Have you noticed that the pores on your face look bigger? But no matter what you do, you can't seem to make them go away?
If so, you're not alone. Pores getting bigger is a fairly common concern for most people. But you might want to be careful what you do to fix the problem because there are some things that can make pores bigger instead of smaller.
Here are seven important reasons why your pores might look huge.
What is a Pore?
First, it’s important to understand what a pore is. Pores are essentially small holes on the surface of your skin that connect to a hair follicle or sweat gland. They are found all over your body, but tend to be more prevalent on your face.
Pores enlarge for many reasons. Some of these reasons are caused by internal factors, such as hormonal changes, age and health, while others are caused by external factors such as improper cleansing and poor diet.
Pores that are enlarged due to internal factors typically enlarge slowly over time. These changes may include the way your face looks, as well as how hair and glands are affected.
Why Your Pores Might Look Huge?
There are a number of reasons why your pores might look bigger than they should. Below are the five most common causes:
1. Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes can affect your pores. Both men and women are susceptible to hormonal changes. During the late 30s and 40s, women tend to notice that the pores on their face start to enlarge.
Men suffer from hormonal changes, too. During their 30s and 80s, men tend to notice enlarged pores, especially on the nose and forehead as well as increased oily skin.
2. Age
As you grow older, your skin will look increasingly different. Many of your skin’s pores will start to enlarge and your skin will become drier and less plump.
Your skin is naturally more oily when you are young, but as you age, the natural oil production in your skin diminishes. This can make your skin look thin and wrinkled.
3. Sebum Production
Sebum is the oil found in your skin that helps your pores to stay moisturised. These oils are essential to the healthy function of your skin, but over time, age, disease and genetics can produce too much sebum.
This may result in larger pores, as the extra oil can clog the pores, especially if the pores are blocked by dead skin cells.
4. Genetics
It’s no secret that your genetics factor greatly into how your skin looks. Certain genes are responsible for producing more oil, while other genes produce more collagen.
There’s no way to change your genetics, but you can change how your skin looks by providing it with the proper care, nutrients and moisture.
5. Diet
Eating a poor diet can make your pores look bigger. Diets that are high in sugar and fat can cause blood sugar levels to increase and blood vessels to dilate. This can make your skin look red, dry and blotchy.
In addition, eating a poor diet can result in too much oil production and open pores that are larger than they should be.
6. Improper Cleansing
You have probably heard it time and time again – proper cleansing will help keep your pores clean and healthy. If you don’t properly clean your skin, dead skin cells can become trapped and clog your pores.
This results in larger, more noticeable pores.
7. Harsh Extractions
If you are prone to breakouts, you may do things to try to get rid of blackheads and pimples. You may use a pore extracting tool to try to remove blackheads and pimples, but this can also make your pores appear larger.
This is because your pores can become swollen and irritated and a blackhead or pimple can become irritated and inflamed.