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For many people, glowy, blemish-free skin is the goal. But clogged pores can and do happen, directly working against your efforts towards a clear complexion.
Unfortunately, clogged pores are common, and they can happen anywhere on your body, including your face, chest, neck, and back. They just tend to be most noticeable on your face. So finding treatment options and ways to prevent blemishes from occurring are so important for your healthiest skin.
Meet the experts: Cindy Wassef, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Susan Massick, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
But what causes clogged pores in the first place, and what can you do to get rid of them? Dermatologists break down treatment options and ways to prevent pores from clogging in the first place.
What are clogged pores, exactly?
Your pores are tiny openings in your skin that release oil and sweat from your glands, explains Cindy Wassef, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “At times, these pores can get clogged with oil or dead skin cells that are shed and appear enlarged,” she says.
Clogged pores can lead to acne, but they don’t always, says Susan Massick, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “When you suffer from recurrent clogged pores, you can start to develop skin lesions like blackheads, whiteheads, and acne pimples,” she says.
It’s important to point out that it’s normal for your skin to produce oil (a.k.a. sebum), per Dr. Massick. “It’s an important component to the health of your skin, but too much can lead to clogged pores,” she says.
What causes clogged pores?
As a whole, excess oil (sebum) and dead skin cells cause clogged pores. However, there are a few things that can raise your risk of that happening, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Including:
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Having dry skin or skin that produces extra skin cells
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Using facial products, like cleansers, lotions, or cosmetics
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Taking medications that change how much oil your glands produce
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Having oily skin due to age, hormones, or genetics
“Then there are causes behind the causes,” Dr. Wassef says. While these won’t directly cause clogged pores, the Cleveland Clinic says they can raise your risk:
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Using clothes, backpacks, helmets, or other garments or equipment that rub against your skin
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Being in humid conditions
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Being in pollution
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Having stress and anxiety
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Washing or scrubbing your skin too hard
What do clogged pores look like?
If you’ve ever had clogged pores, you probably have some idea of what they look like. But you may not know the difference between clogged pores and other skin issues.
“They usually look like round openings on the cheeks or nose,” Dr. Wassef says. “A yellow-white material is often noted within these openings.” They can also look like “small black dots on your skin,” Dr. Massick says.
Clogged pores look slightly different from other skin issues, although they can cause blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. “You can see the pores more prominently when they are clogged,” Dr. Massick says. “A regular zit may look like a raised, inflamed, and often tender bump with larger nodules and cysts representing greater inflammation.”
Whiteheads usually look like a white bump in the middle of a closed pore, while blackheads look like a black covering at the opening of a pore, Dr. Massick says.
How to get rid of clogged pores
It’s tempting to want to squeeze them, but doctors recommend against it. “This can cause redness, irritation, and inflammation,” Dr. Wassef says.
Instead, doctors recommend you try a few different things:
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Exfoliate your skin. “Gentle exfoliation can be helpful in unclogging the pores,” Dr. Wassef says. “We can never get rid of our pores because they serve an important purpose of delivering oil from oil glands to the skin to keep the skin moist, but unclogging them can improve their visual appearance.”
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Use certain topical medications. Those should include ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and retinoids. “Retinoids decrease sebum production and enhance cell turnover,” Dr. Massick says. Salicylic acid and glycolic acid can also help unclog pores and improve their appearance, Dr. Wassef says. “Look for products that are non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic to help in your skincare routine,” Dr. Massick says.
How to prevent clogged pores
Many of the methods for treating clogged pores pertain to prevention as well. So there are only a few extra steps you need to take to avoid future skin concerns:
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Avoid touching your face. Dr. Wassef recommends that you do your best to keep your hands off your face and doing your best to avoid touching your skin more than necessary.
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Steer clear of rich products. “Avoid heavy creams or additional oils as this may exacerbate rather than prevent clogging,” Dr. Wassef adds.
When to see a doctor for clogged pores
If you’ve tried the above skin hacks and you don’t seem to be getting anywhere, it’s time to consult a dermatologist. “See a board-certified dermatologist when you are unable to keep the clogged pores under control, if you are developing more acne lesions with facial nodules and cysts, or if you’re looking for a more complete skincare routine for clear skin,” Dr. Massick says.
If you’re not quite sure that you’re ready to tap in a doctor, Dr. Wassef suggests using an over-the-counter retinoid or salicylic or glycolic acid product for at least three months and seeing where that gets you. If you’re not seeing any improvement and you don’t like the look of your pores, she says a dermatologist can prescribe prescription-strength medication and talk about possible procedures like chemical peels to help with your pores’ appearance.
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