If you’re concerned about the appearance of pores on your face, you’re not alone. There are millions of you struggling with this common skin concern.
The good news is that you’ll be discovering a few things you can do to help improve the appearance of your skin.
What Are Pores On the Face?
Pores are tiny openings in your skin that let out oil and sweat from your glands. Pores are mostly found on the face, nose, and chest.
While Pores play a key role in regulating the skin by keeping it healthy, they can become an issue when they become clogged with dirt, oil, and dead skin cells which can in turn resort to blackheads, Whiteheads, and acne.
Remedies You Can Try
1 . Exfoliation can help treat pores
Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells and other remains that can clog pores. Try to exfoliate your skin at least three times a week with a gentle scrub. It’s advisable to use scrubs that contain small, round beads or particles, this is because they are less harsh on the skin which makes it less likely to irritate your skin (Especially if you have sensitive skin).
2 . Pore-minimizing serum can help with pore reduction.
Pore-minimizing serum or cream can help you temporarily tighten pores and give your skin a more even appearance.
On your hunt to purchase these products, make sure to look out for ingredients such as Niacinamide, Vitamin C, or Retinol. These ingredients can help you improve the appearance of pores on your face as time goes by.
(Some people have complained about certain ingredients like Retinol and Salicylic acid irritating their skin. So make sure to talk to your health care provider before using products that contain retinol or salicylic acid)
3 . Apply non-comedogenic face products to the enlarged pores
Non-Comodogenic products are products that won’t clog your pores. To help with the reduction of pores on your face. Make sure your cleansers, cosmetics, and moisturizers have non-comedogenic or oil-free written on the label.
4 . Cleanse and moisturize your skin can help with large pores
Regular cleansing and moisturizing your face can be of great help. Make sure you gently wash your face twice a day with a non-comedogenic cleanser and warm water, make sure the water is not hot.
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When you are cleansing, make sure you’re not using a harsh but gentle cleanser to avoid complications. Cleansers with ingredients like glycerin it hyaluronic acid are good because they can help hydrate and plump your skin.
5 . Tightening mask with egg whites
You can try out this DIY treatment you could take on. Whisk together two egg whites and apply to your face. Leave it on for ten minutes to fifteen minutes, then rinse it off with some warm water.
6 . Homemade baking soda face scrub
This is also another DIY treatment you can try. All you need to do is to mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup of water apply on your face and massage in a circular motion for about a minute to two. Then finally rinse with warm water.
Large Pores On Face
The problem is that large pores can make us susceptible to clogging and/or oil and bacteria buildup. Large pores are pores that are more discernible to the naked eye.
A lot of things can lead to you having enlarged pores. Some of them are
- Skin products
- Age
- Sun Damage
- Sebum
- Hair Follicles
Even the food we eat can also lead to enlarged pores.
Food That Causes Large Pores
Excessive Sebum is one of the main causes of enlarged pores. This happens when a person’s sebaceous gland produces a lot of oil which leads to oily skin so imagine when a person with oily skin consumes food high in oil or oily food regularly the outcome will not be pretty.
The thing is that what we eat can either make or break our skin. The smaller your pores are, the clearer your skin appears, and the larger your pores well the less good-looking it’d be.
If you’re just entering puberty you’re prone to experiencing these things, so being intentional with your diet can favor your skin.
Let’s look at foods that cause pores and you should avoid eating them.
1 . Refined Carbohydrates
The thing about refined carbs is that they lose important nutrients and fiber when they are processed. According to the American Diabetes Association, these foods trigger insulin spikes.
These types of foods have an impact on your blood sugar and can lead to an increased production of oil in your skin.
You want to keep your blood sugar levels more stable, which will also lead to steadier energy levels.
Forms of Refined carbohydrates
- White Rice
- Puffed Wheat
- White Pasta
- Bagels
- Sweetened Breakfast Cereals
- Cornflakes, bran flakes, puffed rice
- Instant cereals (oatmeal, grit)
- Snacks (pretzels, rice cakes, doughnuts, popcorn, corn chips
- Certain fruits and veggies (pineapples, pumpkins, melons, potatoes)
2 . Dairy Products
High consumption of Milk and other dairy products such as yogurt, butter, ice cream, cheese, cream sauce etc can harm your skin pores. They can lead to increased production of oil and even blocked pores and what do blocked pores lead to? Enlarged pores!
3 . Salt
When you reduce your salt intake, you improve your health overall.
In fact, excessive intake of salty foods can take your body to dehydration mode and can lead to swollen skin which can be closely linked to both pore clogging and acne formation.
4 . Fried foods
A person with oily skin should steer clear of fried foods that contain too many unhealthy fats. What usually happens in most cases is that these foods are usually prepared with low-quality oils that are highly processed.
These type of foods usually gives the production of insulin hormones a boost in our body, which ends up aggravating the condition of pore-clogging to a large extent.
5 . Sugar
Almost everyone If not EVERYONE loves sugar. But it is bad for your skin down to your overall health.
And, you should know that Sugar is the number one culprit for DIABETES. So, as sweet as it is, its effect on our body isn’t so sweet (if only it didn’t do more harm than good!)
The thing is sugar responds by producing more insulin which encourages the glands to produce more oil and ends up heightening the risk of developing acne and larger pores. You must reduce your consumption of refined sugar and consume natural sugars in moderation.
Finally, you should look out for processed foods that claim to be low in sugar as most of the time these products are compensated with sodium/salt or fat.
6 . Shellfish
Shellfishes such as shrimps, lobsters, crabs, etc are quite high in iodine, and when taken in high quantity can lead to skin irritation and clogging. You should avoid eating these foods to reduce the intake of this mineral (iodine) to prevent such things from happening to your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Eat To Reduce Pores On My Face Naturally?
. Eating healthy food can help our skin look better. They are skin-friendly foods you can try to help with pores on your face.
1 . Proteins may reduce pores on the face
Foods rich in protein can help you reduce pores. Foods such as Fish, eggs, dry beans, and legumes are great substitutes in your diet. When you eat more protein you will see your skin improve.
2 . Healthy fats may reduce pores on your face
The funny thing is fat doesn’t have to be eliminated from your diet, you just need to know which fat to embrace and which to avoid. There are healthy fats you can consume that can help with large pores such as (omega -3 fatty acids) found in avocado, fish(salmon mackerel, and sardines), fish oil, cod liver oil, and nuts (almond and walnuts).
3 . Low-glycemic index foods may treat pores
Low-glycemic index foods are foods usually made of complex carbohydrates.
Some form of Whole Grains
- Whole Oats
- Whole wheat Bread
- Brown Rice
- Bulgar
They are gluten-free and low-sugar which can help you not only reach your daily nutrient goal but also help curb enlarged pores.
4 . Cucumber And Lemon
These fruit and vegetables can help you reduce large pores. Due to cucumber’s high silica content, it can help you achieve that youthful look and also tighten the large pores. Lemon also has it’s benefit of helping reduce the appearance of the pores with its astringent feature. You can make a concoction for your face by mixing two tablespoons of cucumber juice and one tablespoon of lemon, mix them, apply them to your face (preferably with a cotton ball), and wash your face with cold water.
6 . Sunflower Seeds.
Sunflower seeds contain lots of vitamin E which can help healthily hydrate your skin and keep your pores from getting blocked with soluble oils. Also, you can benefit from vitamin E because of its ability to prevent sebum oxidation by keeping your pores clean and less clogged.
Happy to tell you that you can enjoy sunflower seeds in your meals just sprinkle them on top of your place of cereals, salads, and toast to add some flavor and crunchiness (yum!)
Message from medspurs
Taking care of your skin should be prioritized. Food contributes to our skin in many ways, which is why it is best to always eat the right food. Another key point you should note is that foods low in sugar and fat help us maintain healthy skin (no pores), a healthy weight, and a healthy body in general. However, if your skin does not seem to improve you should visit a dermatologist for further steps and solutions.