How to Minimise Enlarged Pores and Blackheads

When the skin produces too much oil, it mixes with the dead skin in the pore, forming a clog that causes it to become enlarged. If the oil gets further trapped by the dead skin, it oxidises and forms a blackhead.

Fear not: Using the right  pore minimising products to treat your large pores consistently can help mitigate these issues. However, you need to first know exactly what works and what doesn't, as well as how enlarged pores and blackheads form.

What causes enlarged pores?

It all begins when your oil glands make too much oil. This excess oil mixes with other substances such as dead skin in the pore, causing it to become clogged. Not surprisingly, this clogged pore makes it difficult for the oil to flow freely, which causes the pore itself to enlarge.

Even though the pore enlarges to provide extra room for the oil to flow out, the oil can still be trapped within the pore, especially around the nose. Once this occurs, the oil and dead skin at the end of the clogged pore becomes exposed to air and oxidises, forming a blackhead. Yuck!

Board-Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Corey L. Hartman, emphasises that “oil production and pore size are largely genetically determined.” This means that although we can try our best to temporarily tighten the pores with impactful skincare ingredients, we can’t completely eliminate them! That’s a good thing, because pores play a necessary role in your skin’s overall health, so you wouldn’t want to have poreless skin anyway.

Enlarged pores dos and don'ts

. To reduce blackheads and enlarged pores, avoid skincare mistakes that make them worse and use the right products. Follow these guidelines for a smoother, clearer complexion. 

• Don’t use bar soap or other skincare products that clog pores. The ingredients that keep bar soap in its solid form are usually comedogenic, which is another way of saying they cause blackheads. You should also avoid products that are overly emollient (meaning thick or greasy creams) — especially if you have oily skin.

• Only use gentle, water-soluble cleansers and avoid products with drying, harsh ingredients. Surprisingly, these can make oiliness worse.

• Avoid harsh scrubs and cleansing brushes with stiff bristles. The longstanding myth that you can scrub away blackheads is false. The harshness just makes your skin dry and flaky, creating more dead skin that can clog pores.

• Never go to bed without washing off your makeup. Neglecting to thoroughly, but gently, remove all your makeup can make clogged pores worse.

• Exfoliate with a completely non-abrasive, leave-on salicylic acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid, or BHA) liquid treatment to shed built-up dead surface skin that would normally gather in the pore, stretching it out, and risk turning into a blackhead.

• One more point about BHA (beta hydroxy acid): Due to the fact that BHA can exfoliate inside the pore, it can help return the pore to its normal shape and allow for a more even flow of oil. It really is amazing how well this works.

• Use products loaded with niacinamide. Once a pore has stretched beyond its normal size, niacinamide can help provide a tightened look by boosting the skin’s healthy, natural quality. The research about how niacinamide benefits skin is impressive.

What else helps enlarged pores?

For particularly stubborn blackheads, consider the following additional measures to see if they can help you achieve even better results:

• Absorbing excess oil with a clay mask can temporarily help minimise the appearance of enlarged pores due to clay’s oil-absorbing properties. As always, look for a clay mask that does not contain added harsh ingredients). You can also try an oil-absorbing product meant to be worn under makeup.

• If stubborn blackheads won’t go away, consider extraction from a well-trained aesthetician. An aesthetician who knows what they are doing can extract blackheads without damaging your skin. You can also try it yourself with an extracting tool but follow instructions carefully.

• Microdermabrasion with a suction device is an excellent way to routinely unclog the pores and hydrate the skin in a gentle manner. There are several devices on the market that accomplish this goal and add to a solid skincare regimen that keep oil in balance and pores clean.

How long does it take to minimise large pores?

Minimising enlarged pores takes time—real results don’t happen overnight. While instant fixes are tempting, true improvement can take weeks. The key is to stay consistent and be patient with your skincare routine, and you’ll see the results!

How to minimise large pores for sensitive skin

Thankfully, the best way to minimise enlarged pores for sensitive skin is the same way you would treat enlarged pores otherwise: with a BHA exfoliant. When starting out with a BHA exfoliant, you might want to begin with a gentle, calming lotion formula designed for sensitive skin to see how your skin tolerates salicylic acid. If your skin responds well, you can gradually work your way up to a BHA exfoliant with a 2% concentration.

One of the additional benefits of BHA is that it also helps reduce the visible appearance of redness. As always, make certain your whole skincare routine is full of products for sensitive skin – whether you have a dry skin type or oily skin type –  for optimal results.

How to minimise large pores for ageing skin

Research has shown that the appearance of enlarged pores can increase as we age. As we get older, our pores don’t function as optimally as they did when we were younger. Part of this is because of the natural ageing process, and part is due to environmental factors like exposure to pollution and sun damage. If you’re seeing a noticeable increase in your pore size – including teardrop-shaped pores or orange peel skin – using a 20% niacinamide treatment can yield impressive results.

Learn more about blackhead removal.

Visit Paula’s Choice Singapore to get the right products for your enlarged pores and blackheads.

References for this information

The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, January 2022, 759-761

Skin Research & Technology, August 2018, pages 367-370

Dermatologic Surgery, March 2016, pages 277-285

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, August 2015, pages 85-93

Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, March 2008, pages 170-176

Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 31, Part 2, 2005, Discussion 865