Can You Actually Shrink Your Pores?

Can You Actually Shrink Your Pores? What the Science Says

“Poreless skin.” “Pore minimising.” “Tightens pores.”

If you spend any time looking at skincare, you've probably seen claims like these everywhere.

Visible pores are also one of those things that can suddenly become impossible to unsee once you start paying attention to them — particularly around the nose, cheeks and forehead.

But pores aren't little doors that simply open and close. And having visible pores doesn't mean there's something wrong with your skin.

So can you actually shrink them?

The answer is a little more complicated.

While we can't simply make pores disappear, there are things that can influence how noticeable they look. And understanding why your pores appear more prominent is much more useful than trying every product labelled “pore minimising”.

What actually is a pore?

When we talk about visible facial pores, we're generally talking about the openings of the pilosebaceous follicles — structures within the skin associated with a hair follicle and sebaceous gland.

Sebaceous glands produce sebum, the oily substance that forms part of the skin's surface environment.

Pores themselves are completely normal.

The issue isn't really whether you have pores — because we all do — but why the openings of some follicles appear more noticeable than others.

Research suggests there isn't one single cause of enlarged-looking facial pores. Instead, several factors can contribute to their appearance.

Why do some pores look larger?

Three of the main factors identified in the dermatology literature are:

Higher sebum production

Research has found an association between sebum production and the appearance of enlarged facial pores. If a follicle is producing more sebum, this can contribute to a more noticeable follicular opening.

Reduced elasticity around the pore

The structure surrounding a follicle matters too.

As the skin changes with age — and with factors such as cumulative UV exposure — reduced support and elasticity around the follicle can contribute to pores appearing more prominent.

The size of the hair follicle

Hair follicle volume is another factor associated with visible pore size.

Genetics, hormones, acne and individual differences in our skin can also influence how noticeable our pores appear, which helps explain why two people following very similar skincare routines can have completely different-looking skin.

In other words:

Visible pores aren't necessarily a sign that you're doing something wrong.

Some of what you're seeing is simply your skin.

Can you permanently shrink your pores?

This is where skincare marketing can make things confusing.

We can potentially improve the appearance of enlarged pores, but promising to permanently “close” or erase them isn't realistic.

Your follicles are normal anatomical structures within your skin. We aren't trying to get rid of them.

Instead, the aim is to understand what might be making them appear more prominent and address the factors that we can influence.

And that's important because the best approach for someone with oily, congested skin may be completely different from the approach for someone whose pores have become more noticeable alongside changes in skin elasticity.

A review of 19 clinical trials found that a range of treatments had been studied for reducing the visible area or number of facial pores, but also highlighted the fact that treatment needs to account for the underlying factors involved.

What can skincare realistically do?

This is where I would be wary of any product promising to simply “close your pores”.

A more useful skincare routine is one designed around why your pores appear prominent in the first place.

For oilier or congestion-prone skin, that may mean looking at how we manage excess sebum and follicular congestion.

For skin where ageing and reduced elasticity are contributing, supporting overall skin quality and protecting the skin from further UV damage may be more relevant.

Topical retinoids are among the treatments discussed within the dermatology literature for enlarged facial pores, alongside approaches targeting sebum production and skin ageing.

But that doesn't mean everybody with visible pores needs a retinoid — and it definitely doesn't mean you need to attack your skin with as many active ingredients as possible.

More skincare isn't automatically better skincare.

Overcomplicating a routine or repeatedly irritating the skin in pursuit of perfectly smooth texture can create an entirely different problem.

What about exfoliation?

Exfoliating ingredients can be useful within an appropriate routine, particularly when congestion and excess oil are contributing to uneven texture.

But again, the goal isn't to scrub or peel a pore until it somehow disappears.

How often you exfoliate, which ingredient you use and whether your skin actually needs it should all be considered.

If your skin is becoming tight, sore, flaky or increasingly reactive, adding another exfoliating acid because your pores are still visible probably isn't the answer.

Healthy skin still has texture.

And healthy skin still has pores.

Can professional treatments improve the appearance of pores?

Potentially, yes.

A number of approaches have been studied for enlarged facial pores, including topical retinoids, chemical peels, lasers and energy-based devices.

However, results vary and there isn't one treatment that is universally best for everybody.

This comes back to the same question:

Why do the pores look prominent in the first place?

If excess sebum and congestion are significant factors, we may take one approach.

If we're looking at changes in skin texture and elasticity, the treatment plan may look different.

That's why I don't believe in treating a concern simply because we can see it. I want to understand what's contributing to it first.

What about microneedling?

This one is particularly relevant at Beau.t.

Microneedling creates controlled micro-injury within the skin, triggering a wound-healing response associated with collagen remodelling.

Because changes in the structural support around follicles can contribute to enlarged-looking pores, treatments aimed at improving overall skin quality and remodelling may have a role.

There is emerging clinical research specifically investigating Microneedling-based approaches for enlarged pores. However, the evidence for standard microneedling specifically as a pore treatment is still developing, and some studies combine microneedling with another treatment — meaning we shouldn't automatically attribute the result to microneedling alone.

So I wouldn't promise a client that microneedling will “close their pores”.

Instead, I'd look at the bigger picture.

If we're using microneedling to support collagen remodelling and improve overall skin texture and quality, an improvement in the appearance of pores may form part of that wider treatment goal.

And skin peels?

Chemical peels are another treatment discussed within the literature on enlarged facial pores.

Depending on the peel being used and the skin we're treating, peels can be used as part of a plan addressing concerns such as oiliness, congestion, uneven texture and pigmentation.

Again, that doesn't mean every peel is a “pore shrinking treatment”.

At Beau.t, the treatment should be chosen around your skin and what we're actually trying to improve, rather than choosing the strongest peel or most aggressive treatment because we assume more must mean better.

Don't judge your skin against filtered skin

There's another part of the pore conversation that I think is worth talking about.

We now spend a huge amount of time looking at skin through phone cameras, filters, editing and carefully controlled lighting.

Real skin doesn't look like that.

It has follicles. It has fine hairs. It has lines. It has texture. And yes — it has visible pores.

That doesn't mean we can't work on things that bother you.

But there's a big difference between wanting to improve your skin and chasing a version of skin that doesn't actually exist.

The Beau.t takeaway

You can't simply erase your pores — and you don't need to.

How noticeable they appear can be influenced by several factors, including sebum production, follicle size and the elasticity of the surrounding skin.

That means there isn't one magic “pore shrinking” product or treatment that's right for everybody.

The most useful approach is to understand why your pores appear prominent, then build your skincare and treatment plan around your individual skin.

And sometimes that might mean managing oil and congestion.

Sometimes it might mean supporting collagen and overall skin quality.

Sometimes it might simply mean accepting that what you're seeing is completely normal skin.

The goal isn't poreless skin. It's healthier skin that looks and functions at its best.

At Beau.t, that's always the approach — understanding your skin first, then choosing products and treatments with purpose rather than chasing unrealistic skincare trends.

Not sure what your skin actually needs?

Book your first skin appointment and we'll look at your skin, your current routine and your concerns together.

REFERENCES
Lee SJ, Seok J, Jeong SY, et al. Facial Pores: Definition, Causes, and Treatment Options. Dermatologic Surgery. 2016;42(3):277–285. PubMed

Kim BY, Choi JW, Park KC, Youn SW. Sebum, acne, skin elasticity, and gender difference – which is the major influencing factor for facial pores? Skin Research and Technology. 2013;19(1):e45–e53. PubMed

Dong J, Lanoue J, Goldenberg G. Enlarged facial pores: an update on treatments. Cutis. 2016;98(1):33–36. PubMed

Parvar SY, et al. The efficacy and adverse effects of treatment options for facial pores: A review article. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2023;22(3):763–775. This review included 19 clinical trials involving 591 participants.