The Science of Open Pores
Everchanging beauty standards bring with them a renewed focus on aspects of our body we may have not realised requires attention. One of the most overlooked organs of our body is the skin – the largest and most visible of them all.
What are pores?
Pores are essentially made of sebaceous oil glands and a hair follicle each. They give your skin its moist and smooth texture. The sun-kissed look we strive for in our everyday is attributed to how the skin keeps itself at its best health. Healthy skin gets its beauty from the work done by the millions of pores that keep it “breathing”. This simply means the pores are open and not blocked or occluded.
What are pores?
Pores are essentially made of sebaceous oil glands and a hair follicle each. They give your skin its moist and smooth texture. The sun-kissed look we strive for in our everyday is attributed to how the skin keeps itself at its best health. Healthy skin gets its beauty from the work done by the millions of pores that keep it “breathing”. This simply means the pores are open and not blocked or occluded.
How do pores “open”?
Pores are therefore always open in that sense, and that is how it should be. However, at times, pores on our skin that are enlarged become more visible over time. These are called as “open pores”. Pores, as we already know, are always open. The debris of our skin usually collects in these pores as a way of coming up and ultimately, leaving our body. No matter the type of skin you have, be it dry or oily, dead skin cells and oil will come to the surface of the skin to essentially be removed. Our pores expand to fit these until they are cleared away through washing the face.
Sometimes, this expansion pushes the pores open a little too much, and makes them visible to the naked eye, unlike usual. Other times, age becomes a factor. The elasticity of our skin reduces as we grow older, and this affects the ability of our pores from shrinking back to their original size. Often, open pores appear much larger than they are. Other reasons for open pores include sun damage or overexposure to the sun, high levels of oil production, larger than usual hair follicles, and genetics or hereditary traits.
I don’t want open pores! What do I do?
Often, open pores become a cause of concern regarding how we look. All methods recommended will often and usually involve a level of cleaning of debris, skin cells and oil from your pores. Other procedures will also work on collagen in your skin to improve elasticity and give you the youthful glow you desire as a bonus!
Treatments for Open Pores
One of the first options we recommend is a HydraFacial. This is a treatment that paves way for long term skin health and includes benefits that a multistep skin care routine affords you, for the experience of something akin to a spa treatment! The first step is to cleanse and peel, where the exfoliation removes the dead skin cells and starts working on unclogging your pores. Next, the gunk and oil are extracted. Already, work is being done to boast collagen production. Hydration is done via topical moisturisers. Lastly, serums are used to provide the final touches, working on various elements of the skin such as elasticity and hyperpigmentation, infusing and protecting your skin. All in all, the procedure takes around 30 minutes; the serums are also customizable to an extent and can be made to suit your skin.
Another treatment one can opt for includes hypo-procedures. Of these, one type is fillers. Fillers are a form of injectable treatment, which can help smoothen your skin, rejuvenate elasticity and bring back youthful suppleness. These fillers are usually made of soft tissue and are easily absorbed by the body, making them temporary yet effective treatments that can help aging skin revitalise its glow and smooth out fine lines and related signs of aging. Dermal fillers are fillers that are used to fill the area under the skin and provide a natural lift.
Cheek fillers are one such type of dermal fillers, where the treatment focuses specifically on dropping skin around the cheek and cheekbone area. At Celestee, cheek fillers are done using Voluma, providing long-lasting and effective effects. Voluma’s main component is hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance commonly found in various beauty products. Cheek fillers suit regular facial rejuvenation treatment regimens and can also help with early signs of aging as well. Anyone can be a good candidate for cheek fillers, no matter the point of life they are at. While getting a cheek filler is a small procedure, it should always be administered by someone with experience and certification. The procedure takes no longer than 20 to 30 minutes and one can have a normal day after getting the injection.
Your dermatologist’s recommendations on precautions to be taken should be taken seriously – no matter the ease of the procedure, we do not wish to cause irreparable damage at any front. Avoid alcohol for a few days, as well as other beauty procedures, spa treatments, blood thinning medicine and exercise, until you get the green flag from your doctor.
Other methods of tackling open pores includes steaming and opting for preventive skin care routines suited to your specific needs. Your dermatologist will be your best guide to curating such a routine. These remedies are more suited towards simply providing a cleanse to your skin. When clubbed with procedures, your pores will be tight, giving your skin a more youthful and healthy appearance.