Pore care: what should you do at home, and what should you avoid?

The basics of pore care are keeping sebum and dead skin cells from building up at the pore opening and preserving the skin elasticity that supports the area around each pore. Home pore care is less about shrinking enlarged pores and more about keeping them from getting larger; pores that have already stretched need an examination to identify the cause.

Why do pores look enlarged?

Pores are the channels through which hair and sebum come out. On the nose, forehead, and inner cheeks, where a lot of sebum is produced, these channels widen easily, and when sebum and dead skin mix, block the opening, and oxidize, pores look dark and large. As we age and collagen in the dermis decreases, the support around each pore weakens and pores stretch into a vertical shape, and spots where acne was squeezed by hand can leave scars that look like sunken pores.

Home pore care: what to do and what to avoid

• Wash your face twice a day, morning and evening, with lukewarm water and a well-lathered cleanser, rinsing without rubbing.
• Exfoliate about once or twice a week, only to the extent that your skin does not sting, and do not scrub hard.
• After cleansing, apply a low-oil moisturizer so that dried-out skin does not push out even more sebum.
• UV rays reduce collagen in the dermis, so apply sunscreen even on cloudy days.
• Avoid frequently applying and peeling off nose strips or squeezing sebum with your fingernails, as this can damage the pore opening and leave red marks.

Pore care for men follows the same principles. However, men produce more sebum and their skin is irritated by daily shaving, so it is good to take care of moisturizing before and after shaving and to look after your razor blades as well. If home care does not keep sebum and dead skin in check, or if pores have widened because of lost elasticity or scarring, you can consider pore care or treatments at a dermatology clinic.

At our Suwon clinic, Aquapeel is performed in stages of exfoliation, pore cleansing, removal of impurities, and hydration, generally on a 1–2 week cycle.

How to Shrink Pores in Suwon: How Should Enlarged Pores Be Treated by Cause?

View Aquapeel Treatment Guide

Redness or swelling after care usually subsides over time, but if stinging and redness last more than a few days, please contact the clinic. If you use cosmetics containing ingredients such as retinol or are taking acne medication, please let us know before your session.

FAQ

Q. How often should I get pore care at a dermatology clinic?

A. Care that clears sebum and dead skin is usually continued every 1–2 weeks, matching how quickly sebum fills back up. Pores enlarged by lost elasticity or scarring are hard to change with care alone, so we first identify the cause and then decide on the approach.

Q. Does removing blackheads with nose strips make pores bigger?

A. Occasional use will not immediately enlarge your pores, but frequently applying and peeling them off can tear away dead skin and skin around the pore opening, leaving it red and sensitive. It is better to focus first on cleansing and moisturizing that slow down sebum buildup.

Q. How is pore care different for men?

A. Men produce more sebum, and shaving irritates the skin surface every day. Cleansing and moisturizing follow the same principles, but it helps to wet the skin thoroughly before shaving and soothe it with a low-alcohol moisturizer afterward.