While you may be able to find products that promise to hide prominent pores, they do have their limitations. Poreless foundations, for instance, can help blur pores and control shine, but have temporary results. They cannot necessarily shrink large pores or make them disappear permanently. 

Do-Your-Pores-Look-Big

Genetic factors can determine both your skin type and pore size, but there are other things that contribute to the appearance of large pores. Knowing them can help you take better care of your skin. 

Sun Exposure/Damage

Prolonged sun exposure is one main culprit to premature aging and skin damage. UV rays create free radicals in the skin, which can breakdown collagen and elastin, and cause cellular damage. This can make the skin looser and inelastic, making the pores look more dilated or prominent. 

Solution: Stay out of the sun during its peak hours (10am to 3pm) and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen can help. Good recommendations include Clear Defense SPF 45 or Sheer Defense Tinted SPF 46 from Dr. Sylvia Skin Care. Both are non-greasy, oil-free, and can protect the skin without causing breakouts.

Acne/Breakouts

Having a constant battle against acne can cause your pores to sag and expand over time. Large pores can continue to enlarge if you enable them to become clogged with dirt, sebum, whiteheads, and blackheads. This only makes it important to take care of your skin and treat acne.

Solution: You can use products designed to fight acne and control oil, but do take note that they can sometimes dry and irritate your skin. You can talk to a skin doctor to find the right treatments for your concern. You can also check out our previous post to learn more about your acne treatment options.

Oil/Sebum Production

You are likely to have bigger pores if you have naturally oily skin. Things can get worse if you have an overactive sebaceous gland, as it can contribute to more acne and accumulation of excess oil and bacteria. This can then make your face look shiny and your pores more visible.

Solution: Use products that absorb oil to prevent pores from getting larger. These include oil-blotting papers or mineral or oil-free foundations that can help your face stay shine free. You can also benefit from serums and lightweight moisturizers.

Harsh Extractions

Pimple (or blackhead) extraction may help you get rid of the problem, but this should never be done at home. Doing so can make your blemishes worse, as extracting pimple yourself can push more dirt and bacteria deeper into the skin. This can clog the pores and make them look bigger, as well as lead to scarring.

Solution: If you have acne or blackheads that need extraction, see a dermatologist or an aesthetic doctor. The have the skills and appropriate tools to get the job done. They can also recommend treatments or solutions for your skin woes.

Try Aesthetic Procedures

Apart from trying the tips mentioned above, it is also a good idea to try nonsurgical aesthetic treatments. Here at Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore, we offer a number of procedures that can help minimize enlarged pores. Here are some of them:

Dermapen Microneedling

This innovative micro-needling device can help lift, tighten, and rejuvenate skin. It works by using tiny needles that puncture the skin, leading to micro-trauma and promoting natural healing process. This also breaks up fibrous and uneven scar tissue and stimulates the growth of new tissue.

The device helps to improve blood supply to the treated area. This creates healthier skin and provides a healthy foundation for new skin. In fact, in just one procedure, you can see a visible improvement in the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles, scars, acne.

Dermapen has mild side effects like redness and tingling sensation that can subside two to three hours after the treatment. It also has five to seven days downtime. Visible results can be seen after six to eight weeks and will continue to improve over time. A minimum of five sessions is required for best results.

Pearl Procedure

Cutera Pearl Procedure is a laser skin resurfacing treatment that uses safe FDA-cleared technology that provides “stem-to-stern” rejuvenation in less than 1 week. It can help deal with  a number of skin problems like enlarged pores, uneven skin texture, wrinkles, age spots, and sun damage.

This works by treating the skin’s top layer with pulses of laser in a pre-selected pattern. The laser also simultaneously delivers heat to the deeper layers of the skin to promote longer-term benefits. Then, the skin will immediately form a protective dressing that will peel off after three to four days. This reveals healthier skin, with a “pearly” glow.

You may see significant improvement in just one session, but two to three sessions are required to maintain good results. Most patients report experiencing minimal discomfort during the treatment, but numbing cream will be applied before the procedure.

Laser Genesis Skin Therapy

Laser Genesis is a non-invasive laser treatment that stimulates collagen growth to promote vibrant and healthy skin. It can effectively treat large pores, uneven skin texture, fine lines and wrinkles, as well as diffuse scars and redness.

It uses a US FDA-approved handheld device the gently heats the deeper layers of the skin. This boosts collagen formation that will then tighten and plump up the skin. This then results in a visible reduction in the size of your pores. It can also improve the overall texture of the skin and even out skin tone.

Laser Genesis has no downtime and does not require the use of any anesthesia. The treatment is also relaxing and therapeutic and produces natural-looking results without down time or side effects.

VI Peel

VI Peel is a strong chemical peel treatment that can improve the tone, texture, and clarity of your skin. It is formulated with scientifically proven ingredients and has been proven  effective in the treatment of large pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. It can also deal with acne scarring, sunspots, melasma, and hyperpigmentation.

The application of VI Peel leads to slight tingling sensation, but this subsides almost immediately. Your skin may also appear tan or reddish for a short period of time. You will have to go home with the solution on your face, but it is safe, dry, and not obvious. You can then wash it at home after four to five hours.

The actual peeling process begins three days later and can continue for five to seven days. During this, you may also notice unusual skin coloring in brown, yellow, or reddish tones. When the peeling is completed, you will notice a brighter and smoother complexion.

Don’t let large pores be a constant source of your frustration. Contact Cutis Laser Clinics today and schedule a consultation with one of our aesthetic doctors in Singapore to effectively minimize prominent pores.