Pores are one topic that never seems to gets old. People are obsessed with them. Understandably so….they are the portals to your skin and body. They allow the skin to breath, to lubricate, to control heat regulation and to generally control the skin’s well being. So the answer to everyone’s question is- you cannot remove them.Unfortunately, many people have complaints about their pores. Some are bigger than others, some secrete too much or too little oils, some are more visible or scar looking than others. It is obvious why pores are such a popular topic and why billions of dollars in cosmeceuticals and laser treatments have been spent trying to alter them. What must be remembered is first- we can not rid of them. They are an important part of our skin. Second- their visibility and size has a lot to do with genetics, normal aging and with progressive sun damage. You can control the sun damage part. Any finally, although you cannot close them for good, there are ways to minimize them, conceal them, and help control any dysfunction they may present.. Many topical agents, including many acne medications, can keep them empty of sebum, thus making them appear smaller and keeping them from progressively swelling. More procedural things that can be done range from chemical peels to microdermabrasion to pore cleansing acne lasers such as Isolaz.
As with most cosmetic concerns, sometimes the best treatment is good lighting and makeup. There are several pore refining and matte finishing products out of the market that help conceal the pores that perturb so many. One of my favorites is Z-pore by GoodSkin Labs. This product give a smooth matte finish to the skin that lasts all day. A product such as this alone or along with other pore refining techniques can minimize the appearance and concerns regarding the pore dillemma.