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How do I Shrink Large Pores?

By Felicia Dye
Updated May 17, 2024
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If you have large pores and they are a source of distress, you may be disappointed to know that you cannot permanently shrink your pores. What you can do is change the appearance of your skin. You can do this by properly cleansing the skin, applying natural remedies, and using sun block.

You have probably heard the word “elasticity” used in connection with skin. When you think of elastic you probably think of something that can expand and return to its original shape. Unfortunately, this is not the case with your pores. Once they are stretched, the damage cannot be completely reversed, but there are ways that you can have a positive impact on your appearance.

Thoroughly and effectively cleaning your skin is a good place to start when your large pores seem to be demanding too much attention. Two common causes of this problem are oil and pimples. When these things build up in the skin, they stretch the pores. If you have blackheads or whiteheads, you should remove them and then follow up with a quality cleansing system that prevents future pimples. If you have oily skin, you should use products designed to address it so you can reduce the amount of oil stored in your skin.

There are some natural remedies to try for those who are struggling with large pores. Applying lemon juice to your facial sponge when you are cleansing your face is one example. Lemon juice will not only purify your skin, it will also help maintain its firmness. Mixing jojoba oil, aloe, and either sage or thyme and applying it to your skin with your moisturizer is another method that can help reduce the appearance of your pores.

Exfoliation and microdermabrasion are recommended for people with various skin concerns. These skincare techniques are especially recommended for people with large pores. One of the most important tasks that you have is to keep your skin clear of debris. Both exfoliation and microdermabrasion are designed to scrub the surface of the skin leaving it cleaner, smoother, and more revitalized.

Since you already have large pores that are bothering you, you certainly should do everything in your power to prevent getting more. Preventing large pores is another reason to wear sun block and to do so faithfully. The sun can be responsible for pore dilation, meaning that when you expose your unprotected face to solar rays, you run the risk of making your problem worse.

You can also apply your makeup in a way that minimizes the appearance of large pores. One trick for doing this is to use a primer. This prevents foundation from seeping into your pores, thereby providing a smoother surface upon which you will apply your foundation. It can also drastically affect the outcome if you finish with translucent dusting powder.

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Discussion Comments

By mobilian33 — On Oct 12, 2014

Like the article says, putting lemon juice on your face is a good way to tackle a lot of the skin conditions that most people get at one time or another. Lemon juice is used to face acne scars, tighten pores and remove some of the oils that lead to breakouts.

You can also make a paste out of baking soda. I know plenty of people who have done this, and they say that this treatment works well for them. Ice cubes are another treatment for large pores. Maybe these remedies don't have a long lasting effect, but they can help in the short term.

By Animandel — On Oct 12, 2014

It's a shame that acne usually develops during a time when we are most self conscious about the way we look and the way other people see us. When you are a teenager a little pimple can seem like the end of the world. I can remember seeing other girls in the bathroom layering on makeup to conceal those little new bumps that seemed to always pop up at the most inconvenient times.

Even worse, some girls with bad cases of acne would try to hide the bumps and blemishes with makeup. While in some cases this actually worked to hide the acne, they had no idea just how much worse they were making the condition.

The makeup would cover their pores and then bacteria would get into their skin and the acne was made much worse. In the long run this lead to acne scars and skin with large pores.

By Sporkasia — On Oct 11, 2014

I have a friend who had really bad acne when she was a teenager and then into her early and mid 20s. The acne finally cleared up, but she had large pores from acne outbreaks over the years. She has tried all types of home remedies and even some things that she saw on late night TV infomercials.

If you have been dealing with large pores and are concerned with them then the first sentence of this article is not something you want to read. Personally, I don't give large pores on the face a second thought, but I guess that might be more difficult when you are the one with the large pores.

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