Solutions for oily skin and large pores.
Oily skin and large pores are one of the holy grails of skin care now. A number of companies are working on devices that might actually be effective, but none are on the market yet. How do we know this? Because it continues to be a main skin issue in this country and all over the world. If there was something truly effective, we’d all be using it.
Interesting factoids about oily skin and large pores:
- The reason you wake up in the morning with better skin, is related to your quieter metabolism while you sleep, not the products particularly.
- Pores size and oil is in our DNA and inherited from our relatives.
- When facial oil production decreases, pore size decreases.
- But…..our hormones, affect our pore size too. Example – women with polycystic ovaries, or endometriosis often notice changes in pores size.
- Oral contraceptives can reduce oil and acne in some women.
- Accutane reduces oil and pores size. This prescription medication is only for men/women with truly cystic acne. These are the large cysts which tend to scar.
- Spironolactone (prescription medication) tends to reduce oil and pore size because it lowers DHEA (an androgen) a little in women.
- Certain lasers can be used to reduce oil production temporarily. The are several more now being studied.
Skin care products can help a little with oily skin and large pores.
- The first thing is to make sure that none of your products are clogging your pores or adding to the oil.
- See your gynecologist or primary care about checking to make sure hormone levels are normal. Does your oil get worse before your period?
- Try products like the Skinceuticals Vitamin B5 gel which is almost pure hyaluronic acid (hydrates with no oil).
- Try to get some good blotting papers with rice powder like the ones Shiseido makes. You can blot with those frequently.
- Use a cream or gel vitamin A product like Retin A gel, or even the non prescription Retinol 1.0. These keep keep oil glands unplugged, and reduce flow a little.
- Experiment with your diet. Only you can do this. Does avoiding sugar and junk food help? Probiotics?
- Use mineral powder makeups with sunscreen in them like the Jane Iredale mineral powder compacts.
- Consider a Fraxel lite or Clear and Brilliant (also a Fraxel product), and see if you get some temporary reduction for a few months.
- In some patients, IPL/rejuvenation treatments done regularly, reduce flow temporarily.
Hope this helps, Dr. I