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Hi Randy,
Since I started retinoic acid cream I’ve noticed in about 2 weeks my pores got very visible and enlarged. I’ve used it for about 9 months but my pores didn’t fade. Then I didn’t use it for about 2 years, but now I want to start again but I’m afraid my pores will get even worse. No one in my family has enlarged pores, so it’s not genetic.On many blogs on the internet people are describing exactly the same problem. Is it true tretinoine can cause enlarged pores?Thanks,PeterHmmm. To be honest, I had heard the opposite. That retinoic acid could help shrink the appearance of pores because it helps remove the cellular debris that makes the pores look bigger and darker.
It is remarkable how many people experience enlarged pores after using retinoic acid.What are other contributing factors?Genetics:No one in my family has enlarged poresMedication:I do use Finasteride, some say this may increase TestosteroneSkincareI do use a mild face wash, apply a broadspectrum SPF30 sunscreen every day, alternate between a BHA exfoliant and Retinoic Acid at night, and I use a moisturizer. All mild fragrance free products. I think it’s strange that although I follow all the theoretic good steps in skincare, people 10-15 years older have much nicer, even skin, also people who don’t use any cosmetics often have much nicer skin.You probably already know all this but here’s what we previously wrote about enlarged pores:
Oke thanks for your help Randy, I’ve just listened to the podcast.
Which if these cleansers will be best for keeping pores clear, without drying skin? Or should I do the Oil Cleansing method?The Ordinary Hylamide High Efficiency CleanserIsoamyl Laurate, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Isoamyl Cocoate, Pongamia Pinnata (karanja) Seed Oil, Oenocarpus Bataua Fruit Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum (tomato) Fruit Extract, Squalane, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.Decubal Face Wash (pH 4.4)Glycerin, Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Betaine, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid.Neutral Face Wash (pH 7.6)Glycerin, Aqua, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Niacinamide, Sucrose Cocoate, Sodium chloride, Allantoin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Gluconate , Citric Acid.Uncover Cleanser Dry skin (pH 5.5)
Aqua, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Sucrose Polystearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, p-Anisic Acid, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Lecithin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Citric Acid.As we discussed in the podcast, my understanding is that cleansers with sal acid or some other active that can help clear our pores is best. I don’t see those ingredients in any of these products. I don’t see how oil cleansing would help that much either.
I find cleansers with Salicylic Acid you mentioned in the podcast far too stripping and drying, I already use a 2%BHA gel. You don’t think any of the cleansers I found is good? Do you have a tip for a non drying cleanser then?
I didn’t say the cleansers you found are not good I just said they don’t contain any active ingredients that are typically used to reduce the appearance of large pores. You are right, though, that products with such ingredients are often too drying. It’s a trade off you’ll have to experiment with to find a product that’s right for you. Good luck!
But I always thought Salicylic Acid is only effective at a pH lower than 4 (most cleansers have a higher pH) and it needs to stay on your skin long enough. So adding it to a cleanser is a bit pointless, a cleanser needs to clean your face and pores (it’s not an exfoliant).
At the moment I use the Decubal Face Wash, it feels like there’s still some slippery layer on my face when I rinse it off. Does this mean it doesn’t cleanse well enough? Before I used the Uncover Cleanser Dry skin, but I guess looking at the ingredients it may be too mild, what would you suggest?From my personal experience, anything that ends up irritating my skin causes pores to look enlarged.
Perhaps, but at the moment I already have enlarged pores. Thus now it is important to keep them clean. I don’t think any of the products I use irritate my skin. Although many people on the internet complain they started noticing enlarged pores after using retinoic acid, theoretically it should reduce pore size however (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25603890). So I would really like to know what’s really the cause of enlarged pores. In my case it’s definitely not sun damage, I’m not very old, no one in my family has enlarged pores, and I never used harsh/irritating products on my face. I once read an article where some dermatologist also wondered why sometimes very young people (so there’s no loss of collagen or photoaging), have such enlarged pores. It would be nice to have some scientific studies explaining this phenomenon.Peter, right now you’re uncovering lots of qualitative information on pores. Personally, I feel when someone starts applying retinoic acid they’re paying more attention to their skin – maybe moreso than before. It definitely would be interesting to see an objective study on this phenomena. I’m not saying it’s not happening, but as you mentioned there are too many factors at play to find a key offender in this situation.
I’ve been personally using Retinoic Acid for a little over two years and my pores were big when I started, and they’re big now. So, for me no changes – but in my case it’s genetic. : / I know that some of the work Retinoic Acid does is in the deeper layer of the skin, but topically I’ve gotten much better surface and pore-management improvements in a week of using 10% Niacinamide than two years of Retinoic Acid. My pores have never been “empty” but extraction is infinitely easier, now.Ciao,LIndeed there are too many factors to say for sure. It would be nice if there would be a study. Although I have to say, I use Retinoic Acid every other night, and the mornings after using retinoic acid my pores are more open than the nights where I use a 2%BHA with Vitamin C.
Maybe its just a matter of the excipient or overall formula rather than the acid. I used a product with retinoic acid for a year and my pores were just fine (my derm even said that the pores were shrinking), I changed to another brand and my nose pores were enlarged the next day, there was a huge difference….
Peter would you be so kind to tell me the name of the BHA-C product? seems like a good combination, thanks!
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