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Pores are small openings on the surface of your skin through which oil and sweat are transferred from the glands below. While there are a handful of people who don’t really experience this problem, there are millions others for whom blocked pores, clogged pores, large pores, or open pores are all common complaints. Large and open pores often result in skin problems such as oily or greasy skin and an unattractive complexion. Clogged pores can lead to blackheads, whiteheads and acne. Pores can also get infected and cause pimples, cysts and scars. While it is not possible to shrink the size of large pores permanently, there are ways to make them appear less obvious and to prevent frequent flare-ups of acne.

Reduce Facial Skin Pores

Before we look at the different ways to treat facial pores, let’s understand what causes large pores to develop. Genetics and age play a large role in the type of skin you have. The odds are that if your mother and grandmother had problem skin, you will too. Additionally, as you age, your skin gets more weather beaten and loses its elasticity. All this can cause pores to open and dilate. Over exposure to the sun is another factor that can result in thickened and damaged skin and large pores.

If you do suffer from large pores on your face and are prone to breakouts, here are some popular home remedies and natural ways to treat the condition:

• Steaming your face regularly is one of the best ways to open the pores on your face and cleanse your skin. All you need is a basin of steaming water (not too hot or you will burn yourself). Drape a towel over your head to prevent the steam from escaping and place your face over the basin. Let the steam work its magic on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing off with cold water to close the pores on your face.
• Mix some lemon juice and pineapple juice and soak a hand towel or small cloth in this mixture. Place the soaked cloth over your face and then rinse off with warm water. The enzymes present in pineapple and lemon help cleanse and tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of any large pores.
• For a quick fix, run an ice cube over your skin to shrink any large pores.
• Make a facemask with one egg white and half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply this mix to your face and let it dry. This tightens the skin and helps close the pores on your face.
• Apply the juice of one ripe tomato to your face. Leave to dry and rinse off with warm water. This helps lessen the appearance of large pores and prevents clogging.
• Mash fresh papaya and apply to your skin to tone and reduce the size of pores.
• Massage your skin gently with olive oil or coconut oil to help heal blemished skin and prevent thickening.

Some easy ways to prevent large facial pores:

• Always remove your makeup before going to sleep. Sleeping with your makeup on will only lead to clogged pores and blemishes.
• Apply sunscreen on your face, neck, and hands every time you step out in the sun. Make sure the sun protection factor is adequate for your skin type.
• Use skin products that contain salicylic acid to help remove dead skin and excess oil and prevent the formation of blackheads.
• When applying make-up, go easy on the foundation as too much can exaggerate large pores instead of hide them. In case you suffer from some skin condition you could use some oil control powder to prevent any side effects to your facial skin.
• Have regular facials to keep your skin clean and healthy.

If large pores or acne are a constant complaint, visit a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon for information about procedures such as microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, alpha and beta acid treatments, laser skin tightening and medication to solve your problem.

References:

1. http://www.uhs.umich.edu/acne