 

While it's not possible to shrink pores, there are treatments available that will make them less obvious. "Since enlarged pores are largely determined by genetics we can never physically reduce the pore size, but we can of course work to effectively minimize their appearance by keeping them clear and free from a build-up of dirt and dead skin cells," Chapman said. "Treatments such as peels, deep microneedling, and some lasers can have a visible effect on pores," she added. Ultimately, though, they will never go away completely.

Another common myth is that getting a suntan will make large pores smaller. However, while this isn't true according to skin care expert and New York-based dermatologist Dr. Doris Day, it's also possible to prevent them from getting bigger. "The most important thing you can do is use sun protection every day," Day told HUDABeauty. "Sun dehydrates your skin and makes the oil glands over-grow, making the pores look bigger. Some people get a tan because they feel it masks the pores and makes them look smaller, but this is a temporary effect, and in the not-so-long-run, it will make the pores bigger, as well as making blackheads and whiteheads worse from the excess oil that plugs the skin."

Lastly, you can't actually open and close pores using a steamer, as so many would have you believe — however, it will give you a healthy-looking glow. "Steam does help sort of 'soften' pores for that second, but it's not a long-term fix," Day told New Beauty. "The benefit: After your skin is soft and hydrated, you can apply a salicylic acid peel to help exfoliate deep into the pore and then top off with a cool rinse and hyaluronic acid moisturizer. The result will be radiant skin."