How can I make my pores look smaller?

What is a blackhead?
A blackhead is a type of acne called an open comedone. Blackheads occur when oil and dead skin cells become trapped in pores. When air is added to the trapped oil it produces a flat, dark spot called a blackhead. People with more active oil glands tend to get more blackheads.

Preventing blackheads
Normalizing skin's oil production and keeping pores clear will help you avoid blackheads. Look for an oily or combination skin face wash that helps dissolve surface oil without removing too much moisture. Wash and cleanse your face 2-3 times a day with warm water. Warn water helps break down surface oil and keep pores clean. Blot excess oil from your face throughout the day. At night, apply a salicylic acid based treatment. Salicylic acid will help unclog your pores so oil can pass to the surface without becoming trapped.

Getting rid of blackheads
If you already suffer from blackheads, try exfoliating your skin each day. (Never pick or squeeze a blackhead.) A gentle scrub over your cleanser will help loosen blackheads without aggravating or irritating surrounding skin. After cleansing, apply a .05-1% salicylic acid lotion to loosen dead skin cells and begin to dislodge blackheads. You can also try a 2-5 % concentration of either alpha hydroxy or lactic acid. Once a week, apply a clarifying peel or clay mask to your forehead, nose and chin area. With daily cleansing and exfoliation you will begin to notice much fewer blackheads and much clearer skin.

What are pores?
Pores serve an important function. They allow oil glands to excrete oil to the skin's surface and keep it hydrated.

What causes large pores?
Pores usually appear larger in the t-zone where oil glands are the most active. People can inherit a genetic tendency towards large pores and sun exposure can permanently dilate pores. As we age, pores appear larger because we lose the collagen and elastin support around them.

Can I make my pores smaller?
A pore's actual size cannot be changed but the right skin care routine can make pores appear much smaller and less noticeable.

To help minimize pores' appearance look for skin care products that contain alpha hydroxy, glycolic or salicylic acids. These acids work to dissolve dead skin cells, clear out pores and refine skin's texture. Beta (Salicylic) acids also encourage new cell turnover to reveal fresher-looking skin. For a weekly mask, try one containing algae which firms and tightens skin. Tight, clear, exfoliated skin with a refined texture will reflect light better and make your pores appear much smaller and less noticeable.

Limiting sun exposure and using sunscreen can help you avoid large pores. Over time UVA rays dilate pores and cause skin to sag and stretch. Try to out of the sun between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and always wear sunscreen and a hat.

Protecting your skin from the sun and refining your skin's texture will go a long way in making your pores seems to disappear.

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Acne and antibiotics

Antibiotics taken by mouth such as tetrasycline , doxycycline, monocycline or erythromycin are often prescribed for moderate or severe cases, especially when there is a lot of oacne on the back or chest. Antibiotics reduce the bacteria in the follicle. Treatment should last for at least 6 month and depending on the response, may last for 2 to 3 years. However, a point often missed is that bacteria is only part of the equation, and not a very important one either. You can have the bacteria yet not have acne.

This may come as a surprise to some. However, the reason is quiet simple.It is not the bacteria alone, but rather is quiet simple. It is not the bacteria alone, but rather bacteria being given the wrong conditions, conditions that it will thrive upon and cause acne. The bacteria attacks and trives upon the trapped sebum in the skin pores. Had there been no clogging of the pores due the dead skin cells or the over production of sebum, the bacteria no matter how abundant would not be able to do anything.

This is why antibiotics, though powerful stuff in fighting bacteria are not actually the real solution. This is why many people have reported little change in their acne conditions, even after long use of heavy antibiotics . In most cases, acne reappears after some time. This is because no antibiotic can finish the acne bacteria ( the one that causes acne ) forever. The bacteria in most cases, simply replicates back, even more immune and dangerous. It is not possible to remain on antibiotics for long periods, due the numerous side effects, particularly weakening of the immume system.

For those who do take antibiotics, an impotant precaution is that never stop antibiotics suddenly as the acne may flare up badly if this done.

When taking oral antibiotics, some women may develop a vaginal yeast infection. If this occurs, discontinue your medicine and contact your dermatologist immediately for treatment of yeast.

There are also antibiotics that are applied to the skin. These are used in severe cases of acne. When large red bump (cysts) are present, the dermatologist may inject cortisone directly into the bump to help them go away.

As a whole, in most cases we do not recommend treating acne with heavy antibiotics. Particulary when there are safer herbal alternatives that work naturaly with the body’s own defense mechanism and are in some cases more effective in fighting acne bacteria than conventional antibiotics.

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Get the acne fact

• Bacteria is a common culprit to all forms of acne.
• You are not alone, an estimate eighty percent of the people suffer from some form of acne in their life.
• Did you know there are many varieties of acne ? In fact, there are over fifty types of acne. However, the most common form is acne vulgaris.
• Although many individuals believe the sun makes their acne better, the realy is ultraviolet rays that penetrate the skin’s surface can damage the follicles, closing them off and triggering acne two to four weeks after sun exposure.
• Acne can not yet be cured. However, given that some trust be shown in new herbal / alternative medicines, can very effectively by prevented. Given that you choose the right products and follow a good skin care routine you can overcome your acne problem with ease.

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Acne Myths

Acne is curable :
The truth is that there is no cure for acne yet. This is probably because the exact causes of acne are not yet fully understood. All treatment for acne revolved around prevention. With the correct products and skin care, acne is certainly preventable. However, none of this treatment will get rid of acne once and for all, and are required to be used on a continuous basis.

Sun is great for acne :
Sun may temporarily mask your acne, tighten up pores, or dry up the oil glands. However, the sun will also damage your follicular walls, hence clogging your pores. This will result in more acne that may not surface for 3-4 weeks after your sun exposure.

Masturbation and sexual intercourse cause acne :
Wrong !! It may reduce your stress levels and therefore eliminate the aggravating effect stress has on once acne.

Pizza, chocolate, and othe junk food make me break out :
A small population of individuals ( perhaps less than 2%) may have food allergies that bring on acne. However, for the most part a balanced diet is important for a healthy body and therefore promote healthty skin. Iodine is one ingredient though that some individuals may experience breakouts. So just be safe and check if iodine in your diet causes your problems.

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