Do your pores open and close? What is the black stuff inside your pores? Can ice cubes shrink your pores? When it comes to pores, there’s a lot of misinformation floating around—and it can be tough to know what’s true and what’s not. We’ll tackle some of the top myths about pores, separate fact from fiction, and try to clear up any confusion.
MYTH: Your pores open and close
TRUTH: Your pores do not open and close like tiny doors. Wait a minute, you might be thinking…but my pores look more open after I get out of a hot shower. What explains that? Dermatologists say there’s a simple reason: The heat and moisture from the steam increases blood flow to your skin’s surface and temporarily plumps it up. This has the effect of making your pores briefly appear larger or more “open.”
You might have heard it’s best to perform extractions right after a shower, when pores are “open.” While your pores are not actually more open, your skin is softer and more pliable, making pore-clogging debris easier to extract. That’s why estheticians always steam their client’s face before performing extractions.
“Spa steam treatments actually inspired us to create PREP MIST,” says DERMAFLASH Senior Product Manager Joyce To. “This decongesting face spray, which is used with our DERMAPORE+ Ultrasonic Pore Extractor, has ingredients that soften up the gunk in your pores and make extractions easier and more effective.”
MYTH: The black stuff inside your pores is dirt
TRUTH: Nope! The black stuff inside your pores is not dirt. It’s a mixture of dead skin cells and sebum (the oily substance produced by your sebaceous glands, which protects and hydrates your skin’s surface). When this mixture of dead skin cells and sebum is exposed to oxygen, it oxidizes and turns a black-ish color. (Quick science lesson: oxidation is the same process that makes an apple slice turn brown when it’s left out.)
Now, you might have heard dermatologists or estheticians talk about the “dirt” in your pores—what they’re referring to is the additional debris that can build up in your pores due to environmental pollution or from not removing your makeup properly. It’s not actually dirt, just a catch-all term for the gunk that builds up in your pores and mixes with sebum and dead skin cells.
MYTH: Rubbing an ice cube on your face will shrink your pores
TRUTH: Ice cubes will not shrink your pores. What cold temperatures do is temporarily constrict or tighten your skin’s surface, making your pores look smaller. And as far as rubbing an ice cube on your face, this is not something that dermatologists recommend. Having an ice cube directly touching your skin can actually cause skin damage and may even lead to an ice burn. (Eek!) A splash of cold water is a better option for quickly refreshing your skin.
MYTH: You can’t prevent your pores from getting bigger
TRUTH: Regular exfoliation can prevent pores from getting larger. When your pores are clogged up with sebum, dead skin cells and debris (like pollution particles or makeup that wasn’t removed properly), the lining of the pores stretches out and gets bigger. If you cleanse properly and exfoliate your skin consistently, you can prevent gunk from building up in your pores and stretching them out.
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Double cleanse at night to thoroughly remove makeup and daily grime.
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Give yourself a spa-quality exfoliating treatment once a week with LUXE+ Sonic Dermaplaning.
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Use a gentle, daily exfoliating toner to help dissolve gunk and prevent it from building up in your pores.
MYTH: Your pores get smaller as you age
TRUTH: Pores can actually appear larger as you age. We’re sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but dermatologists say your pores can actually end up looking larger as you get older. The reason is that collagen production naturally decreases with age, and your skin starts to lose some of its internal structure and support. This means your pores can end up looking larger. But don’t stress—there are easy steps you can take to “bank” collagen (including regular exfoliation and antioxidant-rich serums) and keep your pores looking tight. Read more here!
There you have it—the top 5 myths about pores, busted! Use these tips to care for your skin and keep your pores clean, clear and tight!