Change is the only constant thing in this life. Although sometimes we find ourselves a little unwelcoming to accept and embrace the change, especially when it negatively impacts our skin. As we grow older, our skin undergoes many changes that usually appear in the form of enlarged pores, stretched pores, and saggy skin. Know for a fact that skin changes are the natural process of aging.
Enlarged pores with ageing skin is a cause for concern for many people these days. So, if you are looking for a solution for smooth and even skin texture that you used to have. Then you are at the right place, as we have assembled some of the best tips for enlarged pores -
Why do pores look bigger as you age?
Our skin contains millions of pores and most of them are not visible to naked eyes. But when the size of these pores get enlarged, they become more noticeable and prominent on face skin.
Dr. Aseem, board-certified dermatologist at Skin Saga Centre Mumbai explains that our skin is made up of three layers - epidermis ( the outermost layer), dermis ( the middle layer), and hypodermis (the bottom layer). It's the middle layer of skin that contains major skin proteins named collagen and elastin that keep it firm, strong, and toned. The dermis makes up 90% of skin’s thickness.
As you age, collagen and elastin protein in the middle layer of skin begin to lose and degrade, which causes the skin to stretch and sag and make the pores appear bigger.
4 factors which lead to the decline in collagen production in skin -
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Unprotected exposure to sun rays
Cumulative sun exposure causes damage to the main skin proteins named - elastin and collagen. With the degradation of these proteins, your pores openings begin to stretch and skin becomes saggy and wrinkly.
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Stress
Stress is perceived as a major cause for speeding up skin aging. It creates oxidative stress in the body through free radical generation. This leads to the death of healthy skin cells and many premature signs of aging.
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Pollution
Recent findings explain that air pollution is found to hasten the aging process in areas that have the high levels of PM 2.5. This PM stands for particulate matter which is responsible for causing air pollution. When skin is exposed to these particles, it can cause rough skin texture, stretched pores, and pronounced fine lines and wrinkles.
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Poor lifestyle choices
Unhealthy lifestyle choices can affect your skin health very badly. A lack of sleep, nutrient deficient diet, and habits like smoking can show visible signs of skin damage in the forms of dark circles, dull complexion, and sagging skin
How to reduce pores on aging skin?
Here are 5 easy ways to minimize and prevent large facial pores with other aging signs
1. Follow a CTM routine
Investing in a good CTM routine (Cleansing, Toning And Moisturizing) is very crucial to keep your skin safe from all visible signs of aging. These 3 essential steps help to maintain your skin healthy in many ways -
- Cleanser helps to remove dead skin cells, dirt, and impurities from your skin to keep it breathable.
- Toners eliminate any leftover impurities from cleansers. Also, help to maintain skin’s pH balance, closes and refines open pores on your face while tightening cell gaps.
- Moisturization helps to replenish and lock in the moisture in skin for a smooth and soft skin texture and appearance. Ingredients like ceramides in moisturizer offer anti aging benefits to skin by strengthening the barrier functions. A healthy skin barrier means more refined skin texture and pores.
2. Always use a sunscreen to protect your skin from sun
Sunscreen is an ideal skin care product to prevent the appearance of stretched pores along with other signs of photoaging such as wrinkles or dark spots. A good broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50, PA ratings, and best sunscreen ingredients offers a great protection to skin from intense UV rays. Thereby, help to slow down the skin aging process.
3. Incorporate gentle exfoliation in skin care routine
It is pivotal to understand that when dirt clogs your skin pores, they expand and eventually appear larger, which is why exfoliation is important.
As you age, skin’s desquamation process slows down which leads to clogged pores, rough skin texture, bigger pores and wrinkles. Desquamation is a natural process of skin in which old skin cells shed off and new skin cells formed. Exfoliation helps to encourage cell turnover, slough off dead skin cells, and smoothen out fine lines/wrinkles, and pores.
Skin care experts explain that enzyme peels are an excellent way to accelerate the natural exfoliation process and boost skin radiance. Another significant benefit include enzyme peels are gentle for all skin types.
4. Look for the serum which have pore refining and anti aging properties
Face serum is yet another efficient and easy way to minimize your pores. Owing to their lightweight and low molecular weight, they seep quickly into skin to deliver the right dosage of active ingredients. While dealing with wrinkles, fine lines, and enlarged pores simultaneously, ingredients like niacinamide have remarkable effects in improving skin elasticity and firmness.
5. Opt for a retinol product
Retinol based creams have the ability to shrink enlarged pores. Retinol is a vitamin A derivative which has promising effects in reducing visible signs of aging. Applying it topically helps to increase collagen production and epidermal thickness for smooth, plump, and youthful skin. It also exfoliates skin, boosts the skin cell turnover, and prevents clogging of pores.
For beginners, to enjoy the best benefits of retinol, it is best to start with a lower concentration and gradually increase it.
Final words
Aging is inevitable but you can protect your skin to age before time by building healthy daily habits and a good skin care regimen. To age gracefully, it is important to feed your skin with antioxidants and vitamins that work to improve skin elasticity and resilience against all signs of aging.
Remember that healthy skin is not an overnight process. Only an investment in good skincare products can result in great skin. Find out these given tips religiously and witness how your skin listens to you.
