Pore Reduction

Smaller Pores Give a Smoother Look

Pores play a vital role in skin physiology. After all, without them we'd have nowhere for hair to grow out of, and no method for skin oil to reach the surface to protect it from environmental dehydration. Big pores are however a frustrating beauty nemesis that even the best makeup products and skills cannot sufficiently hide. The pore is little more than the opening of the hair follicle onto the surface of the skin. Midway up the dermal layer, the sebaceous oil gland empties into the hair follicle, and both skin oil (sebum) and the hair breach the surface through this tiny aperture. Wherever there is a hair, there will be a pore. Skin pores are not invisible and everyone has them. The question is how best to minimize their appearance to the naked eye. Refined facial pores are highly desirable for everyone yearning for a smooth, radiant complexion that is the envy of many. As such, it is not a surprise we get a lot of requests for “pore reduction” for the “pore-fect” complexion!

What causes enlarged pores?

While it’s a common beauty myth that pores open and close, they can expand and contract and thus appear larger or smaller depending on how much debris is stuck in them. Anything that attracts attention or expands the natural shape of pores magnifies their appearance. Genetics may certainly be to blame. Barely visible on those prone to drier skin, individuals with oily, thicker skin tend to have larger looking, more noticeable pores. 


Sun damage is another cause. As we age, one of the ways sun damage affects the skin is through the enlargement of the pores. Sun damage and aging cause the epidermis to thicken and a rim of cells are more likely to collect around individual pores. While microscopic, these rings of thickened cells exaggerate pore diameter.

Cynosure Picosure Pico Toning

Fotona StarWalker® MaQX

Hydrafacial for deep pore cleansing

Neogen Plasma

Professional Chemical Peel

FAQs

Can pores open and close?
It is a common beauty myth that pores open and close, but they can expand and contract and thus appear larger or smaller depending on how much debris is stuck in them. The universal goal is therefore to unclog pores to allow oxygen to flow through freely so that bacteria can’t cause problems. A good skincare regime is hence without a doubt a good starting point to deal with them, by using the right products to make them “appear smaller”. But for permanent salvation, tried and tested lasers are what you should be making a beeline for to physically shrink down pores while increasing your collagen production for overall skin rejuvenation, to a flawless “pore-fect” complexion.

What kind of skincare products should I use?
Regular exfoliation is perhaps the single most cost effective step to achieve smaller looking pores. Exfoliating your skin regularly helps remove dry skin cells that may be clogging up your pores. In addition, it will also help to make the openings of those pesky pores appear a little more shallow compared to those coated with a layer of dead skin cells. Despite the fact that you might not be worrying about lines and wrinkles at this point in time, do take note of the dermatological prowess of retinoids. Besides its more well-known anti-aging benefits, this vitamin A derivative helps unclog pores effectively by decreasing the cohesiveness of your facial skin cells and increasing their rate of turnover. Consequently, oils and other surface impurities find it harder to nest in your pores and can be removed much more readily. Do speak to our trained therapist for a bespoke skincare routine tailored to your needs.

What is the Pico Toning procedure like?
The skin is cleansed and numbed with a topical anaesthetic cream for about 10 minutes. You will only feel a mildly warm and stingy, bite-liked sensation when the Pico laser is applied to your skin for the next 15 to 20 minutes. Pico toning is a very bearable procedure and there’s hardly any redness after having a post-laser mask to calm down the skin. 

What kind of downtime will I experience?
There may be some redness, swelling and tenderness of the skin over the treated area. These symptoms usually resolve spontaneously within the next 24 hours. Do observe proper sun protection and keep your skin well moisturized. Avoid any products containing alpha hydroxy acid (AHA), beta hydroxy acid (BHA), retinols/retinoid, differin or hydroquinone for 3 to 5 days post treatment. You may wish to consult with our clinic staff for a suitable skincare regime to enhance the results of Pico Toning. You may see some improvement after 1 to 2 weeks but generally, the effect of laser treatment is accumulative. You are strongly encouraged to keep to the individualized program suggested by your attending doctor for optimal outcome.