tips for protecting your good health

4 Ways To Diminish Large Pores

15 February 2019 by Sasha Meyer

Are you tired of looking in the mirror and seeing large pores? The pores may detract from your overall appearance. They may also become easily blocked, leading to blackheads and whiteheads. They also make it difficult to apply makeup without it looking blotchy and caked. Large pores are surely a pain, but you do not have to go on dealing with them forever. Here are four ways to diminish your large pores.

1. Get Cryotherapy Facials

Cryotherapy is all the rage in the health community lately. It involves immersing your body in a very cold chamber for a few minutes. The experience of spending time in the cold is said to decrease inflammation and increase cell rejuvenation. Full-body cryotherapy will help with large pores, but you don't have to immerse your whole body for the health benefits. You can simply choose to undergo a cryo facial.

Cryo facials rely on the same basic principles as full-body cryotherapy. A small tool is used to cool the surface of your skin to sub-zero temperatures for a minute or two. You'll feel a very cold, icy sensation as your dermatologist works, but you won't feel any pain. In the days that follow, you will notice that your pores have diminished, you have less dryness, and your skin is less inflamed. You can go back to your normal skincare and makeup routine immediately after treatment. Most people need cryo facials about once a month to keep up with the benefits.

2. Use a Toner With AHA

Look for a toner or astringent fluid that contains AHA, or alpha hydroxy acid. This ingredient helps remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, which keeps them from building up in (and enlarging) your pores. There are plenty of AHA toners on the market; you can find them at your local pharmacy. They may be marketed for people with acne or sensitive skin.

Toner is meant to be used after you wash your face. Apply a little to a cotton ball, and smooth it over your face, concentrating on the areas where your pores are the largest. If you plan to use a moisturizer, wait a couple of minutes after using the toner to do so. 

3. Use a Moisturizer With Retinol

Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is often recommended for patients with wrinkles. However, it also helps diminish pores because it boosts your skin's collagen production. If your skin is plump with more collagen, there will not be as much "space" for the pores to expand. Make sure your moisturizer contains retinol.

Note that retinol can be slightly irritating at first. You may have some itching and peeling during the first few days of use, but keep using the product -- these symptoms will diminish, and you'll start noticing the benefits.

4. Protect Your Skin From the Sun

Sun exposure does not just increase your risk of skin cancer. It also breaks down the collagen in your skin over time, which leaves your skin stretchier and more prone to expanded pores. If you are not already using sunscreen, get into the habit of using it now. Look for a sunscreen with SPF 15 or greater for your face; find a product made specifically for facial use. If you'll be out in the sun for hours at a time, use an SPF 30 or greater sunscreen. If you wear makeup regularly, you can find a foundation with SPF in it, which decreases the number of products you need to apply.

You don't have to go on living with large pores. Follow the steps above to diminish them.

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