Magazine ads may make you think that those gorgeous models have exquisitely perfect skin. They certainly don't show any pores! Thanks to the miracle of technology, photographs can be air brushed, retouched and create the artifice of flawless skin. The truth is that everyone has some issue with pore size, some just more than others. The closer you look in the mirror, the larger those pores are going to appear. If you have a habit of examining your skin in the magnifying side of your beauty mirror, perhaps it isn't really your best friend.

What purpose do the pores serve? Pores are the passageways for oil to be released onto the skin. Our body temperature is in part controlled by the release of sweat through the pores too. Pores always follow a hair follicle, so wherever there is hair, there will be a pore. They are barely visible on those prone to drier skin, but individuals with oily or thicker skin tend to have larger, more noticeable pores.

Why do you have enlarged pores? Genetics may certainly be to blame. A tendency to have glaborous skin (thicker, oilier skin with larger pores) is often a familial trait. Sun damage is another cause. As we age, one of the ways sun damage shows is through the enlargement of the pores.

The pores may be more visible simply due to lack of good skin grooming and poor exfoliation. Too much surface oil and remnant naturally shed skin cells clinging to the pores can create the illusion of the pores being larger than they really are. Blackheads also draw the eye to the pores, regardless of their true size. Enlarged pores are not the same as having blackheads, although the 2 can certainly be present simultaneously. Pores are a natural part of the skin; blackheads are the plugs that can occur through issues related to poor natural skin exfoliation. Contact with air causes a chemical reaction known as oxidation that in turn causes the part of the plug that is contacting the air to look black and makes them noticeable.

While no one can truly change the physical diameter of a pore, their appearance can certainly be minimized. Skin care is going to be your mainstay for minimizing the visibility of those large pores. These are the steps you need to take if you find yourself afflicted by large pores that you just haven't been able to fix:

• Remove excessive surface oils
• Use oil-free skin care products
• Unplug any blackheads
• Smooth out the edges
• Reduce sun damage

Remove The Oils

Too much oil causes the skin to look shiny, drawing attention to any imperfections including pore size. A good cleanser is the first step in ridding the skin of this unwanted oil and preventing the overgrowth of problem-causing bacteria. Cleansers should be thorough, but gentle.

If you have COMBINATION SKIN, I recommend cleansers that won't dry out the normal areas, such as DERMAdoctor Wrinkle Revenge Antioxidant Enhanced Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser 2 or B. Kamins Botanical Cleanser.

For truly OILY SKIN, you will need more oil-busting power. I recommend DERMAdoctor Wrinkle Revenge Antioxidant Enhanced Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser 3 followed by the application of MD Formulations Glycare Lotion.

You may need an oil absorber such as DERMAdoctor Tease Zone Oil Control Gel. This is a lightweight gel utilizing microscopic sponges that absorb oil once it is released onto the surface of the skin. Again, excessive shine draws attention to the pores. You are walking a fine line when reducing oiliness. Oils protect and lubricate our skin and create a more youthful glow. Too little oil may lead to dehydration and irritation of the skin. DERMAdoctor Tease Zone Oil Control Gel helps reduce the amount of oils without causing additional dehydration. You may layer this product with your acne products, skin rejuvenation products, etc. Just wait 10 minutes before applying on top of your other topical skin medications.

After you have reduced any unnecessary skin oils, don't put them back via your skin care products. Use oil-free, non-comedogenic items. If you need additional moisturizer, MD Formulations Moisture Defense Antioxidant Hydrating Gel or DermaNew Active Hydrator are perfect options. Using a topical vitamin A product that has left your skin stripped and vulnerable? Then B. Kamins Revitalizing Booster Concentrate is the answer. Sun screen is still an important daily step. DERMAdoctor Body Guard Exquisitely Light SPF 30 For Face & Body is the lightest we have come across so far.

Unplug The Pores & Exfoliate Their Edges

Vitamin A Derivatives

Anything from prescription Retin A and Renova to Tazorac, or non-prescription retinols such as Afirm, Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM or DERMAdoctor Poetry In Lotion intensive retinol 1.0 will work to help in various ways, exfoliating the edges of the pores, unplug the glands and help soften the appearance of pore size. It isn't all smoke and mirrors, this really does help the pore contract down, it just doesn't cut out the pore and replace it with a new smaller one. Whether it is an rx tretinoin or an OTC retinol, take them seriously. Use them sparingly ALONE every other night as directed to help cut down on potential irritation. Also, be aware that these should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing and that Vitamin A derivatives can increase your sun sensitivity.

Physical Exfoliation

Our skin is continually renewing itself. It's not a process we normally see. However, sometimes the dead skin cells don't shed properly. Dead skin cells accumulate along the edge of pores making them appear larger. Skin cells caught within the gland itself can lead to plugs and acne. By taking control and gently exfoliating these cells from the surface of the skin, pores appear smaller, your skin feels smoother, and is less likely to break out.

You can exfoliate through cleansing, microdermabrasion, or a combination of both. Whenever you exfoliate, remember to do it gently. Too much harsh scrubbing can break the glands below the skin's surface and may potentially flare acne.

If you do not have inflamed, red, acne or pustules, then the use of a microdermabrasion system 2-3 times per week will help remove skin cells clinging to the sides of the pores and smoothes out the texture of the skin. There are different microdermabrasion systems now available to fit into anyone's price limitations. DermaNew Total Body Experience Kit and Neutrogena Ageless Restoratives Total Skin Renewal Starter Kit are excellent, complete systems that help you skip those numerous trips to the doctor for microdermabrasion. Another helpful use for the DermaNew Total Body Experience Kit and the Neutrogena Ageless Restoratives Total Skin Renewal Starter Kit is helping loosen blackheads and keratotic plugs lodged within the glands that can lead to a worsening case of acne.

DERMAdoctor Physical Chemistry facial microdermabrasion + multiacid chemical peel is a fabulous single-step facial rejuvenating treatment to combine a multiacid resurfacing complex with microdermabrading polymer beads. Use 1-2 times weekly to help freshen your complexion and keep pores clean.

It is true that glycolic acid specifically and AHAs in general are technically chemical exfoliating agents. This makes them a good option to keep available for helping minimize pore size. Applying MD Formulations used at least once daily, will benefit the skin immensely. These products can also help reduce the surface oils and the AHAs can act as skin rejuvenation at the same time, a good thing to remember if you are developing wrinkles while still prone to oily skin!

Keep It Simple & Effective

Not certain how to combine a multitude of steps or want an all-in-one product? Try DERMAdoctor Ain't Misbehavin' Intensive Medicated Blackhead Treatment, a treatment serum, which contains everything you need to chemically unplug and exfoliate the pore, address blackheads, and finally draw it closed. DERMAdoctor Ain't Misbehavin' Intensive Medicated Blackhead Treatment nicely demonstrates that by combining medical science with product development DERMAdoctor can create new innovative and highly effective targeted skincare solutions. Apply once or twice daily as needed to keep skin looking flawless.

Wear Oil Free Light Cosmetics

After removing the oils, unplugging the pores and buffing your skin to perfection, don't slather on a thick foundation! Be sure to use oil-free (for combination skin types) or oil-absorbing (for oily or problem-prone skin types) foundations and powders. I like T. LeClerc & EI Solutions.

Unfortunately as there is nothing we can do about the size of our pores, it is a matter of making the most out of what you have. Just as wearing black on the bottom hides the hips, selecting the proper skin care techniques can help your complexion looking great.

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I hope you have found it informative.

Audrey Kunin, M.D.

(Any topic discussed in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, please check with your doctor.)

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