What Causes Pore Enlargement Over Time
Pores are the small openings in your skin connected to hair follicles and oil glands. They help release oil and sweat to keep skin healthy. Over time, these pores can look bigger and more noticeable due to a mix of factors that stretch them or reduce the skin’s support around them.
Genetics set the stage for pore size from birth. If your family members have visible pores, you are more likely to as well. People with oily or combination skin types often see larger pores because their glands make more oil, which expands the openings.
Excess oil production, called sebum, is a key player. When glands pump out too much oil, it mixes with dead skin cells and dirt, forming plugs. These clogs push the pore walls outward, making them stretch and stay wider over time.
Aging naturally worsens this process. As years pass, your skin makes less collagen and elastin, the proteins that give it firmness. Without this support, the area around pores sags, letting them gape open more.
Sun exposure speeds up the damage. Ultraviolet rays break down collagen through a process called photoaging. Years of unprotected time in the sun weaken the skin’s structure, especially on the face, causing pores to dilate and look larger. This effect builds up and is hard to reverse.
Clogged pores from poor habits add to the problem. Skipping makeup removal, using harsh cleansers, or not exfoliating lets debris build up. This congestion stretches pores gradually. Over-cleansing can backfire too, by drying out skin and making it lose elasticity, which highlights pores even more.
Hormonal shifts play a role as well. Changes during puberty, monthly cycles, pregnancy, or stress can ramp up oil production temporarily, leading to bigger-looking pores. Heat, humidity, and even lifestyle factors like poor sleep or high-sugar diets can boost oiliness and inflammation, indirectly enlarging pores.
Dehydration is another sneaky cause. When skin lacks moisture, the tissue around pores relaxes and looks looser. Environmental pollutants and constant touching of the face with dirty hands or phones can trap more gunk, worsening the stretch.
Past acne can leave pores enlarged if inflammation stretched them during breakouts. While genetics lock in your base pore size, these ongoing factors make them more visible as time goes on.
Sources
https://worldofasaya.com/blogs/skin-types/how-to-understand-large-pores-and-oily-skin
https://www.kins-clinic.com/blogs/how-to-close-pores-permanently-the-truth-about-what-really-works
https://www.victoriandermalgroup.com.au/skin-journal/best-treatment-for-large-pores/
https://www.london-dermatology-centre.co.uk/blog/acne-scars-vs-enlarged-pores/
https://www.abaaesthetics.net/concerns/large-pores
https://www.decodemodetoronto.com/enlarged-pores-uneven-texture
