Help! My pores are getting larger as I age
Have you ever noticed that as you age, your pores seem to be getting larger? The truth is, your pores aren’t technically getting bigger, but they can appear more prominent for two specific reasons.
Why do pores appear larger with age?
1. Gravity loss and weakening of the elastin fibers play a significant role in the appearance of enlarged pores. In your youth, when your skin is firm and elastic, large pores are not as noticeable because the skin is tight. However, as you age, the skin loses its firmness and elasticity, causing the pores to look larger as they indent further into the skin.
2. Collagen loss is another factor that contributes to the appearance of enlarged pores. As you age, the skin's natural cushion provided by collagen starts to diminish, especially if you had excessive sun exposure in your younger years. This loss of collagen causes the pores to sink deeper into the skin, making them appear more enlarged.
What can you do about it?
While age-related changes in the skin can make pores look larger, there are ways to minimise their appearance.
Exfoliate
Simply one use of a gentle facial scrub or leaving on a gentle acid exfoliator like Clarify Tonic on the skin overnight will give instant improvement since they remove surface dry cells that build up around the pore opening. A good analogy for explaining how exfoliation works as it relates to large pores is this. If you were to take a piece of wood and hit it with a hammer, you would make an indentation in the wood. To smooth out this dent, rubbing with sandpaper would make it less noticeable, right? The same rules apply to the skin. Large pores (along with lines, wrinkles, indented acne scars and chicken pox scars) are all considered to be indentations into the face. By “sanding” down the skin with exfoliators, you’re reducing the distance between the top dry layers of dead skin and the opening of the pore. The end result is the pores appear less deep and therefore, less noticeable. With regular, consistent exfoliation, the pores will remain looking smaller.
Depending on your skin type, these exfoliating products will make pores look smaller.
(As well as offer many other skin benefits like clearing clogged pores, lifting discolouration and more.)
A long-term approach for shrinking pores (and the most effective one) is to use a product with retinol.
Consistent use of these types of products (containing vitamin A) will dramatically change the appearance of the skin’s surface and make pores look smaller and less noticeable. It is truly the most scientifically proven ingredient to re-texture the skin to reveal smoother skin with less visible pores, as well as lines and wrinkles.
My very favourite product for getting large pores to look smaller is A-New Serum with pure retinol. Seriously. Start using a product with retinol now and you can learn more about it in my beginner’s guide to using retinoids and retinol.
Remember, it's essential to protect your skin from sun damage and maintain a healthy lifestyle to support your skin's natural elasticity and collagen production.
