How many pores are on your face?

What counts as a pore?

In anatomy, pores are tiny surface openings associated with hair follicles and oil glands, or with eccrine sweat glands, which release watery sweat. These openings are normally too small to see with the naked eye. The larger features commonly called facial pores are shallow depressions that can contain several microscopic openings. The word 'pore' covers several different structures, which is convenient for conversation and terrible for arithmetic.1

Visible facial pores commonly measure around 250 to 500 micrometres across, or 0.25 to 0.5 millimetres. Their size and density vary between people. Multiplying a cheek measurement across your entire face would assume that every area has the same density. It would also count visible depressions, not every microscopic opening. An exact total therefore needs a definition of 'pore' and measurements of the areas being counted.1

How many pores are on the human body?

A person with a skin surface area of 1.8 square metres has an estimated 2.03 million functioning eccrine sweat glands. That is a sweat gland count, not a grand total of everything called a pore, because the terminology has already caused enough accounting trouble. Sweat gland density also varies by body region: the finger surfaces on the palm side have a much higher density than the upper lip. A body total cannot tell you how many visible pores are on your face.2

Why do some pores look more noticeable?

Clogging, oiliness and reduced skin firmness can make pores look larger. Sun damage contributes to loss of firmness, while irritation from scrubbing or squeezing can make pores more noticeable. A visible pore is a common, benign skin feature, not automatically acne. Appearance and number are different measurements, even if the mirror insists on presenting them as one complaint.13

What should you do about visible pores?

• Wash your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser and warm rather than hot water. Avoid scrubbing, picking and squeezing.
• Look for skincare and makeup labelled noncomedogenic, oil free or 'won't clog pores' to help avoid clogging.
• Apply a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day to help prevent sun damage.

If you also have blackheads or other acne, treatment should target those blemishes rather than the pore count. Acne treatment generally needs 6 to 8 weeks of consistent use before improvement becomes visible. Deep, painful breakouts need a dermatologist's help; counting pores will not identify the treatment they need.4