Skincare Advice

The Science of Pore Causes and Treatments

Dec 21, 2017

Learn About the Causes and Treatments of Enlarged and Clogged Pores

Clogged and enlarged pores can be stubborn skin concerns to address. A daily skin care routine will keep your skin clean and hydrated. But we should also understand how pore-problems form in the first place. That’s why we’ve put together this list of causes and treatments to help you get on the right track to fresher, gorgeous-looking skin.

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Understand the Science: Pore Types

Ever wondered what causes facial pores? Learn about the two major types of pores and their causes below.  

1. Clogged Pores

Clogged pores are caused by an excess of sebum secretion triggered by a hormone imbalance, or impurities brought on by inadequate skin care.
 
Male hormones have the unfortunate added effect of boosting sebum secretion and thickening the stratum corneum. Puberty is a widely known trigger. Stress and lack of sleep are also sources of increased male hormone secretion. As sebum production increases, the openings of pores narrow, which hinders the smooth discharge of sebum and leads to noticeable pores.

2. Enlarged or Elongated Pores

Large or deformed pores are caused by skin sagging that occurs with age.
 
Sadly, gravity and time are inescapable. Our skin loses firmness over time due to the degeneration in the dermis caused by age or photo-aging. Pores eventually succumb by opening up and giving in to the pull of gravity, making them vertically elongated and more apparent.  

Age-related Pore Concerns

Conspicuous pores take on many different forms throughout the stages of life. Blackheads and clogged pores are common throughout the teenage years and twenties. Pore deformation brought on by skin sagging develops between our forties and sixties. For everything in between — the twenties to forties — we have to worry about sebum buildup and pore openings that began in the younger years. Many people in their thirties complain about the problems usually associated with the younger and older generations. That’s right — excess sebum and sagging can happen simultaneously.

Purify Your Pores and Reduce Their Appearance

Pore Clogging Caused by Excess Sebum Secretion Tips

1. Wash your face gently and thoroughly using the Kanebo double cleansing method.

2. Limit your intake of sugars and fats, which serve as the raw materials for sebum, in order to reduce sebum production.

3. Get better sleep and de-stress to curb excess secretion of male hormones.

Pore Opening or Deformation Caused by Skin Sagging Tips

Illustration of lines drawn on a woman’s face indicating the motions described in the correlating point.

Take steps to combat the weakening of the skin
 
1. Promote blood flow with massages and baths to replenish nutrients.
 
2. Limit your intake of sugars and fats, which serve as the raw materials for sebum, in order to reduce sebum production.
 
3. Get better sleep and de-stress to curb excess secretion of male hormones.

Treatment Tip for Clogged Pores and Pore Opening

Wash your face everyday to ensure successful sebum removal, keep your skin hydrated and clean, and reconsider your living habits to curb sebum secretion. Follow these steps to significantly diminish pore visibility.

Case Studies: Skin Types and Features

1. Beautiful Skin

The perfect example – healthy, textured skin without conspicuous pores. Pore cavities are shallow without visible surplus sebum buildup. In the cross-section, notice the size of the sebaceous glands and healthy levels of sebum secretion. Pore blockage and sebum buildup in the hair follicles are imperceptible.

A close-up of skin on the left and a scientific illustration on the right shows the components of healthy layers of skin.

2. Clogged Pores

Abundant sebum and conspicuous pores afflict this case. Take note of the cross-section – the sebaceous glands are swollen, sebum secretion is overly active, with noticeable pore blockage and sebum buildup in the hair follicles. As a result, the skin’s surface is shiny and oily with visible blackheads and clogged pores.

A close-up of skin on the left and a scientific illustration on the right shows clogged pores.

3. Open Pores with Skin lacking tone

Skin that lacks tone and firmness is a condition that increases with age, picking up around the thirties and forties. Although the skin is not shiny or oily, with no discernible pore blockage or sebum buildup in the hair follicles, the skin is no longer taut. As a result, pores have opened up and become more noticeable. The cross-sections tell us that the sebaceous glands are small and sebum secretion appears to be less active.

A close-up of skin on the left and a scientific illustration on the right shows open pores on the outer skin layer.

4. Open Pores with Sagging Skin

Gravity has taken hold. This skin condition affects those in the forties and beyond. Sagging skin as a result of aging causes the pores to become more and more conspicuous with time. Pores change in shape as we get older, beginning circular and eventually elongating. Degeneration of dermal collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid causes the skin to lose elasticity. Biological aging and the accumulation of UV skin damage is the main culprit here - all lead to the degeneration of the dermis.

A close-up of skin on the left and a scientific illustration on the right shows sagging skin and open pores.

As you can tell, the causes of pore visibility vary widely according to age and skin care routines. Everyone’s skin is different. As a result, we need to tailor our daily skin care habits to our particular skin concerns.

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