When the skin produces too much sebum, it mixes with dead skin cells in the pore and forms a blockage that causes the pore to expand. If the sebum is trapped by dead skin cells, it oxidizes and forms a blackhead.
Consistently using products that reduce the appearance of pores can help mitigate these problems, but first, you should know what works and what doesn’t, as well as how enlarged pores and blackheads form.
What causes enlarged pores?
- The sebaceous glands produce too much sebum.
- This sebum mixes with other substances (such as dead skin cells) inside the pores.
- The pore is now clogged and this makes it difficult for sebum to flow freely.
- The pore is now dilated.
Even though the pore expands to allow space for sebum to drain, it can still get trapped inside the pore (especially around the nose) due to dead skin cells. When this happens, and both sebum and dead skin cells are deposited in the uppermost part of the pore, they come into contact with air and oxidize, forming a blackhead.
How to get rid of enlarged pores
- Don’t use bar soap or other skincare products that clog your pores. The ingredients that keep bar soaps in their solid form are usually comedogenic (another way of saying they cause blackheads). You should also avoid overly emollient products (i.e., thick or very rich creams), especially if you have oily skin.
- Use only gentle, water-soluble facial cleansers and avoid products with drying or harsh ingredients. Surprisingly, these products can increase sebum production.
- Never go to bed without carefully and delicately removing your make-up.
- Avoid abrasive scrubs, sponges, and brushes with stiff bristles. The myth that you can “scrub off” blackheads is false. Excessive scrubbing can make your skin dry and flaky , which creates more dead skin cells that can clog your pores.
- Exfoliate your skin using a leave-on, non-abrasive product with salicylic acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA ), which helps slough off layers of dead skin that build up in pores, which enlarge them and increase the risk of blackheads.
The best skincare routine for large pores
If you have particularly stubborn blackheads, add a clay mask to your routine to see if it can help you get even better results:
- Using a clay mask can help temporarily minimize the appearance of large pores, thanks to its oil-absorbing properties. As always, look for a clay mask that doesn’t contain harsh ingredients. You can also try an oil-absorbing product that you can apply before makeup.