Why are your pores getting bigger with age?
Large pores are a common skin concern. So much so that ‘How to shrink pores’ is googled every 0.38 seconds across the globe. Each pore has a sebaceous gland, which produces oils called sebum to keep skin moisturised and healthy. Dead skin cells, excess sebum, pollution, and heavy products can lead to pore blockages. Over time this can compact and stretch the size of your pores, making them more visible. And to exacerbate this further, as we age and lose collagen and elastin, the pores can lose their framework, causing them to appear even larger.
You can minimise the appearance of pores by reducing blockages and stimulating collagen production. This boosts the skin’s plumpness, so the pore’s opening looks smaller. Thanks to a wave of products and technologies, there are now more ways than ever to tackle this issue…
What causes large pores?
From the outset, your genetics largely determine your pore size. Whatever your age, their appearance is most affected by hygiene; neglecting your skin-care routine causes oil, dead skin cells and dirt to clog the pores, stretching them out and making them appear larger. The body’s output of pore-clogging oil, known as sebum, varies greatly depending on gender (men are more susceptible) and hormonal factors, including menstruation. The more sebum your body produces, of course, the larger your pores appear.
Are they getting bigger with age?
Your pores aren’t technically getting larger, but with age, they can appear bigger for several reasons. First, when our skin is young and taut, large pores won’t be very noticeable due to the tightness of the skin. With age, the skin becomes laxer, and the pores appear more prominent as they indent further into the skin. And as the collagen matrix weakens, the pores dilate and look significantly more noticeable.
Experiment with actives
There are several powerhouse ingredients that can help prevent pores from becoming blocked. Regular use of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) will exfoliate and get rid of dead skin cells, as well as balance oil production. Salicylic acid can penetrate the pore wall and dissolve build-up. While glycolic acid, an AHA, flushes away dead skin cells on the top layer of skin to help the salicylic work more effectively.
Retinol is another very effective ingredient that helps reduce surface build-up, regulate oil production, and promote collagen production. Consistent use of these types of products (containing vitamin A) will dramatically change the appearance of the skin’s surface and make pores look smaller and less noticeable.
Tighten with microneedling
A proven skin treatment for tightening and improving pore size is microneedling. Tiny needles are used to create micro-channels in the skin, which encourages the stimulation of cell renewal, resulting in tighter, firmer skin. This is an excellent option for pores due to ageing skin, as it helps kickstart collagen production to tighten and rejuvenate the skin.
Turn things up a notch
Lasers can assist in minimising the appearance of pores, and resurfacing skin peels help to remove dead skin and clear sebum whilst increasing the production of collagen and firming up the skin for a smoother, rejuvenated appearance. And radiofrequency microneedling, such as Profound RF, combines resurfacing with deeper collagen synthesis to firm and tighten the complexion.
If large pores are a concern, click here to book a consultation with an expert practitioner.
Disclaimer: Please be aware that results and benefits may vary from patient to patient taking into consideration factors such as age, lifestyle and medical history.
