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- Some things you believe about pores might not be true.
- Contrary to popular belief, you can not open or close your pores, but the pores can expand and stretch.
- Facial masks and nasal strips at home do not actually shrink pores, but they can temporarily reduce the size of your pores.
- INSIDER has spoken with Dr. Kathleen Suozzi, director of the Aesthetic Dermatology Program at the Yale School of Medicine, to find out the truth behind some of the most common myths about pores.
- Visit the INSIDER homepage for more stories.
For many people, their main concern in skin care is their pores. Whether it is to prevent rashes or reduce fat, pores are at the center of almost every discussion about creating a clear and glowing complexion.
Through the Internet, wherever you look, you'll find tips on how to clean, shrink and clear your pores. But, some things you may have heard about pores are not completely true.
To find out the truth about some common beliefs about pores, INSIDER met with Dr. Kathleen Suozzi, Director of the Aesthetic Dermatology Program at the Yale School of Medicine.
Read on to find out why these pore myths need to be put to rest once and for all.
MYTH: Your pores open and close
Warming your face with steam, exercising or using some face masks will not "open the pores" and will not "let them breathe". The pores do not open and close like a mouth, but they can expand (or stretch), Dr. Suozzi said.
It is possible that the confusion results from a misunderstanding about what the pores really are. Pores are prominent openings on the skin that contain a hair follicle and a sebaceous gland underneath, Dr. Suozzi told INSIDER.
The sebaceous glands are responsible for the production of oil called "sebum" which lubricates our skin. But sometimes, these sebaceous glands can become overdriven (especially in people with oily skin), which can cause buildup below the surface.
"The pores can expand when the aperture becomes clogged and the oil is produced has no exit and backup.This dilates this outlet," Dr. Suozzi explained.
As for what you have heard on your face to open the pores, it's mostly a misunderstanding. Steam will not make your pores open like a door, but the heat can cause excessive accumulation of pores to loosen and return to the surface.
Of course, you should beware of any excess heat (be it steam or hot water) on your skin, as this may aggravate or trigger other skin-related problems, such as rosacea.
Read more: What do 4 dermatologists eat to keep their skin clear
MYTH: having clogged pores means your face is dirty
Since the pores are on the surface of the skin, it is therefore logical that some people believe that blackheads occur when materials from our environment, such as dirt, enter it. In reality, the outer debris is not what obstructs the pores.
"When we talk about an obstructed pore, the medical term used is a comedone.There are two types: open comedones and closed comedones," said Dr. Suozzi. "Open comedones are commonly called blackheads, which means that the follicular ostium (opening of the pore) has been blocked by debris.But these are not debris from the outside and it does not mean that your skin is dirty. "
In other words, those dark spots that you see in your pores are not really dirt. Dr. Suozzi explained that debris is actually the accumulation of dead skin cells and sebum (oil) under the skin. This can be caused by different factors such as hormones, genetics and skin type.
Read more: 10 skin care trends you probably follow but you should not
MYTH: Every pore is a black dot
Blackheads occur when dead skin cells block the opening of a pore and make it difficult to release oil produced by the sebaceous glands. This trapped oil causes the pore opening to expand and bring it back to the surface. Once the oil comes into contact with the air, it will oxidize and take on that blackish color.
But all the compressible pores on your face are not blackheads. "You can probably express material from any important pore (if it's compressed), but that does not mean that it's a problem." black dot, "said Dr. Suozzi. "You simply express the normal sebaceous glands that are there."
MYTH: People with dry skin do not have problems with blackheads or dilated pores
As a general rule, it seems that oily skin types and dilated pores go hand in hand. But that does not mean that people with dry skin can not have visible pores. The size of the pores is determined by various factors, such as genetics or hormones. In addition, sun damage and aging can also cause pore enlargement for anyone over time, Dr. Suozzi told INSIDER.
Read more: 12 of the biggest skin care mistakes you make in your twenties
MYTH: Makeup will clog pores
Fortunately for makeup wearers, not all beauty products will make your skin form comedones. Although makeup does not infiltrate exactly in the clogged follicles and pores, some ingredients contained in some cosmetics can irritate the skin so as to trigger the formation of a comedone, said Dr. Suozzi.
"Some cosmetics will be labeled comedogenic or non-comedogenic Comedogenic means comedone formation Certain oils and compounds [found in comedogenic makeup] may be inclined to exacerbate the formation of comedones, "she told INSIDER.
She added that using a non-comedogenic labeled makeup could help you avoid potential breakouts.
"When you look at different sunscreens, moisturizers, or make-up products, they specify whether it's not comedogenic, so you'll know that putting it on your skin is not going to exacerbate the formation of comedones," said Dr. Suozzi. .
MYTH: Sunlight can help clean your pores
It is possible that this myth comes from thinking that the heat from exposure to the sun would dry up the excess of sebum in your pores and shrink them. But, in reality, prolonged exposure to the sun can result in an increase in the size of your pores, said Dr. Suozzi.
This happens when the sun's rays damage collagen, giving strength and structure to your skin and other parts of your body. As collagen weakens, your pores may appear wider on the surface.
You can protect your skin by wearing a non-comedogenic sunscreen, but the best way to avoid permanent sun damage is to limit your exposure.
Read more: 8 things that you think help your skin, but can actually make it worse
MYTH: Washing your face several times a day will prevent clogged pores.
As Dr. Suozzi. If you are prone to developing comedones such as blackheads, it depends on many factors, such as your skin type and hormones. The frequency with which you wash your face does not really have an impact.
Although washing your face helps remove excess oil and dead skin cells that can contribute to rashes, you should be careful not to overdo it. Dr. Suozzi said that an excessive wash of your face (especially with aggressive scrubs) can irritate the surface of your skin and even cause redness or excessive dryness.
MYTH: Chemical exfoliants can completely clean your pores
The confusion here probably comes from the way some skin products are marketed. Expressions such as "deep cleaning" can make you think that some products seep into the skin and clean up all kinds of debris and accumulate, but that's not how it looks like. 39 Chemical exfoliation, a process that removes dead skin cells with the help of chemicals, works.
"[A chemical exfoliator] It's not going to clean up all the debris, but helps unblock the dead skin cells, "Dr. Suozzi told the INSIDER.
Read more: Exfoliating your skin too often can cause serious damage – here is how often you should do it
MYTH: Using suction tools and scouring tools is the most effective way to keep your pores clean
Appointment in the skin care section of a beauty product store and you will likely see many scrubbers, brushes and even suction tools that claim to facilitate the process of exfoliation and clean your pores. Although these devices can remove an extra amount of oil and debris on the surface of your skin, they are not all perfect for cleaning your pores.
In addition, Dr. Suozzi warned against the use of these tools because they could irritate the surface of your skin. She told INSIDER: "The manual extraction (especially with home vacuum cleaners) can result in the appearance of broken blood vessels."
Instead, she recommends the aforementioned chemical scrubs. Although they do not "purify" your pores completely, they can usually help you get rid of the accumulation of dead skin cells without causing any physical damage to the external appearance of your skin. .
MYTH: You can reduce your pores at home with products such as nasal strips and face masks
Although removing a nasal strip from your face may seem satisfactory, there is a good chance that your pore size is not important or even important. Remember, under each pore is a hair follicle. The size of these follicles is partially determined by genetics and will not be changed by a single product at home.
Although tape and masks can remove oil and trapped debris from inside these follicles, they only temporarily make your pores less visible – the key word here is "appearing". They do not really reduce the size of your pores.
So, there is not much to do to shrink the pores but it is not impossible do this. As Dr. Suozzi explained, some laser treatments can help promote collagen and reduce the appearance of pores.
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