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Can Laser Skin Rejuvenation Reduce Pore Size?

Large pores leave our skin looking tired and irritated, and it seems that no matter how many products we use, none of them get the job done. If this sounds familiar, then you’ve likely started looking into other options like laser skin rejuvenation.

Laser treatments like this allow you to target your problem areas without damaging the rest of the skin’s surface. Here’s everything you need to know about your pores and how laser skin rejuvenation can help.

Types of Skin Pores

As you may already know, pores are the small openings in the skin that allow the oil and sweat in our glands to escape to the surface. There are two types of skin pores: sweat pores and oil pores.

Sweat Pores

Sweat pores are located all over your skin, and can’t typically be seen by the naked eye. They’re responsible for releasing sweat from our glands that are hidden beneath the surface.

Oil Pores

Oil pores are also known as hair follicles, which can be found all over your skin. The only place you won’t find them is on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. These are the pores that you can see with the naked eye as well as those that you’re frustrated with for appearing larger than they should on your face. Oil pores release oils from our glands and can lead to acne when they’re blocked.

Pores Don’t Grow or Shrink

The concept that our pores grow and shrink with a splash of water has been around for decades, but it’s just not that simple. The truth is, our pores don’t change in size but will appear larger at times for one of two reasons. First, your pores might be clogged with oil and dirt which will stretch them out, ultimately making them appear bigger. Secondly, you may be suffering from skin damage, either from age or the sun, which has weakened the walls of the skin surrounding your pores. This, unfortunately, also makes them appear bigger.

How Laser Skin Rejuvenation Works to Reduce Pore Size

Using non-ablative lasers, laser skin rejuvenation can target the deepest layers of the skin without causing damage to the skin’s surface. It’s for this reason that they’ve become far more popular than other anti-aging options such as chemical peels or plastic surgery. The lasers work by creating microscopic wounds around the desired area and targeting damaged skin cells. Naturally, the body then begins to repair these wounds by replacing these old skin cells with fresh new ones and producing more collagen. This helps to reduce the appearance of your pores by tightening up the surrounding skin. The lasers can also target the dirt or oil that is trapped deep inside your pores, which may be making them appear larger.

Often, along with larger looking pores on your face, you will also have some sun damage, loss of skin elasticity, and redness or discoloration. If these are issues for you as well, the laser used in laser skin rejuvenation can target these areas and fix them. The discoloration and sun damage can be broken up into smaller particles by lasers that target pigmentation, allowing the body to naturally dispose of them. Meanwhile, your body will produce more collagen, which will give your skin back the firmness that it may have lost over the years.

Planning For Your First Treatment

Before your first laser treatment, you’ll want to sit down with a licensed medical laser technician to discuss your imperfections and the kinds of results you’re looking for. They’ll be able to analyze your skin and come up with a customized treatment plan. The number of laser sessions you will need depends on a number of factors including your current skin condition, your goal, and your skin type. You’ll be able to see results after just one treatment.

Your first appointment might take a bit longer than others, as you’ll need to fill out some medical paperwork and consult with a laser technician. After that, however, your laser treatments shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes. Since they require little or no downtime afterward, you can easily squeeze your appointments in around your busy schedule.

Take a minute to watch this video of Fashion blogger Stephanie Pernas getting her first laser skin rejuvenation treatment for her acne scarring and see what it’s all about:

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Paul A. Boulos
Dr. Paul A. Boulos is an excellent and versatile cosmetic surgeon, passionate about his vocation and helping others. Dr. Boulos is an alumni of Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his General Surgery training at Inspira Medical in Southern New Jersey. He studied and learn under Dr. Joseph Castellano, one of the premier breast and body Cosmetic Surgeons in South Florida. He currently works as a Cosmetic Surgeon at Jolie Plastic Surgery in Miami, FL.