Pores play a vital role in skin physiology. After all, without them we'd have nowhere for hair to grow out of and no method for skin oils to reach the surface, protecting skin from environmental dehydration.

Technically speaking, the pore is little more than the opening of the hair follicle onto the surface of the skin. The source of the hair follicle lies deep within the dermis. Midway up the dermal layer, the sebaceous oil gland empties into the hair follicle. Both skin oil (sebum) and the hair breach the surface through this tiny aperture. Wherever there is a hair, there will be a pore.

Why do pores appear larger than life? Anything that attracts attention or expands their natural architecture magnifies their appearance. Dead skin cells, cosmetic residue, poor exfoliation, environmental debris all physically choke a pore open, much like stretching wide a rubber band. At the same time, maturing skin faces two challenges which increase pore size. Sun damage leads to a thicker epidermis, allowing more cells to cling to the rim, exaggerating pore visibility. Dermal collagen fibers help squeeze pores closed, but with a loss of collagen due to aging, pores easily stretch wide.

In Search of Porefection

An inordinate amount of time seems to be devoted to facials and extractions. Certainly, well performed "physical" exfoliation can indeed cleanse cellular matter caught beneath the surface. If facials and extractions are poorly executed though, glands can be ruptured and cause sudden acne flare-ups. What these treatments don't do however is tackle those other contributing causes of large-looking pores. Chemical based treatments can often succeed in solving multiple issues. Sometimes a strategic combination produces the best results. Targeting the key factors that cause exaggerated pore diameter quickly minimize visibility.

Unplugging debris
Eliminating bacteria
Reducing excessive oiliness
Removing blackheads
Smooth out the edges
Reduce sun damage
Draw the pores closed

Pore Performers

So, you know what needs to be done, but how can accomplish the goal of perfectly small pores? These are the how's and why's of pore minimizing performers:

Picture Porefect

DERMAdoctor Picture Porefect Pore Minimizer provides two benefits with both immediate and long-term improvement of enlarged pores.

First, it contains aluminum zirconium tetra chlorohydrex glycine, an active astringent agent that draws pores closed 29% on average within 15 minutes. Next, it chemically cleanses pore-plugging debris, allowing pores to shrink down 39% on average within 6 weeks. Envision the stretched rubber band snapping back to its normal size. Essentially, it's everything in a single product to keep your regimen simple and highly effective. It is an ideal primer as it is a solution rather than a product merely masking pore visibility. Apply twice a day to keep skin looking radiant and flawless.

Film Noir

Pores are a natural part of the skin; blackheads are the superficial plugs that may form within them. Pore dilatation begins with faulty exfoliation of cells lining the interior gland - cells are too "sticky," leading to microscopic plugs.

Sebaceous glands continue to produce sebum that accumulates behind the plug. Protracted pooling of skin oils serves to nourish bacteria (like P. acnes and S. epidermidis).

Blackheads and enlarged pores often go hand-in-hand. Blackheads can either expand pores or simply focus attention on them. Ain't Misbehavin' Intensive 10% Sulfur Acne Mask & Emergency Spot Treatment effectively treats and prevents the formation of blackheads.

Dead skin cells, oils and bacteria choke the follicular opening, expanding the diameter of the pore. Blackheads, medically termed "open comedones" - are an all too common outcome. Plugs within the pores composed of sebum, cellular debris and bacteria congest the gland and expand the pore. Contact with air allows oxygenation to take place, turning the plugs black, further heightening visibility.

Physical Exfoliation

Physical exfoliation has its place in minimizing pore appearance and loosening blackheads. It is not necessary to be overly aggressive in the use of a scrub. DERMAdoctor Physical Chemistry Facial Microdermabrasion & Multiacid Chemical Peel is gentle to the skin yet tough on pore-plugging debris.

Audrey Kunin, M.D.

This content is sponsored by DERMAdoctor. The author receives compensation for its creation. All content is the legal copyright of DERMAdoctor, Inc, and it may not be used, reprinted, or published without written consent. The information provided is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, legal or other professional advice.