All about pores - what are their functions, what can be problems and what helps with clogged or enlarged pores?

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Pores are an important part of our skin. They keep the skin supple, help regulate heat, and nothing would work without pores. However, pores can also be clogged or visibly enlarged, especially on the face. Let's understand more about the function of pores, as well as exactly what happens when pores get clogged and how acne and other inflammation occur.

Why do we have pores and what are they?

What we do or do not see as "pores" on our skin (depending on their size) are the outlets of sebum and sweat glands. They are almost everywhere on our body, but there are a few places that don't secrete sebum, such as our lips. That's why they tend to be too dry and need extra care.

So without sebum, our skin will completely dry out, which is why our pores are incredibly important to us. It's the same with sweat, because it serves to regulate heat and make sure we don't overheat. Without pores it would look bad for us, so of course it's all the more paradoxical that pores sometimes have such a negative reputation.

It's fair to say, however, that it's mostly about visibly enlarged pores on the face, as well as clogged and inflamed pores, which, of course, just isn't very pleasing from a visual standpoint. We're definitely in favor of normalizing visible pores, though, because everyone has them, and there's nothing wrong with that. However, inflamed pores lead to pimples and can sometimes be painful and leave scars.

Cleanse your skin properly so your pores don't clog or inflame

Unfortunately, especially with an oily skin type that produces too much sebum, pores can clog relatively quickly and then also become inflamed and lead to acne.

We also recommend double cleansing for oily skin, using a cleansing oil or balm first and then a gel or foam cleanser. The hydrophilic oil removes all excess sebum and prepares the skin for further steps of care. The balm removes impurities and all traces of makeup and evens out sebum production. The sorbet-like cleansing balm leaves the skin feeling fresh and thoroughly cleanses without drying it out.

The cleansing foam removes excess sebum, resulting in a healthy balance of oil and water.

Salicylic Acid Pore Cleansing

One of the best active ingredients against clogged pores and therefore acne and inflammation is salicylic acid, also known as BHA. Unlike AHAs, which mainly exfoliate the top layer of skin and remove keratinized cells, BHAs can penetrate a little deeper into the skin and literally flush out pores.

If you are prone to rashes, pimples, and inflammation, you should use a toner with BHA, for example, to clear excess sebum from your pores and prevent them from clogging. Dry skin types should be careful, as this can lead to dry skin in the long term. Oily skin should also be moisturized after the procedure, for example with cosmetics containing hyaluronic acid.