Pore Care: The 4 Main Causes Of Enlarged Pores + 6 Natural Remedies

17 October 2025

Minimizing pores is an essential step in any skincare routine. Whether you're in your teens or thirties and beyond, properly caring for your pores can help your skin look smoother and more refined. However, enlarged pores are a common concern for many women. Despite the wide range of pore-tightening masks, serums, and toners available on the market, are these products truly effective? When faced with clogged pores and excessive oil production, is laser pore reduction the right solution? Are there any natural, low-irritation methods that actually work?

If you're also wondering how to shrink your pores, keep reading for tried-and-tested pore-minimizing methods recommended for women!

Before You Treat Pores: Understand the Causes of Enlarged Pores

Before trying any pore-minimizing method, it’s crucial to identify why you’re experiencing enlarged pores. There are several different causes, and choosing the right treatment depends on targeting the specific reason behind the issue. Using the wrong method may end up being a waste of time and money.

Cause #1: Excessive Oil Production

This is the most common reason for enlarged pores, especially for those with oily skin. When excess sebum clogs pores and isn’t effectively discharged, the pores get stretched, making them appear larger. This typically shows up as round-shaped pores around the T-zone (forehead and nose), often accompanied by blackheads and whiteheads.

To minimize pores caused by oiliness, it’s essential to deeply cleanse your skin, maintain oil-water balance, and prevent blackhead formation by keeping your pores clear of impurities.

Cause #2: Dehydrated Skin

Enlarged pores aren’t exclusive to oily skin—dry, dehydrated skin can suffer too. When your skin lacks moisture, the structure of your skin cells becomes disorganized, leading to rough texture and visible pores. Dehydrated skin often comes with flaking, redness, and itching.

For dry skin, hydration is key. Use moisturizing skincare products to improve skin elasticity and prevent pores from worsening over time due to aging.

Cause #3: Aging Skin

As we age, our skin loses collagen rapidly, causing it to become rough, saggy, and dry. This leads to a loss of elasticity and enlarged pores, particularly around the cheeks. These age-related pores often appear elongated or Y-shaped.

Middle-aged women should focus on replenishing collagen and moisture in their skincare routine to maintain firm, supple skin and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores.

Cause #4: Frequent Breakouts and Acne

Recurring blackheads and pimples can also contribute to enlarged pores. Many women can’t resist the urge to squeeze them, but improper pressure can damage skin tissue and make pores worse. If acne is handled incorrectly, it can lead to stubborn acne marks, scars, and uneven skin texture.

To minimize pores on acne-prone skin, boost skin cell turnover to help impurities exit the pores naturally. Avoid touching or squeezing pimples, and consult a dermatologist if the issue persists.

Daily Habits That Help Minimize Pores

Once you've identified your pore type, it’s time to take targeted action. While you can certainly buy pore-tightening products, improving your daily skincare habits is equally important for better results. Here’s what to focus on:

Method #1: Prioritize Facial Cleansing

As mentioned earlier, excess oil buildup can stretch pores. Proper cleansing is essential. Use appropriate cleansers both morning and night, and always follow up cleansing after using makeup removers. Don’t forget to clean your beauty tools—sponges, brushes, towels—regularly to prevent bacteria and residue from lingering on your skin.

Method #2: Exfoliate Regularly

Facial cleansing alone isn’t enough. Your skin naturally renews about every 28 days, and without regular exfoliation, dead skin cells build up and clog pores.

Use exfoliating products containing salicylic acid, lactic acid, or glycolic acid—such as masks, cleansers, or serums—to speed up cell renewal and keep pores clear.

Method #3: Hydrate Your Skin

Dryness can make pores appear larger and worsen sagging or flaking. Keeping your skin well-hydrated plumps up skin cells, improves radiance, and maintains skin resilience.

Ample hydration not only minimizes pores but also helps stabilize the skin barrier.

Method #4: Apply Sunscreen Daily

UV rays are a major culprit behind enlarged pores. Sun exposure depletes collagen and moisture, accelerating skin aging and triggering issues like sagging and dark spots.

Even on cloudy days, apply lightweight sunscreen to protect your skin from UV damage and support pore care.

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Is Removing Oil Enough to Minimize Pores for Oily Skin?

Many people with oily skin think that just controlling oil will shrink their pores. But enlarged pores on oily skin may also stem from dehydration, clogged pores, or bacterial overgrowth. Over-cleansing to remove oil can backfire and actually make pores worse.

To effectively minimize pores on oily skin, it’s important to:

• Balance sebum production
• Deep cleanse and exfoliate regularly
• Avoid clogging the pores with excess oil and dead skin

Excess oil also creates a favorable environment for acne-causing bacteria. Improper acne care damages skin tissue and further enlarges pores. And contrary to popular belief, oily skin still needs hydration—too little moisture can cause your skin to overcompensate with more oil. So maintaining proper oil-water balance is key.

What Are Some Natural Remedies for Minimizing Pores?

Although there are many pore products on the market, many contain chemicals that may irritate the skin. That’s why many women turn to natural remedies using food-based ingredients for gentler results. Here are some easy DIY pore treatments worth trying:

Remedy #1: Yogurt and Honey Mask

Mix yogurt and honey in a 3:1 ratio, apply a thick layer to the face, leave on for 15 minutes, and rinse with warm water. Yogurt nourishes and improves skin elasticity, while honey hydrates, soothes, and tightens pores.

Remedy #2: Jasmine Alcohol Toner

Steep jasmine flowers in boiling water, seal with plastic wrap for 3–5 days, then add a small amount of medical alcohol. This toner calms pores and controls oil, while alcohol enhances the pore-minimizing effect.

Remedy #3: Fruit Peel Face Mask

Cut cucumber, watermelon, and lemon peels into small pieces and place them on the face for 20 minutes.

• Cucumber hydrates
• Lemon brightens and fades spots
• Watermelon soothes acne and tightens pores

This DIY mask is multifunctional—hydrating, brightening, oil-controlling, and acne-fighting.

Remedy #4: Egg White Mask

Mix one egg white with a little lemon juice, olive oil, and coarse salt. Apply to the face, massage gently in circular motions as it begins to dry, then rinse.

• Salt exfoliates
• Olive oil nourishes
• Lemon juice brightens

Together, they boost the pore-tightening effects of egg white.

Remedy #5: Dark Beer Mask

Soak a compressed sheet mask in dark beer and apply to the face until dry. The fermented enzymes in beer help exfoliate and regulate sebum, preventing clogged pores and minimizing their appearance.

Remedy #6: Ice Massage

Wrap ice cubes in a towel and gently massage around the forehead, nose, and chin in circular motions for 5–10 minutes. This simple yet effective method is especially useful before applying makeup or after exfoliating to tighten pores instantly.

Highly Effective Pore Treatment: Perfect Medical Acne Treatment

Want faster, longer-lasting results without relying solely on DIY remedies or frequent exfoliation? Perfect Medical’s Acne Treatment is your go-to pore solution!

This non-invasive, pain-free treatment uses dual-action spiral suction technology to:

• Infuse exclusive medical-grade essence deep into the skin
• Trigger collagen regeneration
• Purify pores and regulate oil with a special infusion formula
• Gently exfoliate with vacuum microdermabrasion to remove dead skin and prevent clogs

This professional-grade treatment also dissolves blackheads, improves oily skin, and reduces sebum production—leaving your pores visibly refined and your skin smooth and clear.

Try it Today: Perfect Medical Acne Treatment

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FAQ

How can I prevent clogged pores when wearing makeup?

Many women believe that the most effective way to prevent clogged pores from makeup is to thoroughly cleanse any residue left on the skin. However, cleansing alone doesn’t always completely remove chemical residues from the pores, and the cleansing power of different products varies from person to person. To effectively minimize pores while wearing makeup, it’s important to use the right makeup primer. There are many types of primers available—some are designed to minimize pores, others to color-correct, hydrate, or control oil. Women should choose a primer that suits their skin type. A suitable primer not only helps minimize pores and create a smoother complexion before applying makeup, but more importantly, it forms a barrier between the skin and the foundation. This reduces direct contact between the skin and cosmetic products, which helps prevent clogged pores and enlarged pores.

Does exfoliating more often help shrink pores?

When it comes to pore-minimizing skincare, many women immediately think of tretinoin (a type of Vitamin A acid). Tretinoin is available in both oral and topical forms. Oral tretinoin is typically prescribed for people with severe acne, while topical tretinoin is found in acne creams and ointments and requires a doctor’s prescription. It helps treat acne, refine pores, and accelerate skin cell turnover. Topical tretinoin promotes skin renewal, reduces sebum production, and prevents clogged pores. However, it can be irritating to the skin. Those with sensitive skin need to use it with extra caution. Since it can also cause dryness, it’s crucial to follow up with hydrating skincare steps after application to effectively minimize pores.

What bad habits lead to the formation of milia?

One common culprit is using overly rich eye creams! Many women use eye cream to care for the delicate skin around the eyes and reduce fine lines. But if used incorrectly, it can increase the risk of developing milia (tiny white bumps). People with thinner under-eye skin are especially unsuited to heavy or greasy eye creams, as their skin may struggle to absorb them. This can lead to oil buildup and, eventually, milia. A better choice is a lightweight eye cream with easily absorbed ingredients.

How do laser treatments help reduce pores?

When it comes to effective medical treatments for minimizing pores, laser therapy is a must-mention. Laser technology is widely used in medical aesthetic treatments, offering benefits such as pore refinement, pigmentation removal, brightening, acne scar reduction, skin tightening, and even hair removal—making it a favorite among women. Laser treatments for pore reduction work by emitting energy at specific wavelengths deep into the skin, stimulating the collagen and elastin network to regenerate and repair itself. This promotes the production of collagen, repairs damaged skin tissue, and restores skin elasticity, brightness, firmness, and plumpness—ultimately refining pores from the inside out. The result is smooth, “glass-like” skin with virtually invisible pores.

What are the benefits of Perfect Medical's Acne Treatment compared to natural pore-minimizing methods?

Earlier, we discussed several natural ways to minimize pores, such as using homemade masks or toners made from natural ingredients. These can help tighten skin and control oil. While such remedies are free from preservatives and chemicals and are gentler on the skin, they come with limitations. Firstly, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to fully support claims that these natural ingredients truly minimize pores—results may vary from person to person. Secondly, some people may be allergic to certain foods, and applying those ingredients topically could lead to redness, itching, or peeling—doing more harm than good. In contrast, the Perfect Medical Acne Treatment helps cleanse the skin, unclog pores, and balance oil production. It not only keeps pores clean but also significantly reduces the chance of clogging, which helps prevent pores from enlarging. Best of all, the treatment is non-invasive—no injections or surgery required—leaving no wounds on the skin. This makes it a much safer and more effective option than natural remedies.