As parents, you know what it’s like to have pimples and blackheads. Clogged pores can be the dread of your teen’s days if they’re not careful. While clogged pores are certainly annoying, there are solutions to the problem.
Myths About Clogged Pores
Believe it or not, pores play an important role in skin health – they allow the sebum oil that keeps your skin lubricated to travel from the sebaceous gland to the surface of your skin. Ultimately you don’t want your pores completely closed; otherwise, they’d dry out leaving you with more problems than blackheads and pimples. To set the record straight on pores, we’re sharing some common myths and debunking them for you.
1. Myth: "Blackheads are dirt stuck in your pores"
Blackheads occur when dead skin cells and oil block the opening of the pores. Blackheads are black because when the oil reaches the surface of the skin, it oxidizes and turns black.
2. Myth: "You can change your pore size and make them smaller"
You may be able to make your pores appear smaller, but actually making them smaller is not possible. Unfortunately for some, pore size is mostly determined by genetics.
3. Myth: "Sun exposure reduces pore size"
This myth couldn’t be further from the truth. Sun exposure actually causes damage to the skin’s elasticity and degrades collagen. Over time this leads to pores appearing bigger, not smaller.
4. Myth: "Hot water enlarges pores and cold water makes pores smaller"
While in essence this is somewhat true – heat expands and dilates the pore opening slightly and cold water makes pores appear tighter and smaller – this is only temporary and the temperature of the water you wash your face with really doesn’t have a lasting effect on pore size. So you can stop dousing your face with ice-cold water. In fact, the best temperature to wash your face with is luke warm water.
5. Myth: "Washing your face more frequently will prevent clogged pores"
While washing your face is a great way to remove excess dead skin and oil to help prevent blackheads and blemishes, washing excessively can do the opposite and make breakouts worse. Washing your face too often can cause irritation, dryness and redness, none of which will help prevent clogged pores.
Ways to Minimize Pores
Even though the myths and misconceptions around clogged pores are frustrating, there are solutions to minimize the appearance of enlarged pores. Large pores on the face are mostly the result of a pore being one that produces oil combined with dead skin and makeup buildup on the surface of the skin. When the pore fills with oil and combines with the debris, it becomes clogged. The blockage stretches the pore making it appear bigger. While we cannot change how much oil pores produce or which pores produce oil, there are ways to minimize pores. Here’s how:
1. Wash your face twice a day
Encourage your teen to wash their face both morning and night to remove dirt and debris that may have built up throughout the day. Doing so can help make pores less visible.
2. Treat acne - use a cleanser with a salicylic acid
Provide your teenager with a face cleanser containing salicylic acid. Studies show that salicylic acid can unclog pores. Look for a gentle face cleanser with salicylic acid to use daily, or the salicylic acid dries or irritates their skin, have them use it every other day.
3. Protect your face with sunscreen every day
The sun has harmful effects on the skin and can damage skin cells and pores leading to less firmness and larger appearing pores. Remind your teen to use sunscreen on their face daily, even if the weather calls for overcast skies or rain.
4. Exfoliate
Exfoliating makes pores less noticeable by removing dirt, dead skin cells and excess oil. You can exfoliate gently at home by using a tool such as a brush or a sponge, or a product that contains alpha and beta hydroxy acids to gently remove dead skin cells. Always apply a moisturizer immediately following exfoliation.
5. Be gentle with your skin
Avoid picking, squeezing or digging into your pores. This can irritate your pores and make them more noticeable. Instead, encourage your teen to be gentle with their skin with soft clothes and appropriate products.
Where to Find the Right Products to Minimize Pores
Products made specifically for kids, teens and tweens give you the peace of mind you need and the tools your teenager needs to prevent and treat blackheads, large pores and other blemishes fast. TBH’s Kids Spot Foaming Face Wash and Kids Spot Skin Cleansing Wipes are a gentle way to manage oil, acne and redness with no harsh ingredients. TBH’s Kids Spot Foaming Face Wash and Kids Spot Skin Cleansing Wipes are a combination of willow bark, salicylic acids, and jojoba designed to remove dead skin cells and oil, clean out pores, and regulate natural sebum to help soothe and moisturize the skin all while keeping the skin from looking oily and minimizing pores. The Spot Foaming Face Wash is gentle enough to use twice per day, while the Kids Spot Skin Cleansing Wipes are a convenient way to nourish, cleanse and sooth skin on the go, at school and before/after sports.
