Dear girls, not everything that you hear or read on the internet is true. Skin pores for example, have a bunch of misconceptions around them, that are, in fact, far from the truth. If you’re one of those women who believe in some of the statements listed below, you’re probably going to be in for a big surprise!
Myths And Facts About Skin Pores
Here are 10 myths about skin pores that are on the verge of getting busted! Stop believing these in order to get closer to better skin.
Myth 1: Your Pores Can Open And Close
We bet you’ve heard from either your parlour lady or mom that when your skin pores are exposed to steam, they open up and when you splash cold water on them, they close. Ladies, none of this is true. Since pores do not have muscles around the opening, it cannot close and open. What actually happens is that the steam helps loosen the underlying debris, making it easier to extract blackheads and whiteheads. Once the sebum is cleared out, you’ll notice that your pores appear smaller.
Myth 2: You Can Shrink Your Pores
Ladies, we want you to know that you can’t physically shrink your pores because all of that boils down to genetics. Do you know what darkens and causes pores to look larger? There are 3 culprits primarily – makeup residue, dead skin cells and sebum buildup. However, what you can do is minimize their appearance by properly cleansing and exfoliating your skin regularly.
Myth 3: The ‘Black Matter’ In The Blackheads Is Actually Dirt
How many times did you look at a blackhead and go, ‘oh that’s dirt?’ Well, it isn’t. Those tiny black dots on your nose and cheeks aren’t dirt but is a result of oxidation (the chemical reaction caused due to oxygen and sebum). In order to keep those pesky spots at bay, you should wash your skin every day and exfoliate skin twice or thrice a week. Exfoliating helps remove dead layers of skin and keeps it looking fresh and clear at all times.
Myth 4: You Can Change The Size Of Your Pores By Exfoliating
The size of your pores can only change due to genetics, skin conditions and sun damage. Poor exfoliating has nothing to do with this. As long as you gently exfoliate your skin and don’t overdo it, your skin pores will not be affected negatively. If you go overboard with the rubbing, this could damage your skin’s texture making it look dull, dry and flaky.
Myth 5: The Sun Shrinks The Size Of Your Pores
Believe it or not, but the sun cannot shrink the size of your pores even if it wanted to. If you put in a bit of thought, when the skin is exposed to the rays of the sun, it dries the water out of your skin! This indirectly triggers your oil glands and forces it to produce more sebum so that moisture and water in the skin remain sealed. Since oil glands live at the base of your skin pores, constant sun exposure could actually enlarge the size of your pores, and not shrink them.
Myth 6: Age Changes Your Pores
It’s unfair to blame only age because your skin has started to look a bit worn out. Since every girl’s skin is different, the size of the pores could change due to genetics, hormones, lifestyle choices, stress and environmental factors. Practicing a good skincare routine from an early age could save your skin from further damage. Washing your face every day and wiping the makeup off before going to bed can change your skin for the better.
Myth 7: Greasy Food Makes Pores Oily
According to a survey done by the American Acne & Rosacea Society, most experts fail to find the connection between greasy food and oily skin pores. With not enough evidence, this is treated as a myth. Hormonal fluctuations and genetics could be one of the few reasons as to why more oil gets produced. Come to think of it, greasy food is too vague as evidence to prove it’s a cause of oily skin. (Relish those fries, we say!)
8. Myth 8: Pores Are Different From Hair Follicles
This one may come as a shocker, but interestingly, pores and hair follicles are actually called the same thing! A pore’s medical term is known as a hair follicle. And, each hair follicle on your skin has a sebaceous oil gland that not only helps condition it, but also nourishes it at the same time!
Myth 9: Sweat Comes From Pores
Erm…wrong again! Sweat is produced from glands and not from pores. However, sweat can still clog pores and that could give rise to breakouts in the long run. Whenever you come from college, work or the gym, cleanse your face so that you can wake up to happy, supple and fresh skin every morning.
Myth 10: Large Pores Are A Bad Sign
If you’re stuck with large pores, don’t feel ashamed of having them. You’d be surprised to know that having large pores can be a perk too! They not only tend to produce more oil but also keep the skin looking younger and fresher. Smaller pores, on the other hand, tend to make the skin dry which could make you develop wrinkles and fine lines in the long run.
Images: Shutterstock
