Healthy Pores and How To Get Them

Some strive for healthy eating, healthy mind, healthy bodies, but what about healthy pores? Common skin complaints surrounding healthy pores are pore sizes and their visibility. In many cases, when it comes to small pores vs. large pores, the smaller the pore size, the clearer your skin appears. Large pores make you more susceptible to oil or bacteria build up. Keep reading to find out all you need to know about healthy pores and how to get them!

What are pores?
Most pores on your face are the opening of hair follicles, miniscule openings in the skin that continue further down through several layers of skin. Each follicle contains or has the capability to grow one shaft of hair and the hair is not always observable. Every person has about 5 million hair follicles, or pores, so the amount of visible pores that we obsess over is very few compared to the overall amount we actually have (Dr. Buka).

What causes clogged pores?

Each pore consists of its own sebaceous gland that produces oil, which is actually an important component of the skin to help keep it hydrated and protected from daily exposure to the environment (Jacoby). What leads to clogged pores is when dead skin cells, dirt, and/or oil are trapped in the pore openings rather than being shed into the environment. As a result, comedones, such as blackheads, whiteheads, and acne can form. Several environmental factors that can contribute to clogged pores are toxins in the air, oil or dirt transferred from your hands when you touch your face, and sweat (Chertoff).

Big pores vs. small pores

Pore size is genetic and is greatly influenced by your family tree (Dr. Buka). Those who have inherited naturally oily skin are more likely to have larger pores on their face since their skin is more actively releasing oil. This allows for the potential of more oil, dirt, and dead skin cells to get trapped in the skin. However, contrary to popular belief, larger pores are not always representative of unhealthy skin. Larger pores and the excess oil that pairs with them can counteract the physical signs of aging, such as wrinkles.

Other factors that contribute to large pore sizes are sun damage and bad habits. With time, all the years you spend in the sun will gradually catch up to you and slowly expand your pores. Sun damage ultimately leads to inflammation and the thickening of skin cells. Scorched cells pool around the edges of pores and give them a larger appearance (Chertoff). Unhealthy habits that affect pores and the skin in general include smoking, an unbalanced diet, improper hydration, routine use of tanning beds, and not washing your face. All of these habits deprive your skin of important nutrients or damage the skin, and thereby speeds up the aging process, making pores more visible.

How to reduce pore size

It’s not necessarily unfavorable to have large pores on the face because oil secretion can be good for the skin and provide a natural layer of protection and moisture. And while it’s not possible to reduce pore size, you can reduce their appearance. Pore size cannot physically change because your oil glands are genetic (Chertoff). However, those who would like to do so can get the same effects by minimizing the appearance of their pores and prevent them from expanding.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologists recommend the following practices to make pores appear smaller and less noticeable:

1) Use non-comedogenic skin care products and makeup. Non-comedogenic products will not clog your pores. When pores clog, they expand and become more visible. To avoid this, it is recommended to only purchase products for the face that list the terms: non-comedogenic, oil free, and won’t clog pores (AAD).

2) Cleanse twice a day. Clogged pores or an oily complexion give off the appearance of larger pores. Cleansing your face twice daily will help unclog pores, prevent new ones from forming, and reduce oil buildup. It is essential that when you are washing your face that you use warm water so that it doesn’t irritate your skin and to be gentle with your face to avoid inflammation.

3) Wear sunscreen daily. As you spend more time in the sun, your skin loses firmness, which results in more noticeable pores. It is important to protect your skin by applying an effective sunscreen, like The Day Cream, every day as it is vulnerable anytime it is exposed to sunlight.

4) Be gentle with your skin. When exfoliating or applying skincare or makeup products, scrubbing or being rough with your skin won’t make it any cleaner or appear smaller. Instead, physical irritation makes your pores look larger, so be sure to avoid picking at, squeezing, or digging into pores, acne, blackheads, etc..

5) Treat sagging skin. Aging is inevitable and so is the loss of firmness in your skin. With age, it is normal for collagen to break down and cause the skin to lose its elasticity. When skin begins sagging, pores will become more visible. The Anti-Aging Night Cream by Musely is a prescription anti-aging cream made with freshly compounded ingredients to effectively treat fine lines and wrinkles. It is formulated with tretinoin, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, and customized for your specific concern. Treat aging skin and reduce the appearance of your pores with The Anti-Aging Night Cream for just $1 a day! Try it today, exclusively at Musely.

Why choose FaceRx for your prescription skin care needs

While you can get prescription tretinoin skin care products at your local pharmacy, these prescription dermatology products often lose their potency and effectiveness since they are mass-manufactured before reaching shelves. On the other hand, Musely’s FaceRx prescription skin care products are freshly compounded and are 10x more potent than over-the-counter (OTC) products or prescription alternatives. Formulated by top Board-Certified Dermatologists, Musely also offers a variety of formulas based on each individual’s skin concerns. In addition, FaceRx treatments work for all skin types and tones. With over 51+ customized formulas, Musely has a treatment suitable for everyone.

Another benefit of using FaceRx treatments is convenience. Scheduling an in-person dermatologist visit can be extremely difficult since it typically takes around 4-8 weeks to get an appointment. With FaceRx, the dermatologist visit is entirely online and takes only 3 minutes. Complete the online questionnaire about your skin and medical history, upload three photos of your skin, and your assigned dermatologist will prescribe you the best formula for your skin concerns based on your online visit. There is no need to wait in long lines at the doctor’s office or pharmacies; medication is delivered straight to your door — no shipping fees and tax-free. Furthermore, FaceRx treatments are less costly compared to other procedures such as lasers and microneedling. The Spot Cream costs less than a dollar a day. Effective and affordable, the best prescription skin care products are found at Musely!

Behind The Scenes: The FaceRx Story

Musely CEO’s wife Cherry, struggled with melasma for years with no solution. She spent thousands of dollars on lasers and OTC treatments, all to no avail. One day, Musely got a tip from dermatologist Dr. Marie Jhin, who shared her secret of prescription skin care. After seeing Dr. Jhin, Cherry’s dark spots were gone and her wrinkles were significantly reduced. Her skin was completely transformed in just a matter of two months! The treatment? It included a prescription for tretinoin, hydroquinone, among others that can only be obtained through doctor visits or pharmacies. Musely CEO Jack Jia was so blown away by Cherry’s results that he wanted to share her amazing transformation with the entire Musely community and make prescription skin care treatments accessible to everyone.

9 months later, FaceRx was born! Musely engineers built an online telemedicine platform. A dozen of the country’s top board-certified dermatologists joined Dr. Jhin to form what is now known as The Musely Medical Board. They developed special formulas that can be customized for each individual. A patient would receive a treatment prescribed and dispensed by their dermatologist and pharmacist just for them! Musely also developed eNurse, an extension to the existing Musely tips app, to allow the same doctor and pharmacist to support the patient during the 60-day treatment period.

Thanks to FaceRx, dermatologists can now oversee treatment for multiple patients at the same time from anywhere. Users can finish their doctor visit within minutes from the comfort of their home and receive their treatments at their doorstep within days.

With prescription skin care treatments that are affordable and accessible to everyone, FaceRx is the number one choice for treating dark spots, aging, and more—with results that actually last!

About Musely

Musely provides prescription skin care treatments through technology. Musely enables talented dermatologists and pharmacists to deliver and administer medical treatments for skin conditions and skincare, online. With its revolutionary approach, Musely enables the science of youth quickly and inexpensively from the convenience of your home. Founded by successful Silicon Valley serial entrepreneurs, Musely is on a mission to deliver health and healthy living to every person in the world.

Sources

1) Buka, Dr. Bobby. “All about Pores: Does Size Really Matter?” All About Pores: Does Size Really Matter?, The Dermatology Specialists, 22 May 2019.

2) Chertoff, Jane. “How to Unclog Pores: Safe Methods, What to Avoid, and More.” 5 Ways to Unclog Pores and 2 Methods to Avoid, Healthline Media, 11 Aug. 2020.

3) “What Can Treat Large Facial Pores?” American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Dermatology Association.

4) Jacoby, Sarah. “PSA: It's Totally Fine and Normal to Have Visible Pores on Your Face.” SELF, SELF, 23 July 2019.