How to minimize the look of pores

Key takeaways

• Pores are the openings that let oil and sweat reach the surface of your skin. Their size is mostly down to genetics.

• You can’t permanently shrink pores, but you can make them look smaller by keeping them clear and protecting the skin around them.

• Oil, clogging, sun damage and the natural loss of firmness with age all make pores look larger.

• The habits that help most are cleansing twice a day, using non-comedogenic products, adding a retinoid or salicylic acid, and wearing sunscreen every day.

• Picking and squeezing make pores look worse, even when it’s tempting. For bigger changes, dermatologists offer treatments like lasers and microneedling.

Why pores look bigger on some people

Pores are tiny openings in your skin. According to Cleveland Clinic, they “allow sweat and sebum (oil) to exit from glands onto the surface of your skin.” Most of those oil glands connect to hair follicles, and you have them almost everywhere except your palms and the soles of your feet.

How big they look comes down to a handful of things, and you can’t control all of them:

• Genetics sets the baseline. Cleveland Clinic says that if your parents have large pores, “chances are, you will, too.”

• Oil makes them stand out. Pores tend to look biggest in the center of your face, like the nose, forehead and chin, where there are more oil glands, and one study of 60 people found that the amount of oil skin produced was the factor most closely linked to pore size.

• Clogging stretches them, and that’s the part you’ve got the most say over. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains that when pores clog, they expand, which makes them more noticeable.

• Firmness fades with age and sun. Collagen and elastin support the skin around each pore. We lose both as we get older, and UV exposure breaks them down faster, so the skin loosens and pores look wider.

• Hormones play a part. Pores often become more visible during puberty, and some women notice them change during their menstrual cycle.

Can you shrink pores?

Not permanently. Because pore size is mostly genetic, Cleveland Clinic says “you can’t permanently shrink them.” What you can change is how visible they are. Clear pores sit flatter and look smaller, and firm skin around them keeps them from stretching.

It helps to know what you’re looking at, too. The grey or yellowish dots on many people’s noses usually aren’t blackheads. They’re sebaceous filaments, thin linings that carry oil up to the surface. Everyone has them, and they can be made smaller but not removed. Blackheads are different: they’re a type of acne, where a plug of oil sits at the surface and turns dark as it reacts with oxygen.

How to minimize the look of pores

These steps come from AAD and Cleveland Clinic advice. None of them works overnight.

1. Wash your face twice a day

The AAD says cleansing twice daily “can unclog pores, prevent clogged pores, and reduce oiliness.” Wash again after heavy sweating. Use warm water rather than hot, because hot water can irritate skin and make pores look larger.

2. Switch to non-comedogenic products

Look for “non-comedogenic,” “oil-free” or “won’t clog pores” on your moisturizer, sunscreen and makeup labels. The AAD’s advice is blunt: if you don’t see one of those terms, don’t use the product.

3. Add a retinoid at night

Retinoids have clinical-trial evidence behind them for pores. A review of treatments for oily skin notes that both tazarotene and tretinoin have been reported to reduce facial pore size, and over-the-counter retinol may also help, according to the AAD. Apply it at night because it can make skin more sensitive to the sun. Cleveland Clinic suggests starting with a thin layer twice a week and building up to daily use. The AAD advises against retinol if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

4. Use salicylic acid to keep pores clear

Salicylic acid is an exfoliating acid that dissolves dead skin cells so they don’t clog your pores. The AAD says studies show it can unclog pores, and some salicylic acid cleansers are gentle enough for daily use. If you already use a retinoid, start slowly with both so you don’t irritate your skin, which can make pores look worse. Our guide to repairing a damaged skin barrier covers what to do if that happens.

5. Wear sunscreen every day

Sun damage breaks down the collagen that keeps skin firm around each pore. The AAD notes that the more sun damage skin has, the less firmness it has, and pores look more noticeable as firmness goes. It recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day.

6. Take your makeup off before bed

Sleeping in makeup is an easy way to clog pores. Remove it every night, even if you’re tired, and choose oil-free, water-based makeup if your skin is oily.

7. Stop picking and squeezing

Squeezing pores or using extractor tools irritates skin and can cause scarring. It doesn’t last, either. Cleveland Clinic notes that when you squeeze out a sebaceous filament, the pore fills up again within 30 days.

Treatments a dermatologist can offer

If home care isn’t enough, a board-certified dermatologist has stronger options. Prescription retinoids like tretinoin go further than over-the-counter retinol. Microneedling and laser treatments stimulate collagen around the pores; Cleveland Clinic says lasers are usually done as a series, with appointments every four to eight weeks. In-office chemical peels are another option. For people with acne, oral treatments that reduce oil production can also make pores look smaller.

At-home tools don’t match these. Cleveland Clinic points out that home microneedling rollers use much shorter needles than in-office devices, so they come up short.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make pores smaller permanently?

No. Pore size is mostly set by genetics, and there’s no product that changes that. You can make pores look smaller by keeping them clear, and treatments that build collagen can reduce how visible they are, but nothing makes them permanently smaller.

Do pore strips work?

Only briefly. Cleveland Clinic says pore strips can lift out congestion before an event, but the effect is temporary and they can leave skin irritated and dry.

Does ice or cold water shrink pores?

Not in any lasting way. Cleveland Clinic says the tightening effect of ice or a chilled roller lasts only a few minutes.

Why are my pores bigger on my nose?

The center of your face, including your nose, has more oil glands, and more oil makes pores more visible. The dots you see there often aren’t blackheads at all. They’re sebaceous filaments.

Do pores get bigger with age?

They can look bigger. Skin loses collagen and elastin with age, and sun damage speeds that up, so the skin around each pore loosens and the opening looks wider.