One of the most common skincare concerns are clogged pores. If you see that your skin is rough and bumpy, then you should know that you have clogged pores. For most of us, diminishing the size of our pores is top priority in the pursuit of a flawless and blemish – free complexion. Clogged pores are also more easily clogged, which is compromising the overall clarity of our skin. The clogged pores look like little bumps across the skin’s surface. When the skin is healthy and it is functioning at its best, then the pores appear refined and less noticeable, which leaves us feeling confident and glowing in our skin.
You should know that this condition is a result of dead skin cells getting trapped in your skin, instead of being shed into the environment. We know that pores are tiny openings in the skin that release sweat and oil. When the skin pores are clogged, then this could result in acne, whiteheads and blackheads. You can know if your pores are clogged if you notice blackheads, whiteheads or an overall dullness to your skin’s complexion. If you have used over – the – counter skincare treatments and if they are not working for your condition, then you should talk with your doctor as soon as possible.
The dermatologist will access your skin type and he or she will recommend products that are good just for your skin. Also, your dermatologist can offer prescription medications, both oral and topical, for unclogging pores and reducing breakouts. It is very important to follow a daily skincare regimen, so in this way you can prevent your pores from getting clogged. You should always look for a face wash in which is mentioned that it will not clog pores or it is noncomedogenic. You need to remove the makeup at the end of the day, so this can decrease your chances of getting your pores clogged.
It is very important to exfoliate your skin regularly and avoid touching your face if you already have clogged pores, because you can worsen the symptoms of it. There are many different treatments for clogged pores, from daily washes to topical prescription medication. You should work with your dermatologist to determine a skincare regimen which will work best for you. You should always talk with your doctor before you are trying a new facial treatment or at – home solution for unclogging pores. Also, there are many recommendations which you can find online, but they can dry out or damage your skin, so it is very important to talk with your dermatologist to determine what is safe for your skin.
Clogged pores symptoms
The most common symptoms of clogged pores include:
- Skin congestion
- Blackheads
- Skin texture
- Uneven texture
- Comedones
If you have some of the mentioned symptoms, then you should talk with your doctor as soon as possible, so he or she can give you the right treatment. Your doctor will see the type of your skin, so the right medication will be given to you. You should not try every skin care product which you have seen, because every skin is not responding same to some product.
Clogged pores causes
You should know that our skin, and therefore pore size, is often genetically pre – determined. In general, people who have oily skin have larger pores, and people who have dry skin have smaller pores. But, the size of pores can vary over the face according to oil production, which explains why pores are often larger and more noticeable towards the centre t – zone section of the face. As the dead and oil skin cells build up, the follicles stretch and pores become clogged. [1,2]
Also, there are other elements which can contribute to the pore size, including age and lifestyle factors, such as smoking [3] and sun exposure [4]. As we are getting older, the rate of skin cell renewal and natural exfoliation slows, which makes it easier for pores to grow larger and become congested. The loss of collagen also results in a loss of tone and firmness, which can make pores to appear larger.
Also, environmental factors could lead to clogged pores and these factors include:
- Sweat
- Toxins in the air [1]
- Oil from your hands transferred when you are touching your face
- Noncomedogenic makeup [5]
References:
[1] Bataille V, Snieder H, MacGregor AJ, et al. The influence of genetics and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of acne: a twin study of acne in women. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2002;119(6):1317-22. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.19621.x.
[2] Arbuckle R, Atkinson MJ, Clark M, et al. Patient experiences with oily skin: The qualitative development of content for two new patient reported outcome questionnaires. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2008;6:80. doi:10.1186/1477-7525-6-80
[3] Yazdanparast T, Hassanzadeh H, Nasrollahi SA, et al. Cigarettes smoking and skin: A comparison study of the biophysical properties of skin in smokers and non-smokers. Tanaffos. 2019;18(2):163–8.
[4] Flament F, Francois G, Qiu H, et al. Facial skin pores: a multiethnic study. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2015;8:85–93. doi:10.2147/CCID.S74401
[5] Fulton JE, Pay SR, Fulton JE. Comedogenicity of current therapeutic products, cosmetics, and ingredients in the rabbit ear. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 1984;10(1):96-105. doi:10.1016/s0190-9622(84)80050-x
