There is no product that will permanently shrink enlarged pores, but there are treatments that can help improve the look and texture of the skin:
- Over-the-counter products that use salicylic acid, glycolic acid, other alpha hydroxy acids, or retinol may be of some help. These exfoliating ingredients keep your pores from becoming clogged (which makes them more obvious) and speed up cell turnover rates.
- Prescription products, such as topical retinoids, are very effective at smoothing your skin. They’re also used to slow premature aging, prevent sun damage, and improve acne.
- Professional treatments are also useful. Microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing can help minimize the appearance of large pores. These procedures can be done at your dermatologist’s office, day spa or skin spa. Usually, a series of treatments is needed to see improvement.
- Pore-minimizing lotions can temporarily make enlarged pores look smaller. They also help keep makeup from settling around large pores, which can make them look more obvious. It isn't a permanent solution, but the immediate results are gratifying. Shop around until you find a brand you're happy with.
If all else fails, remember that your enlarged pores are much more noticeable to you than they are to anyone else.
Sources:
"Chemical Peeling." American Academy of Dermatology. 29 Sep 2006. American Academy of Dermatology, Web. Accessed 7 Nov 07.
Freedman, Bruce, Eugenia Rueda-Pedraza, MD, and Sharon Waddell. "The Epidermal and Dermal Changes Associated with Microdermabrasion." Dermatologic Surgery 27 (2001):1031-1034.
Gerson, Joel. Standard Textbook for Professional Estheticians. Ed. Albany, NY: Milady Publishing, 1999. Print.
"Tretinoin." MedlinePlus. 03 April 2000. U.S. National Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health. Accessed 9 Sep 2007.
