Can skincare change how visible pores look?

What makes pores more visible?

Pores are openings through which oil and sweat reach the skin's surface. Excess oil, blockages, sun damage and loss of skin elasticity can make them look larger. Acne can also contribute, including blackheads within a pore. Genetics sets much of your pore size, which is an ambitious thing to ask a cleanser to renegotiate.23

Start with a gentle daily routine

1. 1Wash morning and evening with a gentle cleanser and warm water. Avoid hot water and scrubbing, which can irritate skin and make pores more noticeable.
2. 2Apply moisturizer after washing if your skin feels dry, leaving a little water on the skin to help trap moisture. Daily moisturizing can help skin tolerate drying acne treatments.
3. 3In the morning, apply a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Use it daily, including cold or rainy days, to help prevent sun damage that reduces skin firmness.

Choose skincare and makeup labelled noncomedogenic, oil free or won't clog pores. For moisturizer, these descriptions mean the product is unlikely to cause acne. Preventing blockages matters because clogged pores expand and become more noticeable.14

Which ingredients help?

For clogged pores or acne, a salicylic acid cleanser can help clear blockages. Some formulas are gentle enough for daily use. If yours causes dryness or irritation, alternate it with a mild cleanser: use the mild cleanser in the morning and salicylic acid before bed.1

Retinol is another option, particularly for oily skin, mild acne or reduced firmness. It helps clear dead skin cells and supports collagen, a protein that gives skin structure. Apply a thin layer at night twice weekly to start, increasing toward daily use as tolerated. Waiting 30 minutes after washing before applying can reduce irritation. Do not use retinol or retinyl palmitate during pregnancy or breastfeeding.12

An acid toner containing glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid can unclog pores and smooth texture, making pores look a little smaller; the word toner on the bottle is not the active ingredient. Apply after cleansing and before moisturizer, without rinsing. Start every other day if the formula contains strong acids, then adjust to your skin's tolerance. For sensitive skin, avoid heavily fragranced formulas.5

How much change should you expect?

Expect limited improvement rather than a poreless finish. Treatments aimed at shrinking enlarged pores are not very effective. Toner effects generally take six weeks to three months to appear, and changes can be subtle. Squeezing or using extractor tools can damage skin and cause scarring, so leave extraction out of your home routine.235

If skincare is not helping, or acne remains active, a dermatologist can assess prescription treatment or procedures such as laser treatment and microneedling. Keeping pores clear can improve their appearance, but skincare is not a pore deletion service.23