📅 Last updated: March 2026
Key takeaway: Most causes of enlarged pores are not "genetically determined skin," but everyday habits repeated day after day. Unprotected UV exposure, improper cleansing, a high-sugar diet, lack of sleep, and squeezing with your hands—fixing just these five habits can make a clear difference in your pores. Let’s go through them one by one with dermatological evidence.
If you’ve ever wondered, "Why are my pores so much larger than everyone else’s?"
Many people look in the mirror and worry about enlarged pores around the nose and cheeks. It’s easy to resign yourself to thinking, "Maybe this is just my skin," but pore size is influenced not only by genetics, but also greatly by daily habits.
Recent dermatological research makes one thing clear: the actions we repeat every day without thinking are destroying collagen around the pores, stimulating sebum production, and physically damaging the pore walls.
Today, from the perspective of a doctor specializing in skin aesthetics, I’ll rank the five most common habits that enlarge pores. I’ll also explain the dermatological mechanisms behind why each habit is bad for pores, so after reading, you can start applying the changes right away.
Rank 1. Going outside without sunscreen
The most destructive habit for enlarging pores is neglecting UV protection.
Ultraviolet rays—especially UVA, which reaches deep into the dermis. The dermis contains collagen and elastin, which act as the "support structure" that maintains pore shape. UVA activates an enzyme called MMP (matrix metalloproteinase), directly breaking down this collagen.
According to a 2024 study published in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, MMP activated by UV exposure intensively destroys type I and III collagen, which directly leads to reduced skin elasticity and enlarged pores (Feng et al., 2024). When the support structure around the pores collapses, the pores lose elasticity and stretch downward with gravity, eventually becoming "teardrop-shaped" sagging pores.
What’s even more concerning is that this process also happens indoors. Since UVA passes through glass, photoaging can occur simply by sitting near a window indoors.
Self-care tip: Use an SPF50+ PA++++ sunscreen every day. When going out, reapply every 2 hours, and even indoors, make sure to apply it as the last step of your morning skincare routine.
Rank 2. Cleansing either "carelessly" or "too much"
Many people are surprised to hear that if you cleanse too lightly, pores get clogged, but if you wash too aggressively, pores can actually become larger.
First, insufficient cleansing. When residual sebum, makeup residue, and fine dust particles remain in the pores, blackheads (open comedones) form. The longer clogged pores are left untreated, the more the pore walls stretch.
On the other hand, over-cleansing is also a problem. Repeated irritation from hot water, alkaline cleansers, or harsh scrubs damages the skin barrier. According to a 2024 review published in PMC, when the skin barrier is damaged, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increases, and the skin compensates by producing excess sebum. This "reactive excess sebum" creates a vicious cycle that further enlarges pores.
Self-care tip: Double cleanse with lukewarm water (32~34°C): oil cleanser → mildly acidic foam cleanser. Limit physical scrubs (granular cleansers) to no more than 1~2 times per week, and instead recommend chemical exfoliation with BHA (salicylic acid).
Rank 3. Maintaining a high-sugar, high-fat diet
"I only ate fried chicken because it was delicious—what does that have to do with my pores?" — It does have a connection.
When you consume lots of high glycemic index (High GI) foods such as bread, snacks, soda, and white rice, blood sugar rises rapidly. Then insulin is secreted in large amounts, and insulin activates a substance called IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor). IGF-1 directly stimulates the sebaceous glands (the organs that produce sebum), increasing sebum production.
In a randomized controlled clinical trial published in PubMed in 2024, the group that maintained a low glycemic load diet showed a significant decrease in sebum production compared with the control group, and acne severity also improved. When sebum decreases, pores expand less and blackhead formation also decreases, starting a positive cycle.
In addition, a high-fat diet changes the "quality" of sebum, making pores clog more easily. Sebum with a higher proportion of saturated fat becomes more viscous and is not easily expelled from the pores.
Self-care tip: Reduce refined carbohydrates and fried foods, and consciously include nutrients that support skin health, such as omega-3 (salmon, walnuts), vitamin A (carrots, spinach), and zinc (oysters, beef).
Rank 4. Sleep deprivation + chronic stress
Cutting sleep doesn’t give you more time—it gives you bigger pores.
When you lack sleep or remain under chronic stress, the body overproduces cortisol (the stress hormone). Cortisol not only directly stimulates the sebaceous glands to increase sebum production, but also inhibits collagen synthesis, reducing the skin’s regenerative capacity.
According to a 2025 narrative review published in Cureus, elevated cortisol causes a "triple burden": increased sebaceous gland activity, weakened skin barrier, and accelerated collagen breakdown. Also, the "golden time" for skin regeneration is 10 PM to 2 AM; if you don’t sleep during this period, skin cell turnover slows significantly.
One study also reported observational results showing that after just 5 days of sleep deprivation, pore size visibly expanded and skin redness increased by 50%.
Self-care tip: Get 7~8 hours of sleep every day. Reduce smartphone use 1 hour before bed to block blue light, and create a simple stress-management routine such as deep breathing or meditation.
Rank 5. Squeezing pores with your hands (self-extraction)
Blackheads on your nose—squeezing them with your hands can feel satisfying, right? But that brief relief is permanently enlarging your pores.
When blackheads or sebum are manually extracted with your hands or tools, tiny tears (microdamage) and an inflammatory response occur in the pore walls. Repeated physical force permanently stretches the connective tissue around the pores, and bacteria on your hands can worsen inflammation, potentially leading to acne, pigmentation, and even scars.
Even dermatology literature warns that DIY extraction damages and stretches the pore walls, with a significantly higher complication rate than professional procedures. Even if pores look temporarily cleaner, in the long run it is a major cause of enlarged pores.
Self-care tip: Never squeeze with your hands. Consistent use of a toner or serum containing BHA (salicylic acid) helps clear out sebum and dead skin cells inside the pores naturally. If you already have severe blackheads, it is safest to receive professional extraction at a dermatology clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
Q1. Once pores have enlarged, can they never shrink again?
They may not completely "close," but with proper care and procedures, they can be visibly reduced. If you regenerate collagen around the pores and control sebum production, you can achieve a highly improved visual result. The key is first correcting the habits that cause them.
Q2. Do I really need to use sunscreen indoors too?
Yes, it’s recommended. Since UVA passes through glass, if you spend a lot of time near windows, it’s better to use sunscreen indoors as well. In particular, studies have shown that people who drive a lot experience faster photoaging on the left side of the face than on the right.
Q3. If I finish cleansing with cold water when my pores are open, will they shrink?
Cold water may temporarily make the skin around the pores contract and look smaller, but it does not structurally change pore size. To fundamentally manage pore size, UV protection, proper exfoliation, and sebum control are more important.
Q4. What foods are good for pores?
Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, mackerel, walnuts) help reduce skin inflammation, and vitamin A (carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes) promotes skin cell turnover. Zinc (oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds) helps regulate sebum production. Even reducing processed foods and sugar intake can bring positive changes to the skin.
Q5. What dermatology procedures are effective for pores?
Depending on the cause and type of pores, various approaches are possible. Aqua peel or BHA peels are effective for sebum-related pores, laser treatments that induce collagen regeneration are effective for sagging pores caused by loss of elasticity, and micro-needle RF (such as Potenza) is effective for complex pore concerns. After an accurate skin diagnosis, it is most important to create a customized treatment plan.
Q6. When should pore care begin?
The earlier, the better. From the late teens to the 20s, when sebum production is active, establishing basic sunscreen use and proper cleansing habits is the key to prevention. If your pores are already enlarged, starting now is the "earliest" time.
Closing: Change your habits, and your pores will change too
Pores don’t become enlarged overnight. They are the result of small habits repeated every day, building up over time. Conversely, if you change your habits starting today, your skin will definitely respond.
Apply sunscreen carefully, review your cleansing routine, improve your diet a little, get enough sleep, and stop squeezing with your hands. If you practice just these five things, your pore condition will be significantly different in 5 years.
Of course, already enlarged pores may require professional care. If you’re concerned about your pore condition, feel free to consult with the skin aesthetics specialist director at Diore Clinic. After a detailed analysis of your skin condition, we will design the optimal pore care plan together, combining lifestyle habit correction with customized procedures.
[References]
- Feng et al. (2024). Matrix Metalloproteinases on Skin Photoaging. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
- PMC (2024). Skin Barrier Dysfunction in Acne Vulgaris: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches. PMC.
- Low Glycemic Load Diet and Acne Vulgaris Severity: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2024). PubMed.
- Stress-Induced Changes of the Skin: A Narrative Review (2025). Cureus.
- Liu et al. (2024). Collagen Study Advances for Photoaging Skin. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine.
