Minimising pores – for an even skin tone

Enlarged pores can be caused by oily or impure skin. With these skin conditions, the sebaceous glands produce more sebum than with dry or normal skin. The sebum can collect in the pores and widen them. If the pores are also blocked with dead skin flakes, dirt or dust, this promotes an expansion of the fine channels. The possible causes of enlarged pores include:

• Increased sebum production in the skin

• Reduced elasticity of the pores (through environmental influences, ageing processes or unsuitable skincare products)

• Thick hair follicles (this can be due to a genetic predisposition)

• Chronic or severe acne

• Impure or very oily skin

• Hormonal fluctuations or a hormonal imbalance

• Stress can negatively influence the skin’s natural regeneration process and lead to enlarged pores

• Mechanical manipulation of the skin that heavily stretches the outer skin surface, thereby reducing the elasticity of the pores (e.g. frequent squeezing of pimples)

Enlarged pores do not appear evenly on all areas of the face or body. Just as acne and impure skin are concentrated in certain zones, enlarged pores are more frequently visible in the following places:

• Large pores on the nose
• Areas of the forehead and chin
• Cheeks
• Back
• Less often on the décolleté and neck

If you want to reduce pores, you should first of all take an inventory. Which areas are especially affected by enlarged pores? Where does this condition bother you and in which areas do you find its appearance not so bad? In this way, the methods of treatment for caring for your skin and refining your complexion can be better tailored to your requirements. For example, different cosmetic products are suitable for the care of combination skin than for the care of oily skin. If enlarged pores appear only on the T-zone of the face, you can leave out other areas when using skincare to tighten pores.

If you want to prevent enlarged pores, go back to basics. Take care of a healthy skin by considering internal metabolic processes as well as external influences. You can influence your metabolism to a certain degree with a healthy lifestyle and diet. These include, for example:

• Getting sufficient sleep

• Taking exercise in the open air

• Achieving mental equilibrium

• Drinking plenty of water (approx. 2 l per day of still water or tea without sugar)

• Avoiding stimulants and poisons (these include, for example, cigarette smoke, alcohol and drugs)

Environmental conditions can have a strong influence on your skin. The symptoms of acne improve for many people in the summer months. Under the influence of dry central heating, contact with chemicals or a lack of light, the skin usually suffers and temporarily loses some of its ability to regenerate. So the symptoms of skin conditions like acne and impure skin often get worse. If you want to prevent impure skin and enlarged pores, observe your body and try to avoid unfavourable influences or reduce them with appropriate protection.

Use pore-minimising products that improve the overall appearance of the skin and strengthen its powers of regeneration. It is, for example, important to promote the elasticity of the skin and supply it with intense moisture. With a sufficient supply of moisture to the skin, it is easier for excessive sebum to drain away from the skin as it is less viscous. It is also a good idea to regularly clarify impure or oily skin. Use products with astringent active ingredients. They tighten and minimise the pores. Appropriate active ingredients for natural cosmetics include hamamelis, horsetail and larch agaric.

These cosmetic methods promote the regeneration of the skin and minimise pores:

• Peels to remove skin flakes so the pores do not become blocked

• Supportive gentle massage with a soft brush – reinforces the effect of the peel and promotes the blood circulation to the skin (not suitable for sensitive skin and combination skin)

• A cleansing mask with clay – gently removes excess sebum and particles of dirt from the pores

If you have oily skin, use a peel no more than twice a week. With combination skin, you should do this once a week at the most. If your skin is sensitive, it is best to avoid mechanical scrubs and go for a mild enzyme peel. An application once a month or every two weeks is sufficient.

Most pore-minimising ingredients also have a positive influence on impure and oily skin. These substances include:

• Retinol (vitamin A)

• Salicylic acid

• Niacinamide (vitamin B3)

Retinol minimises your pores and can reduce acne marks because it promotes the skin’s natural regeneration process and regulates its sebum production. Salicylic acid can reduce inflammation and the symptoms of acne – in many cases, this prevents enlarged pores. Niacinamide also regulates the sebum production of your skin, thus helping to refine your pores and skin tone. Furthermore, it supports the supply of moisture to your skin and soothes it. This reduces the symptoms of impure skin. The skin also becomes more elastic, and feels smoother and more even.