Blocked Pores

Harley Street Injectables are rated an average of 5 out of 5 based on 500 reviews

Blocked/Large Open Pores

Enlarged or blocked pores are the openings to the hair follicles on your skin. Attached to these follicles are sebaceous glands. These glands produce a natural oil called sebum which keeps your skin moisturized. While pores are a necessity to your skin health, they can come in different sizes. Often pores on your nose, chin and forehead are naturally larger than those that are located on other parts of your skin. This is because the sebaceous glands underneath them are larger, too. You’re also more likely to have enlarged pores if you have oily skin. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to literally shrink large nose pores. But there are treatments to make them appear smaller.

CONTACT US

What are the symptoms?

 

Pores typically consist of a combination of sebum and dead skin cells that get stock in the hair follicles beneath. This creates “plugs” that can then harden and enlarge the follicle walls. In turn, this can make the pores more noticeable. More individual causes of clogged pores and enlargement include: acne, excess oil, a build up of dead skin cells, increased humidity, stress, alcohol and hormonal fluctuations.

Large pores can form when an open or closed comedone stretches the pore lining. Closed comedones are whiteheads (an open comedone would be a blackhead) and so come under the umbrella of acne. The follicle is entirely blocked by and skin forms over the top of it, making it very difficult to treat.

A closed comedone is not sore, red or inflamed like other types of acne-it’s a white head that has not come to surface yet. You can often find these skin-coloured bumps on the forehead, nose, chin, and on the outer cheek close to the ear; though mostly appear on the forehead, chin and jawline area. If they pop-up frequently, you may have comedonal acne. When you notice a ‘squeezable’ head at the end of the closed comedone, this can indicate that it’s infected. An open comedone is a blackhead and becomes black due to the oxidation of the oil and debris.

Enlarged pores are more prevalent in people who have oily skin types but it can also be genetic.

As sebum production can block pores, you’re more likely to experience the expansion of pore size around times that create a particularly oily environment for your skin, increasing your androgen levels. Common factors are:

Hormone fluctuations, such as during menstruation or puberty.

Genes (if your parents have oily skin and large nose pores, you will likely have the same).

Humid or hot climates can intensify oil-producing activity. The body reacts by sweating more, and pore activity increases to release the sweat.

Stress can spike cortisol levels, making your skin oilier.

The combination of sun damage and ageing can cause collagen and elasticity to diminish, resulting in a lack of support for the pore lining. The skin’s ability to shed dead skin cells efficiently also slows down, making pore blockage more likely.

Expert Tips

These curated expert tips will help you to avoid blocked and large pores, and to reduce their size.

REMOVE ALL MAKEUP BEFORE BED
Your first step to unclogging nose pores is to make sure they’re cosmetic-free before going to bed. You should also remove makeup before washing your face to make sure the cleanser can work in your nose pores more effectively.

DON’T SQUEEZE
Closed comedones i.e. whiteheads don’t take much irritation before they can turn in to more severe types of spots like papules or pustles. We recommend professional extraction for your blocked pores.

USE NON-COMEDOGENIC PRODUCTS
Using mineral-based products or oil-free products will lessen the interference with sebum production so that you’re less likely to see breakouts.

USE ACNE-FIGHTING INGREDIENTS
Acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, retinol and benzoyl peroxide will help to remove bacteria and regulate sebum production.

EXFOLIATE
Use an exfoliating product two to three times a week to help get rid of dead skin cells that may be clogging your pores. The key here is to massage the product onto your nose and let the product do the heavy lifting — scrubbing the exfoliant into your skin will only cause further aggravation. Instead, opt for a BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) such as salicylic acid that can dissolve pore-clogging dead skin cells.

TREATMENT OPTIONS
Our treatments improve pore size by addressing the causes such as eliminating dead skin cells, debris and bacteria, regulating oil production and repairing the skin’s barrier function

Laser Resurfacing

The Clear + Brilliant laser treatment is most often used to help prevent the signs of ageing and to reduce the appearance of open pores. It can also reduce the appearance of scars, excess pigmentation, tighten pores and improve overall skin texture and tone. The procedure is comfortable, affordable and safe for all skin tones. Clear + Brilliant is perfect for both men and women who want a radiant, youthful glow with minimal downtime. Reduce the signs of aging and keep your skin looking younger and glowing.

The laser used in the Clear + Brilliant treatment is non-ablative meaning that the laser heats up the target tissue without actually destroying it. Clear + Brilliant works by creating an array of microscopic lesions across the surface of the skin from the heat of the laser. These microscopic lesions are surrounded by large areas of healthy skin to help promote quick healing with little to no downtime. The healthy skin helps promote quick healing of the tiny lesions within a matter of days, revealing the healthier, smoother skin below. The damage to the skin stimulates the production of collagen which helps to plump and smooth out imperfections in the skin such as acne scarring.

We recommend a series of 4 to 6 laser treatments given 2 weeks apart. The number of treatments you need will be decided on during your consultation. One of our practitioners will help you come up with a personalised treatment plan based on the results you want to achieve and the area or areas you want treated. If you are satisfied with the results in fewer sessions than recommended you can decide to stop the treatments or to continue with the sessions, it’s entirely up to you. Many patients decide to make the Clear + Brilliant laser treatment a part of their skin care regimen in order to maintain a youthful appearance and radiant glow. The gentle nature of the laser means that patients are able to continue having the treatment as often as every 2 weeks.

The actual treatment takes between 15 to 20 minutes. We recommend that you arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment for the anaesthetic cream to be applied and to take effect. This is included in the cost of the procedure.

During the treatment you may feel a warm sensation in the area being treated. A topical anaesthetic cream is applied before you begin the treatment to minimise any discomfort you may experience. Although your skin will look red after your treatment, this redness should resolve within the next 12 to 24 hours.

Results can be seen as early as the same day; your skin will feel smoother and appear more refreshed and radiant that evening. One of the many advantages of Clear + Brilliant is that after completing the recommended series of treatments, results do not fade if proper skin care is practiced. Patients are advised to continue wearing sunscreen to prevent further pigmentation and sun damage. We recommend coming in for touch up treatments twice a year (or before special events) to maintain your results.

Skin Peels

A chemical skin peel often contains essential acids that bring blockages to the surface and eliminate excess oils. Peels that contain BHA’s (beta-hydroxy acids) are particularly beneficial to those with oily or combination skin types as they are oil soluble. The acids work to dissolve the source of the clogged pores, reducing the risk of pore enlargement. Certain skin peels will also kill the bacteria and prevent the comedones from spreading further in a preventative approach.

The treatment begins with a consultation where your practitioner will assess your skin to decipher your skin conditions and the best course of treatment.

Certain peels like Cosmelan may require skin preparation with the use of at-home products in the lead up to your appointment. Your practitioner will prescribe a list of recommended products that will be suitable for you or provide you with the appropriate preparation kit.

If we’re treating you with a Cosmelan peel, we’ll require you to use a prepping de-pigmentation kit before your initial treatment to prepare your skin for the peel.

During your treatment, your practitioner will double cleanse and prepare the skin by applying a barrier cream around sensitive areas and remove all sebum to aid penetration of the acids.

Following this, we will apply the peel of choice and leave it on for a few minutes before neutralising or removing the peel. A neutraliser will prevent the acid from working on the skin, whereas a removal wipe will leave the acid active on the skin to continue improving the complexion following treatment.

Chemical skin peels are suitable for anyone who is looking for overall skin rejuvenation and an improvement in skin tone and texture. Or, those who have:
  • Acne
  • Acne scars
  • Pigmentation and sun-spots
  • Moderate wrinkles or fine lines
  • Rosacea
  • Large or open pores
  • Crepey skin

The duration of the treatment will depend on your custom needs. Some peels may be left on for longer, depending on your needs and tolerance to treatment. Typically, it’ll take around 30 minutes.

Chemical skin peels vary in strength and substance and are either superficial, medium or deep depending on your skin concerns and skin type.

The acids and other active compounds react with the skin and dissolve the outermost layers of the skin to reveal a fresher, clearer and brighter complexion. Chemical skin peels also promote collagen and elastin growth that will encourage healthier skin.

SKIN PEELS

AquaGold

Aquagold Fine Touch is a microneedling device that uses 24 carat gold-plated microneedles to infuse the skin with a bespoke skincare blend, including baby botox, hyaluronic acid and a cocktail of vitamins. The needles are finer than a human hair, making this one of the most natural-looking and irritation-free ways to achieve brighter and smoother skin. Unlike an injectable, Aquagold isn’t focused in one or two areas of your face. Instead, the microneedling device glides all over your skin. It can decrease oil production, improve acne and enlarged pores, it can improve ageing skin with fine lines and wrinkles and treat the area close to the eye successfully and comfortably.

Your practitioner will cleanse your skin and then apply some numbing cream to your face to minimise discomfort. Depending on the goal you want to achieve your practitioner will decide on an individual cocktail she will infuse through the device. We currently offer micro botox to help improve and shrink pore size, hyaluronic acid to help brighten the complexion, mesotherapy and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and plasma to rejuvenate and stimulate collagen.

This treatment is suitable for all skin types and anyone wanting to improve the appearance of their skin tone and texture.

Approximately 30 minutes.

AQUAGOLD uses similar technology to traditional microneedling. This device works by using very fine needles to penetrate the superficial layers of the skin. In this way, we can deliver products such as dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxers along with other ingredients in a controlled manner.

AQUAGOLD

Aquapure

Aquapure gently vacuums the pore-clogging substances from the large or open pore. With a reduction in bacteria and removing the congestion, the risk of damage to the pores decreases. Meanwhile, the laser stimulates collagen production to regenerate damaged skin.

The treatment will start with a consultation where we will discuss your treatment goals and determine the type and severity of your acne. Based on the assessment, we will devise a custom acne programme.

During the treatment, the nurse will use a hand-held device to make passes over the skin-this will follow with a gentle vacuum.

This treatment is suitable for all skin types. Aquapure works well for those who have acne-prone, or oily skin and large pores. We use this treatment for those with active acne and can treat acne scarring, but for those who no longer have acne and are looking to treat their scarring alone, they may benefit more so from laser resurfacing.

Approximately 30 minutes.

The treatment addresses three primary causes of acne, including excess oils, dead skin cells (which block the pores and can stretch their lining) and bacteria. The laser penetrates and targets bacteria while minimising oil-producing activity. It’s a non-ablative laser and heats the dermal layer beneath the skin without damaging it.

Meanwhile, on the surface of the skin, the built-in vacuum technology sucks the debris, oils and dead skin cells from the pores. Due to Aquapure’s collagen stimulating properties, it’s a treatment that is effective in reducing acne scarring too.

AQUAPURE

Dermapen & PRP

At Harley Street Injectables we often combine both Dermapen and PRP together to treat blocked or enlarged pores due to their healing properties and ability to improve a multitude of acne scars and all skin types by improving overall skin tone and texture. Dermapen uses a small hand-held device with varying needle depths ranging from 0.5mm and 3mm that create a minor trauma to the dermal layers. The process breaks down stubborn scar tissue and triggers the formation of new collagen, making it suitable for many types of acne scarring. Additionally, platelet-rich plasma therapy improves the appearance of acne scars through by retaining the patient’s platelet-rich fibrin matrix. When your nurse re-injects this back into the skin, it encourages wound healing and promotes the growth of new collagen.

The Dermapen treatment usually begins with the application of a topical numbing cream. Using a hand-held pen-like device, the nurse will then make several passes over the entire face.

The collagen inducing Dermapen creates virtually invisible micro-injuries in the skin that ignite the body’s healing and regenerative processes. This influx of collagen and elastin and release of growth factors results in an improvement of overall skin smoothness, suppleness, and strength.

Additionally, the micro-channels allow for optimal absorption of active ingredients to enhance their results and increase their efficiency.

Immediately after the treatment, you may notice tiny pinpricks of blood. The nurse will usually pat the face down after which point; the skin will no longer draw blood.

Your skin may be red for up to 24 hours and will gradually resolve throughout the following week. It may also feel a little rough, warm and dry for the first couple of days after your treatment and may begin to flake.

We recommend 4-6 treatment sessions. Every four weeks.

DERMAPEN & PRP

Harley Street Injectables are rated an average

of 5 out of 5 based on 500 reviews

We’d love your feedback! Please leave a review on our Trustpilot

Blemishes
Services