What Your Pores Are Telling You
What Your Pores Are Telling You – Your pores are the gatekeeper to your skin. So you need to know what your pores are telling you this way you can properly care for your skin. Watch this video to learn more.
Expert: Adam Friedman, FAAD Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Director of Dermatologic Research
Transcript
You have about one million pores per SQUARE INCH on your body, and they can offer major insight into your skins needs and wants. In order to listen to your pores, though, you have to understand what they’re all about.
Pores are tiny openings in your skin through which your body’s sweat and sebum oil travel to the skin’s surface. If all goes correctly, that sebum oil provides just the right amount of moisture to keep you supple without being shiny. Plus, sebum oil gently removes dead skin cells from your pores.
Of course, things don’t always go according to plan. Sometimes, your pores get clogged with excess oil, dirt, dead skin, and bad bacteria. When that happens, beware of acne. In fact, all forms of acne originate in your pores, which is why we have to listen to them. If your pores are barely visible, and you tend to have relatively clear skin, you fortunately are the bearer of a normal skin type. You can be fairly flexible with your skincare routine. Despite its name, normal skin is anything but. Some estimates put the percentage of people with this skin type at just five-percent.
If your pores are tiny but you feel that your skin is often tight and flaky, you’re more likely to have dry skin. Reach for mega-moisturizing products that cater to that, but make sure they say non-comedogenic on the label, which means non-acne forming. And never over-wash your face and body, as doing so strips away the oil you DO make.
But what if your pores are gigantic? If you can SEE them, your pores are probably informing you that you’ve got oily or combination skin. Combination skin tends to be oily just around the chin, nose, and forehead, with dry areas on the cheeks. People with oily areas on their skin will want to reach for stronger, facial cleansers and lighter moisturizers specially formulated for their skin type.
Those with oily and combination skin are also most likely to have pimples, which, as we know, stem from clogged pores. If your pores consistently fill up with acne, consider picking up one of the hundreds of anti-acne face and body washes with either benzoyl peroxide or salycilic acid out there. But remember not to over-wash and dry out your skin, as dry, cracked skin can allow bacteria to get in and make your acne worse. If your skin doesn’t respond, your doctor might be able to prescribe a prescription cream, wash, or medication to help get you in the clear.
For more info on caring for WHATEVER type of pores you possess, check out other skin care videos on this website!
Last Modified: 2012-11-17
