One of the most common skincare concerns that we hear about is enlarged or clogged nose pores. The pores around the nose area can easily get clogged with dirt, oil, and makeup which can cause blackheads or the appearance of enlarged pores on your face. “Clogged pores are caused by sebum (oil) and dirt building up on the skin,” says Dr. Parks, our board certified dermatologist and the founder of DermWarehouse.
What are pores?
Pores are small openings in your skin that allow oil to pass through from your glands. They also house your hair follicles and play an important role in your skin health. “You have pores all over your body,” says Dr. Parks. “They help your skin distribute oil that it produces, house hair follicles, and distribute sweat to balance temperatures,” he says.
Why do my pores look so big?
Despite how it may look, your pores are not getting bigger. “Pores don’t actually change in size, so the appearance of enlarged pores is likely caused by a buildup of dirt, dead skin, and oil,” says Dr. Parks. With a regular skincare routine, the appearance of enlarged pores should fade over time. There are quite a few reasons why your pores may appear enlarged, even if you don’t have blackheads.
Sun Damage
Sun damage is a common reason why your pores may begin to appear larger than before. “With regular sun exposure, the collagen on your skin can become damaged which can make your pores appear larger,” says Dr. Parks. He recommends to always lather on an SPF as part of your everyday skincare routine to prevent common signs of aging that come from sun damage.
The Dermalogica Porescreen SPF 40 is a sunscreen that includes ingredients to minimize the appearance of pores to help your skin appear smoother and more radiant. Another popular choice available from DermWarehouse is the MD Solar Sciences Tint + Tone SPF 50 or the Elta MD UV AOX Elements Broad Spectrum SPF 50.
Under Exfoliating
“SPF is a great way to prevent further damage from occuring, but it won’t reverse damage that has already happened,” says Dr. Parks. You can use products with active ingredients like retinol to increase cell turnover which will improve collagen production. Over time, regularly exfoliating will help improve damage caused from UV exposure.
Related Blog: Retinol Vs. Glycolic Acid
“Exfoliating is an important step in any skincare routine,” says Dr. Parks. “For patients who are concerned with enlarged or clogged pores, exfoliating can help remove dirt and oil buildup that can exacerbate their symptoms,” he says. The iS Clinical Retinol Emulsion is a popular choice among DermWarehouse customers, along with the Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum and the Retinol B3 Serum from La Roche-Posay.
Irregular Cleansing
Regular cleansing is the key to any good skincare routine, but is especially important for concerns with enlarged pores or blackheads. “The most important thing to know about caring for this area of the face is that you don’t squeeze your pores,” says Dr. Parks. “Pressure from squeezing your pores can actually damage your skin and lead to scarring, and squeezing your skin can stretch out the elastin, causing long-term damage if it can’t bounce back every time you touch your skin.
The best thing to do to clean your nose pores is to—well, clean your face! “Establishing a good, regular cleansing routine can help flush out the dirt, oil, and bacteria from your pores and prevent it from building up again in the future,” says Dr. Parks. “I always recommend that my patients with these concerns cleanse their skin twice daily with a gentle cleanser,” he says.
Related Blog: Should You Wash Your Face In The Morning?
The HydroPeptide Foaming Cream Cleanser is a popular choice for a cleanser that can offer a deep clean without any harsh ingredients. We also recommend the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex Polish which can help restore your skin’s natural barrier to balance oil production and prevent blackheads from appearing again. The Osmosis Beauty Gentle Cleanser is another popular choice for a product that can cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.
How to Clean Nose Pores
Cleaning your nose pores should be done regularly, just as you would clean the rest of your face. “The key to cleaning your nose pores most effectively without causing any damage to your skin is to use gentle products that don’t poke at your pores or stretch your skin,” says Dr. Parks. Extraction tools can be satisfying to play with, but they may end up causing harm to your skin long-term. Here are the steps you can take to properly clean your pores:
1. Remove your makeup every night.
Use a gentle cleanser to remove makeup, dirt, and oil that may have accumulated on your skin throughout the day, and again in the morning to prevent any oil from settling in the pores overnight. We made a few recommendations above but also recommend products like the Elta MD Oil In Gel Cleanser or the Dr. Elsa Jungman No Soap Gentle Cleanser for anyone with soap allergies or sensitivity to soaps.
2. Use clay masks to absorb impurities.
“Clay masks are great for addressing concerns with enlarged or clogged pores,” says Dr. Parks. “As clay dries on the skin, it absorbs impurities like dirt and toxins along with any excess oil that may get trapped within the pores,” he says. The Revision Skincare Pore Purifying Clay Mask is a popular choice, as well as the DCL Detoxifying Clay Mask.
Related Blog: The Best Ingredients for Face Masks for your Skin
“I recommend using a clay mask weekly if you struggle with enlarged or clogged pores,” says Dr. Parks. “This will help to draw out any impurities, but won’t dry your skin out to where it ends up causing additional problems, he says. On that note, those with dry skin may want to avoid clay masks, since clay can be drying to begin with.
3. Exfoliate regularly.
Exfoliating your skin at least once per week will help prevent clogged pores, but will also increase skin cell turnover and collagen production to also address skin damage and signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines.
“Avoid physical exfoliants on your face that would otherwise be used on the body,” says Dr. Parks. “Physical exfoliants are great for body exfoliation but can cause micro tears on the face where the skin is much more delicate,” he says. Instead, opt for chemical exfoliants such as products with retinol or glycolic acid.
Related Blog: Chemical Exfoliants vs. Physical Exfoliants
4. Use cleansing strips when needed.
Blackhead strips are adhesive strips that can be used to absorb dirt and oil stuck in your pores. Products like the HydroPeptide Bambusa Blackhead Banisher Pore Perfecting Nose Mask are a great way to remove blackheads quickly. However, they won’t prevent them from coming back without a good skincare cleansing routine.
In Closing
Cleaning your nose pores is less about squeezing the dirt and oil out of them, and more about balancing your skincare routine to prevent that dirt and oil buildup from occurring in the first place. As we said before, your pores don’t have muscles and therefore can’t shrink or grow—even if they may look larger from one day to the next. With the right products and a regular routine, keeping your noes pores clean and smooth will feel easy!