The pores are Micro-openings of the skin Through which sebum is released, which plays an important protective barrier action. It allows the skin to transpire and gives the epidermis a hydrated and soft tone.
However, when the release of sebum is excessive, the pores become clogged and dilate, causing one of the most common skin imperfections: the skin has a shiny and greasy effect, the texture is irregular and the pores are annoyingly visible to the naked eye.
All problems related to the presence of dilated pores can be summarized under the name “porexia”.
Generally the affected area is the T-zone of the face which includes Front , Nose And Chin But in some cases you may also have dilated pores on Cheeks .. If not properly treated, dilated pores can pave the way for blackheads, pimples and, at worst, acne.
Cause
The main cause to which dilated pores are connected is the Hyperproduction of sebum : It is no coincidence that porexia mainly affects individuals who tend to be fat skin. But excess sebum is only the epidermal response of other more hidden causes. Some of these may be:
- Squiblibrata diet
- Poor care in daily skin cleansing
- Action of sex hormones (in women, progesterone during ovulation)
But not only that. Genetic predisposition factors also need to be taken into account.
As well as skin aging, in combination with damage suffered from excessive sun exposure, can be a cause of this blemish. Over the years, in fact, the skin loses its elasticity and this can predispose to dilation of the pores. In this case, the watchword is prevention: treating your skin from a young age and supporting it with anti-aging treatments can certainly decrease the appearance of the dreaded dilated pores.
Applying cosmetics that are too aggressive or not suitable for your skin type can also make the situation worse.
Another wrong habit of many women is not to remove make-up before going to sleep: if not properly cleansed, the skin can retain the make-up residues that occlude the pores, clogging and dilating them. It is therefore essential to focus on one Good facial cleansing to clear the pores From the accumulated dirt and make our skin breathe again.
How do dilated pores narrow?
As we have seen, there are several causes related to the appearance of dilated pores. Fortunately, however, there are just as many solutions to close them or at least significantly restrict them. Let's go see what they are:
Cleaning your face with the right products
If the main cause of dilated pores is the excess of sebum and dirt that occlude them, the key word to combat the problem is: Cleansing !
A good daily skincare is essential to deeply clean the skin of the face, rid the pores of sebum and accumulated makeup residues and eliminate dead cells from the sebaceous follicle.
But before you start you need to choose the right products: avoid those containing aggressive surfactants (SLS and SLES) and parabens, which occlude the skin and stimulate the production of the sebaceous glands.
Prefer cleansers and masks with natural extracts such as chamomile, mallow and calendula, with well-known soothing and astringent properties.
Other indispensable ingredients are the Salicylic acid , A powerful keratolytic that helps to inhibit the production of sebum, and l' Hyaluronic acid , Which balances the hydration of the skin by restoring its elasticity.
From the fgm04 catalog we point out these among the Best products to narrow dilated pores:
- DMAE Cleansing Gel , A product for daily cleansing based on salicylic acid which thanks to its exfoliating power and seboregulator helps to close the pores and improve the texture of the skin. Natural extracts perform a moisturizing and soothing action.
- SugarScrub , It is a delicate scrub based on sugar, argan oil and beeswax that cleanses and smooths the skin, restructures the skin base and gives a brighter appearance.
It is essential to make the daily cleansing a pleasant routine: cut out 15 minutes of time in the evening, you will not need more for a thorough cleaning of the face!
- To start, use the cleanser to thoroughly clean the skin and rid the pores occluded from smog, sebum and dirt accumulated during the day
- Later apply A good tonic Astringent to complete cleansing and prepare the skin for subsequent treatments
- If you also want to add an anti-aging action to your treatment, you can apply the Multivitamin ACE serum , Whose vitamin formulation and shock antioxidant counteracts skin aging by stimulating skin regeneration.
Diet
If you suffer from dilated pores or have fat-prone skin, it is important to avoid a too elaborate diet which, among other physical damage, can also affect the hyper-production of sebum of the epidermis.
- What to avoid?
Certainly too fatty and salty foods such as fried food and cured meats.
Also keep an eye on the consumption of dairy products such as cheeses and those with a high glycemic index: sweets, biscuits, refined cereals such as pasta and white bread.
These are foods that cause a rapid increase in glucose (sugar) in the blood, which triggers a series of hormonal signals that can cause inflammation and overproduction of sebum on the skin. The best thing is to try to eliminate from the diet (or decrease) these foods for a period and see how the situation changes.
- What to enter in the diet?
It is recommended to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables to fill up on vitamins and fiber that can detoxify the body, along with legumes and whole grains.
Lemon is also a powerful natural antibacterial that helps purify the skin and reduce inflammation. Chia seeds and other oilseeds such as flax and sesame seeds are also excellent, to be consumed as a snack or in combination with vegetables: rich in antioxidants and good fats such as omega 3, they are a real panacea for the skin!
Natural remedies for dilated pores
There are several natural do-it-yourself remedies to solve the problem of dilated pores. Let's see some of them:
Honey and lemon mask: Honey is a natural moisturizer, and lemon is rich in vitamin C, which can help reduce the appearance of dilated pores. To prepare the mask, mix together a spoonful of honey and the juice of half a lemon. After 15-20 minutes of action, rinse with warm water, the latter procedure remains unchanged for all types of masks to follow.
Tomato mask: Tomato is rich in vitamin C and salicylic acid, which help reduce the appearance of dilated pores and prevent acne. To prepare the mask, crush a ripe tomato and apply it on the skin.
Sodium bicarbonate scrub: Baking soda is an excellent natural scrub for the skin, as it helps to remove dead skin cells and clean the pores in depth. To make the scrub, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water until you have a pasty consistency. Apply it to the skin in small circular movements, then rinse with warm water.
Egg white mask: Egg white is rich in protein that helps tighten pores and reduce the appearance of dilated pores. To prepare the mask, whisk an egg white and apply it on the skin. These are all natural remedies that you can easily prepare in your home with ingredients that you probably already have in the kitchen.
Hydrated hamamelis: The hydrolate of hamamelis Is an extract that is obtained from the witch hazel plant and contains a high amount of beneficial active ingredients for the skin. Wet hazel has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that make it a valuable ally for oily skin, reducing blackheads, dilated pores and acne. Furthermore, its soothing properties make it suitable even for the most sensitive skin and for dry skin.
We advise you to use it as a tonic: you can get an excellent Astringent tonic Diy ( What's the face tonic for ) Combining hamamelis hydrolate with essential oil of lemon and rosemary, natural ingredients known for their purifying properties. Use the tonic every night, after applying the cleansing gel and before rolling out the face mask.
Lemon: Even the Lemon It is a great ally of our beauty routine to fight oily skin and close dilated pores DIY. Its antiseptic and astringent properties make it a perfect natural remedy. Try to make a DIY mask with honey and lemon : Mix a tablespoon of lemon, one of honey and one of yogurt to a smooth dough, apply for 10 minutes and rinse.
Green clay mask: Another truly effective natural ingredient against dilated pores is green clay, rich in minerals and trace elements with astringent and purifying properties.
On the market there are ready-made ones, but if you want you can also try one Green clay mask At home: just combine in a bowl 2 tablespoons of clay powder with warm water, mix well to smooth the mixture and apply it. Be careful not to keep it too long: as soon as it hardens it should be rinsed.
And the talcum powder?
Although he is part of one of the“ Granny remedies ”For dilated pores, we do not recommend it: it is too aggressive a product and you could get the opposite effect, that is, to clog the pores even more, or to dry the skin too much. Just think that today the best powder for the skin are those that do not contain talc!
If you really want to try a floury-textured ingredient for oily skin, you could use cornstarch or oatmeal to make a face mask out of it.
Hot vapors: Another Grandmother's remedy but it works: from time to time you can make hot vapors to clear the pores. Come?
Put some water to boil in a fairly large pot, then add a few drops of essential oil (we recommend lemon, rosemary or tea tree) and cover the pot with a tea towel for 5 minutes.
At this point with the help of a towel make a suffumig for about 10-15 minutes: it will help you soften the skin and Open the pores , Preparing the face for a deeper cleansing.
Drug and laser treatment
If the dilated pores lead to acne, it will be good to contact a Dermatologist That you will be able to prescribe the most appropriate drugs to solve the problem.
A common drug is the Ichthyol , An ointment of natural origin with antiseptic properties that helps to dry the area on which it is applied to more easily eliminate pimples. Even if it is an over-the-counter drug, it is always better to go to a dermatologist for advice before buying and only in the presence of more serious problems of enlarged pores, such as acne.
Another treatment to close dilated pores used today is the Diode laser , Which is intended to selectively kill the sebaceous glands in order to reduce the overproduction of sebum.
Final Tips
Although dilated pores can be experienced with annoyance, remember that they are nothing more than a blemish that can be easily solved with a good Daily cleansing Carried out regularly, along with the other natural remedies recommended in this article.
There are no miraculous products that make the enlarged pores disappear overnight: the secret is simply Select the right products And apply them with constancy in your skincare.
Image credits donuts: Image of Racool_studio on Freepik
