Do You Have Dry Skin and Large Pores? Here’s What to Do

Large, congested pores are never a good look, but minimizing their appearance and addressing the junk that’s made your complexion its home isn’t easy — especially if you happen to have dry skin, too. For this tricky combination, we headed to plastic surgeon and SkinCeuticals ambassador, Dr. Peter Schmid to fill us in on everything we need to know. Ahead, we share a few skin-care practices and products you’ll need to help decongest and minimize the appearance of pores.

Despite what you may have heard, enlarged pores are not a concern only reserved for oily skin types. Dry skin types can also have large-looking pores. If you know this to be true firsthand, you’ll want to keep reading. 

What Causes Dry Skin and Large Pores?

According to Dr. Schmid, there is a whole array of factors that can contribute to dry, flaky skin. “Arid or low humidity climates and seasonal changes can be the cause of dry skin,” he says. Others causes of dry skin can include the use of harsh detergents or soaps, toners containing alcohol, acne medications that can reduce the skin’s natural oil content, as well as chronic and inherited skin conditions, certain medical conditions and aging.

When it comes to large pores, Dr. Schmid notes that the causes are vastly differ from the factors that play into dry skin. “Large pores are primarily caused by genetics, but they may also be the result of inflammatory skin conditions, excessive oil buildup, thickening skin, severe acne, sun damage and the loss of skin elasticity, which progressively occurs with the aging process,” he explains. He also mentioned that pores can easily become “plugged” due to a gradual accumulation of bacteria, dirt, sebum, dead skin cells, and oil. “This is often recognized as a blackhead or whitehead that dilates pore size.”

While individuals with thicker, oily skin often deal with large-looking pores, drier skin types are just as vulnerable. “Gender also plays a role in pore size, often pores are larger in the male skin group,” he says. There are, however, ways to help diminish the appearance of your pores while giving your skin the proper hydration it needs to stay smooth and healthy-looking. Here’s how to get it done.

Skin-Care Tip #1: Exfoliate Always

Exfoliating regularly is a must, especially if you experience noticeably congested or enlarged-looking pores. Try grabbing a product that can help slough away dead skin cells and pore-clogging impurities from the surface of your skin. “I highly recommend using a vitamin C serum such as SkinCeuticals Ferulic, Phloretin (if acne prone) or C + AHA,” Dr. Schmid says. He also recommends combining a vitamin C serum with a chemical exfoliator, such as SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator.

Skin-Care Tip #2: Moisturize the Skin

If your skin is on the drier side, then we can’t express how important it is for you to moisturize at least once a day. Keeping your skin hydrated with a top-notch moisturizer is the best way to guard against flakes. Dr. Schmid recommends that you add an intensely hydrating moisturizer to your skin-care regimen, like CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. This moisturizer is lightweight, yet provides your skin with long-lasting hydration while working to minimize the appearance of your pores. 

But, don’t stop at just moisturizer. If you have extremely dry skin, then try incorporating some hydrating serums and creams to give your skin an added boost of moisture. Some of Dr. Schmid’s top picks include the SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight Dry, Hydrating B5 Gel and the Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2.

 

Skin-Care Tip #3: Apply Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen

Some of the biggest enemies to your skin are UV rays, which is why it’s so important to keep your skin guarded from the sun at all times. If you’re wondering why we always preach about the importance of using sunscreen, even on cloudy winter days, this is why: “Sunscreens are also paramount to reducing the risk for premature skin aging and expansion of pores,” Dr. Schmid says. He also  suggests using a trusted sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF to help keep your skin protected from the sun’s harmful rays. The SkinCeuticals Light Moisture UV Defense is a great option for keeping your skin protected when used with other skin-protection measures because it contains a broad-spectrum SPF 50 and is oil-free for a clean skin finish.

If you notice your sunscreen leaves a greasy finish on your skin, then Dr. Schmid suggests using the La Roche Posay Anthelios Tinted Mineral Sunscreen, which also has SPF 50 and leaves a tinted, dry finish through its oil-absorbing base.

Skin-Care Tip #4: Apply a Face Mask

Incorporating a clay mask into your skin-care routine is a simple way to help detox your pores and draw out dirt, oil, and debris that may have made a semi-permanent home on the surface of your complexion. Sure, pore-gunk isn’t always easy to remove, but clay masks can help address the accumulation of unwanted impurities on the surface of the skin. With that said, not all clay masks are created equally, and even more so, not all formulas are meant to be used on dry skin types.

One clay mask that can be used on all skin types is the SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque. This clay mask has a deep pore-cleansing formula that combines the highest-quality earth clays, botanicals and minerals. It also contains a hydroxy-acid blend to gently exfoliate, making this the perfect mask to use for combating all your dry skin issues and enlarged pores.

Read More:

Does Sunburn Worsen Acne?

The Right Chemical Exfoliator for Your Skin Type

7 Face Masks to Try for Oily Skin