Open pores speckled across our nose and cheeks are one of beauty’s most persistent grievances.
Unsurprisingly, “how to get rid of pores naturally” has over 155 million views on TikTok. Most of us are also guilty of zooming in on any craters with a magnifying mirror or trying to mask them with primer to create the type of smooth-looking canvas that would make a dolphin jealous.
But the truth of the matter is, you can’t get rid of pores. Nor should you feel you need to do so. Pores play an important function in helping our skin release sebum – the body’s natural oil – to leave it naturally supple and moisturised.
Contrary to popular belief, “pores don’t open and close like doors,” says celebrity facialist Sarah Chapman. They’re simply openings in our skin and, crucially, they don’t have muscles attached to them so they can’t pull and contract.
However, pores can sometimes appear bigger than normal. They stretch when they become clogged and from a loss of collagen and elastin as a result of ageing or sun damage.
There is also some merit to applying hot water or steam to relax the pore in order to remove dirt, sebum or makeup more easily. And cold water to make them appear less pronounced.
Of course, our skin is beautiful – pores and all – but if they’re knocking your confidence, we’ve got some expert advice lined up that should help.
What are visible pores?
They may appear to be tiny dots on the surface of our skin, but pores are actually the small openings to our hair follicles.
“There are two different types of pore,” says Dr Nina Bal, facial aesthetics doctor and founder of FacialSculpting. “One releases sebum (the body’s natural oil) and the other releases sweat. Pores enable the oil, sweat and sebum to go from our glands to the surface of our skin, which is essential for healthy skin.”
Are pores permanent?
While it might not be the answer you want, yes pores are permanent. “Because they are hair follicle openings in the skin you can’t remove them and you can’t ‘close’ them as they are necessary components of the skin,” says Dr Paris Acharya, aesthetics doctor at Waterhouse Young.
How many pores is normal?
The average adult will have around five million pores on their body and 20,000 on their face. But, “generally we can’t see pores in the skin,” says Dr Nina. It’s only when enlarged that they become visible.
What causes large, visible pores?
1.Genetics