15 Effective Home Remedies for Open Pores

We all want to have flawless skin, but shrug it off as wishful thinking. Skin woes are a common problem that all women deal with, and hence, we apply many layers of makeup to get the look we want. Despite makeup, one skin affliction that still surfaces is open pores. Here, we will discuss what open pores are, and what are their complications. Also, we provide you with some home remedies to get rid of these open pores.

What Are Open Pores?

Open skin pores are small pit-like pores that appear in people with combination to oily skin. Having open pores on your skin can make your face look dull and old. Pores also accumulate dirt and become clogged. A clogged pore leads to further complications like pimples, blackheads, and excess production of sebum. Pores are vital for skin hydration and removal of toxins, but enlarged pores can be a cause for concern.

What Causes Open Pores on the Skin?

Several factors can contribute towards the enlargement of pores, as mentioned below:

• Sun Exposure:

Sun exposure without protection causes damage to skin collagen and reduces elasticity.

• Genetics:

A top cause for enlarged pores is heredity.

• Age:

Over time skin cells lose collagen and elastin, which stretches your skin and leads to enlarged pores.

• Excessive Oil Secretion:

Excessive secretion from the sebaceous glands creates clogged pores.

• Hygiene:

If you do not wash your face regularly, you may suffer from open pores.

• Makeup:

Using too much makeup prevents the skin from breathing and creates clogged pores. Makeup also attracts dirt and oil, which increases shine in the pores.

• Cosmetics and Certain Facial Scrubs:

Certain face scrubs and cosmetics can also be too heavy for your face, reducing its elasticity and creating open pores.

• Hormonal Changes:

Changes in the hormones can increase oil secretion, resulting in open pores.

• Excessive Sweating:

Sweat attracts dirt and clogs pores.

• Smoking:

Chemical residue can create an unhealthy build-up that opens pores wide.

• Improper Diet:

Eating fried food, often, can increase sebum production, leading to open pores.

How to Get Rid of Open Pores on Face & Skin Naturally

Persistent and unpleasant looking open pores can be treated with home remedies. Here are some home remedies to get rid of open pores:

1. Aloe Vera

Fresh Aloe Vera can be used on open pores, as it will help hydrate the skin and tighten it.

What You Need:

• Aloe vera gel

What to Do:

• Apply aloe vera gel on open pores and massage gently for a few minutes.
• Let the gel stay on your skin for approximately 10 minutes.
• Rinse off with water.
• Repeating this procedure every day will help to shrink your pores, considerably.

Why This Remedy Works:

This remedy works because aloe vera cleanses, nourishes and hydrates the skin, and unclogs the pores.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is one of the best-known skin toners available and can tighten pores when used appropriately.

What You Need:

• Apple cider vinegar
• Water
• A ball of cotton

What to Do:

• Dilute apple cider vinegar with water, in a 1:1 ratio.
• Dip a ball of cotton in this solution and dab it on your face.
• Let it dry.
• Use this skin toner after wash your face at night.

Why This Remedy Works:

Apple cider can tighten skin, reduce inflammation, and cleanse the skin to minimise pores.

3. Egg White Mask

A mask made of egg white can help tighten skin and improve its elasticity.

What You Need:

• 1 egg white
• 2 tablespoons of oatmeal powder
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice

What to Do:

• Mix all the ingredients to make a fine paste.
• Apply this paste on your face, spreading it evenly.
• Let it sit on your face for about 30 minutes.
• Rinse with normal water.
• Apply this paste twice a week for best results.

Why This Remedy Works:

The white of eggs can tighten and tone skin, and improve its quality.

4. Papaya Mash

Papaya is known for its cleansing properties and can help unclog pores.

What You Need:

• Ripe papaya pieces

What to Do:

• Mash the pieces of papaya.
• Apply it on your face.
• Let it stay for 20 minutes.
• Rinse it off with water.

Why This Remedy Works:

Papaya is rich in antioxidants and has the enzyme, papain, which can reduce blemishes and unclog pores.

5. Banana

This fruit is an amazing remedy to many common ailments and can help cure enlarged pores, too.

What You Need:

• One ripe banana peel

What to Do:

• Run the inside of a banana peel gently against your skin.
• Wash it after 10-15 minutes.
• Try this fix every alternate day.

Why This Remedy Works:

Lutein is an antioxidant in the banana peel, which along with potassium, can rejuvenate skin and tighten pores.

6. Argan Oil

Argan oil is a therapeutic remedy that is great for skin and hair. It also helps tighten pores.

What You Need:

• 2-3 drops of olive oil

What to Do:

• Warm the oil droplets between your fingers.
• Apply the oil to your face and massage gently with the tips of your fingers.
• Rinse your face using warm water, after about 30 minutes.
• Repeat this every night before going to bed, for glowing skin.

Why This Remedy Works:

Argan oil is rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids that hydrate the skin and give it a glow, diminishing the appearance of large pores.

7. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is a good remedy for open pores.

What You Need:

• A few drops of Jojoba oil

What to Do:

• Massage some jojoba oil on your face for a few minutes in a gentle circular motion.
• Leave the oil overnight.
• Use jojoba oil 2-3 times a week for glowing skin.

Why This Remedy Works:

The consistency of jojoba oil is very similar to natural skin oil. It reduces the size of enlarged pores, as well as cleanses them. It is one of the best home remedies for open pores.

8. Cucumber

Cucumber is a natural skin hydrant; the high water content of cucumber helps hydrate the skin and tighten it. It is a good remedy for open pores on oily face and skin.

What You Need:

• 4 or 5 slices of cucumber
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice

What to Do:

• Blend cucumber slices and lemon juice together to form a pulp.
• Apply this pulp on your face and let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Rinse with water.
• Apply this cucumber and lemon pulp on your face, twice a week, for best results.
• An additional tip – use cucumber from the refrigerator or freeze the slices for two minutes before blending.

Why This Remedy Works:

Cucumber can delay the ageing process of skin and tightens the pores because of its high water content and antioxidant properties.

9. Gram Flour

Gram flour has been used by Indian households as a cleansing scrub for centuries. It works as one of the most fantastic home remedies for open pores on the nose and cheeks.

What You Need:

• 1 tablespoon of gram flour
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon of curd
• 2-3 drops of virgin olive oil

What to Do:

• Blend the ingredients together to form a smooth paste.
• Apply this paste gently all over the face.
• Let it dry for about 25 minutes.
• Rinse with normal water.
• Dry your face with a towel and apply a moisturiser thereafter.
• Use this face pack 2-3 times a week for best results.

Why This Remedy Works:

Gram flour acts as a natural exfoliator, by removing dead skin cells. It also helps tighten the skin and reduce the size of pores.

10. Fresh Fruit Pulp

Fruits are naturally rich in antioxidants and have astringent properties that can help to cleanse and tone the skin.

What You Need:

1 teaspoon of pulp from various fruits like

• Banana
• Strawberry
• Papaya
• Orange
• Watermelon

What to Do:

• Mix the pulp of all the fruits and blend them.
• Apply the mixture on your face and massage well.
• Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Rinse it off with normal water.

Why This Remedy Works:

Fruits are hydrating and help tighten the pores, while removing dead cells.

11. Baking Soda

This is another simple remedy to scrub your face clean and reduce those open pores.

What You Need:

• 2 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2 tablespoons of water

What to Do:

• Mix the soda and water to form a thick and consistent paste.
• Make sure to use warm water to activate the soda.
• Apply the mixture on your face and massage it in for 30 seconds.
• Rinse it properly using normal water.
• You can use this mix once in three days.

Why This Remedy Works:

Baking soda balances the skin’s pH by reducing acid content. It scrubs off dead cells and works as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent to calm your skin down.

12. Fuller’s Earth or Multani Mitti

Multani mitti is clay that works wonders on all skin types, especially oily skin.

What You Need:

• 2 tablespoons of multani mitti
• 2-3 tablespoons of rose water or milk

What to Do:

• Mix the multani mitti and rose water to make a paste.
• Apply it on your entire face as a mask.
• Let it dry completely.
• Rinse with normal water.
• Use this mask twice a week for best results.

Why This Remedy Works:

Clay is one of the best-known cleansers because of its capacity to absorb oil and deeply cleanse the skin. It unclogs the pores and leaves the skin glowing.

13. Honey

Honey is one of the best natural moisturisers, as well as cleansers, which improve skin quality. It is one of the simplest home remedies for open pores on the nose and cheeks.

What You Need:

• 1 tablespoon of honey

What to Do:

• Apply honey on your face.
• Massage over the pores, especially near the nose and cheeks, in circular movements.
• Let it sit on your face for 15 minutes.
• Wash it off with lukewarm water and follow up with a cold-water rinse to tighten the pores.
• You can do this as a daily ritual or thrice a week.

Why This Remedy Works:

Honey is a natural astringent that can tighten skin and close pores. It improves the quality of skin by toning it.

14. Oatmeal and Tomatoes

This is a magical mixture that exfoliates and tones the skin.

What You Need:

• 1 small ripe tomato
• 1 tablespoon ground oatmeal

What to Do:

• Make a paste by mixing oats with the pulp of the tomato.
• Apply this paste sparingly over the face, and massage it well.
• Use it once a week.

Why This Remedy Works:

Oatmeal is an exfoliator and oil absorbent, while tomatoes are a natural astringent. Together, they cleanse the skin, shrink open pores, and improve the quality of skin.

15. Sugar Scrub

Sugar is an easily available home remedy for open pores.

What You Need:

• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

What to Do:

• Mix all the ingredients well and apply on your face.
• Gently scrub your face.
• Rinse with lukewarm water.
• Repeat once a week.

Why This Remedy Works:

Sugar helps remove impurities from the skin, while exfoliating dead skin cells.

Tips to Prevent Open Pores

Here are a few tips that can help you prevent open pores. Try them out to see a change in your skin.

• Cleanse regularly with a mild cleanser, twice a day, to keep the pores clean.
• Exfoliate on a regular basis to remove dead skin.
• A deep-pore cleansing, once a month, will keep the pores clear.
• Remove your makeup before sleeping.
• Use lukewarm water, rather than hot water, to wash your face.
• Don’t squeeze blackheads or pimples.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Stay hydrated.

What Not to Do When Dealing With Open Pores

1. Don’t Over-Exfoliate Your Skin

Women often find themselves exfoliating their skin excessively, and even harshly, in an attempt to make larger pores vanish. However, this only causes micro-tears on your skin and accentuates pores even more. Go easy on your skin.

2. Don’t Expose Your Bare Skin to Sunlight

Many people believe that standing in the sun can shrink pores. However, this is far from true, as UV rays break down collagen in the skin, increasing the size of pores. A strict no-no.

3. Don’t pick at Your Skin

If you’re trying to pop that pimple or itch your skin, you may want to think twice. Popping pimples only spreads more bacteria into your skin, making pores appear larger. Itching, like scrubbing, will damage your skin.

4. Don’t Apply Ice Directly To Your Skin

Ice is said to shrink pores. And while it does, indeed, minimise the pores, avoid applying ice directly to your skin. This can damage the delicate tissues in your skin and hamper blood flow, which leads to other issues. Wrap the ice in a towel, or just splash cold water, instead, for the same result, minus any risks.

FAQs

We have answered a few frequently asked questions on dealing with open pores.

1. Can I Get Rid of Open Pores Permanently Using Home Remedies?

It is not possible to permanently remove open pores through home remedies. Non-abrasive laser treatment may work better for extremely large pores, to see a stark difference.

2. Are There Any Side-effects of Home Remedies to Treat Open Pores?

There are no known side effects to using home cleansers and toners for open pores. However, be sure not to overuse them, or skin will get dehydrated.

3. Why Am I Getting Large Pores?

Oily skin, hormonal changes, and sun damage can significantly increase the size of your pores.

4. What Diet is Helpful for Skin Pores?

Fresh juices, fibre rich, and Vitamin C rich foods with collagen enhancers like cucumber, radish and, tomato will help.

A good skincare routine, water-rich moisturisers, and a healthy diet, will help keep your pore size in check and maintain the oil balance of your face. Follow the tips mentioned above and keep glowing.

Also Read: These 9 Foods to be Avoided for Having Clear and Glowing Skin