What can I do about coarse or clogged pores?

Pores are essential for beautiful and healthy skin, but sometimes they can also cause problems. Coarse pores can be clearly visible on the skin or they can clog with sebum. We tell you everything you need to know about preventing or treating coarse pores in this blog! 

What are pores anyway? 

Through our pores, sebum (skin fat) is distributed across the skin. Without sebum, our skin would become dry and prone to skin conditions and infections. Normal sebum production flows over the skin, creating a beautiful barrier. When this process is not balanced, pores can begin to clog. This can be due to hormonal fluctuations or an accumulation of dead skin cells, for example; predisposition often plays a role as well. Clogged pores can cause the pore walls to stretch. Coarse facial pores are thus small openings in the skin and are often filled with sebum. This can be very distracting. 

What causes pores to be more visible? 

• Loss of elasticity and tension of the skin; 
• The size of hair follicles often also cause more coarse pores; 
• Genetic predisposition; 
• Acne;
• Sun damage; 
• Vitamin A deficiency; 
• Sebum production and pore size increase substantially during a woman’s ovulation phase and menstrual cycle. 

It is well known that skin aging and chronic sun damage causes disruption of the collagen and elastin framework, making the skin less resilient. Menopause also plays a major role in the skin aging process, causing the skin to sag and thus making pores more visible.

Which treatments are appropriate? 

Treatments for coarse pores on the face are usually aimed primarily at reducing sebum production, rejuvenating/strengthening the skin and refining its size. There are several treatment methods to refine pore structure. These include peelings, microneedling (RF) and laser therapy using the fractional laser. In many cases, we work with a combination of the treatment methods to achieve the best possible results. Depending on which skin area(s) are being treated, this can be categorized to create an appropriate treatment plan, also called the Confidence Booster GLOW treatment. Our skin therapists always discuss the options with you during a consultation.

What can you do yourself about coarse or clogged pores? 

Exfoliants & cleansing 

If you really suffer from clogged pores, you can reduce this by using products with salicylic acid/glycolic acid or a vitamin A acid/retinol. Salicylic acid can penetrate the skin fat and, unlike glycolic acid, also works in the pore. Fine products with salicylic acid include SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Cleanser and Dermaceutic’s Mask 15. By exfoliating and stimulating the skin to cell division and collagen and elastin production, you ensure that the connective tissue remains firm and the skin texture will start to refine. A great ingredient for this is vitamin A acid/retinol.

However, you should be careful with this ingredient during the summer period, because it makes the skin light-sensitive and can cause irritation in combination with bright sunlight. If you cannot avoid direct sunlight, it is better not to use it in the summer. In combination with a good antioxidant and sun protection, you can choose a product containing glycolic acid in the summer period, such as Dermaceutic’s Foamer 15. or SkinCeuticals‘ Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight. Glycolic acid also stimulates cell division and keeps the connective tissue layer firm. By using glycolic acid, you can safely make your skin more even, smooth and fresh. Moreover, superficial pigmentation spots are also reduced.

Counteracting skin aging 

Sagging skin can also cause pores to become larger, which is why it is important to protect the skin from external influences. This can be done by using a highly concentrated antioxidant every day in combination with sun protection. This is the golden duo to combat skin aging.

Would you like to be informed about the best treatment and/or skincare routine for your skin type? Then contact our clinic or visit us in Rotterdam, Nijmegen of Den Haag!