Nose pores are tiny openings in hair follicles on the surface of your nose. The hair follicles are attached to sebaceous glands, which produce a natural oil called sebum. The sebum keeps your skin supple and moisturized.
While your entire skin is covered in pores, only the pores on your face and nose tend to be more pronounced. Your face also tends to suffer the most damage because it is more exposed to the environment. Your nose may also have larger pores than the rest of your face because it has larger sebaceous glands.
Remember, your skin acts as a barrier between your body and the outside world, so it collects dirt and germs from the environment. When the pores or hair follicles around the nose become clogged with oil, dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria, they may enlarge or have blackheads and acne.
What causes enlarged nose pores?
Enlarged nose pores can be hereditary. If your parents have larger nose pores, you may have them, too. People with oily skin types also tend to have larger nose pores because excess sebum is likely to clog them, making them more prominent.
Lack of exfoliation can also lead to the accumulation of dead skin cells, making your pores larger than you want them to be. Other factors that may cause enlarged nose pores include exposure to the sun without wearing sunscreen, hormone fluctuations, especially during puberty and menstruation, consumption of alcohol and caffeine, which dry out your skin, forcing it to produce more sebum, poor skincare habits, and stress.
How to reduce the appearance of your nose pores
1. Understand the cause of your enlarged pores
Most people assume that blackheads are the only cause of enlarged nose pores, but sebaceous filaments may also cause them. These are tiny yellowish or whitish collections of sebum and dead skin that form around a hair follicle. Alone, sebaceous filaments are harmless and purely natural to every human being. And depending on their skin type, some people have more and some less of these roundish rod-like substances.
Sebaceous filaments appear more in oily places like your nose, chin, and forehead. While they may look like blackheads, they are no cause for alarm.
2. Clean your face twice a day
Thoroughly clean your face using a water-based cleanser in the morning and at night before bed. While oil-based cleansers are good, people with enlarged pores tend to have oily skin, and oil-free products are the best option. Also, use gentle cleansers that will not irritate your skin.
3. Moisturize
Despite having oily skin, moisturizing is essential to keep it supple. Failing to moisturize prompts your skin to produce more sebum, further clogging your pores and making them more prominent. Use water-based or gel-based moisturizers that will not clog your pores.
4. Exfoliate and mask
Exfoliating helps you shed dead skin cells that might clog your pores. Depending on the severity of your nose pores, use a gentle exfoliant two or three times a week. Gently massage the exfoliant around your nose rather than scrubbing with a lot of force, which may irritate your skin.
You can also use a clay mask two or three times weekly to cleanse your nose pores. A mask pulls out blackheads and dirt, making your pores look smaller. You can also use the mask for the rest of your face, or opt for a different one if your face is dry.
5. Use retinol
This vitamin A derivative stimulates collagen production around your nose, making the pores appear smaller and the skin firmer. You can use it every day or every other day. If you experience burning, reddening, or skin irritation, discontinue use and see a dermatologist.
6. Remove your makeup
If you wear makeup, never go to bed with it on. It can clog your pores, harbor bacteria, and cause acne and blackheads. Thoroughly cleanse your face to remove all the makeup before going to bed.
7. Wear sunscreen
Exposure to sunlight without sunscreen exposes your skin to harmful UV rays, which can cause dry skin. This, in turn, causes excessive sebum production, leading to enlarged nose pores. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF30 and above.
When to seek professional help
If you have faithfully used all the above home remedies for a while but nothing seems to work, your enlarged nose pores may need professional help. Visit a dermatologist and get the help you may need. A dermatologist will assess your situation and tailor a treatment scheme that best suits you.
Takeaway skin care tip
It might be tempting to squeeze out the contents of your enlarged nose pores and blackheads, but do not do this. Squeezing may further irritate your skin, creating infections because of the transfer of germs and bacteria. Also, the pores tend to fill up again after a few days, so avoid stressing your skin. Avoid picking your blackheads. Your hands are dirty and full of germs, and picking blackheads may cause infections. If you want to remove them, see a dermatologist and have them professionally removed.
Some products or home remedies may not work depending on the cause and severity of your nose pores. If over-the-counter treatments and home skin care remedies do not work, see a dermatologist, and do not force products on your skin.
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