30 Sep Large Pores Treatment: What Skincare and Treatments Work?

Large Pores Treatment: Skincare, Lasers and Skin Boosters

How do I get rid of my pores forever? That is one of the most common questions I get from my patients. It doesn’t help that with Singapore’s hot and humid weather, hyperseborrhea or oily skin makes our pores look greasy and bigger. Let this review take you throught the science behind enlarged pores and how to treat them. 

Visible pores can become more obvious when oil production is higher, follicles are naturally larger, collagen support is reduced or congestion and acne related texture are present. This graphic summarises the main factors that influence pore visibility.

Why do pores look larger?

Facial pores are the openings of pilosebaceous units of the skin¹. The pilosebaceous units consist of a hair follicle with an attached sebaceous gland and arrector pili muscle. 

The sebaceous glands are also known as the oil glands and secrete sebum which serves to lubricate the skin. The arrector pili muscle is a small muscle attached to the lower part of the pilosebaceous unit. When the arrector muscles contract, sebum secreted by the sebaceous gland is forced along the hair follicle and upwards to the surface of the skin. The arrector pili muscles also cause our hair to stand on its ends and the appearance of goosebumps.

Factors that contribute to enlarged opening of pores include higher oil production, larger follicles and reduced elasticity around these openings contribute to their appearance.¹ Acne and hormonal influences can also affect pore prominence.¹

Clogged pores, congestion and enlarged pores

When pores become blocked by excess oil, dead skin and debris, blackheads and whiteheads (i.e. closed comedones and open comedones). Clogged pores can make pores more visible, so treating congestion can have the impression that pores look smaller²,³.

Note that depressed scars may look similar to enlarged pores; but are due to a different pathology. My clinic’s guide to types of acne scars explains the differences between scars and enlarged pores and how to treat them.

Does heat open facial pores?

Going to debunk a popular myth here: Steaming or heat does not facial pores. And neither does the cold close facial pores. The pores in our skin do not open or close in response to temperature changes. However, you might notice that steaming your face can help to  soften the epidermis, which helps with exfoliation and extractions. 

Steaming the face is not such a good idea if you have sensitive skin, eczema, infections or rosacea. If you want to exfoliate to get rid of black heads and white heads, chemical peels are a safer and controlled method for exfoliation. More about chemical peels in my review The Truth About Chemical Peels. 

Skincare can help pores look clearer and smoother by reducing congestion, supporting oil control and protecting against photoageing. Retinoids, salicylic acid, niacinamide and sunscreen each play different roles in a pore care routine.

Which skincare ingredients help with large pores?

Retinoids and salicylic acid for congestion

Topical retinoids reduce comedonal acne i.e. and whiteheads, and are recommended in acne treatment guidelines³. My guide to retinol, retinal and tretinoin explains their differences between the different forms of retinoids available in Singapore, from skincare to prescription products.

Salicylic acid, an oil soluble acid, is another option for acne and congestion³. By decongesting the pores, salicylic acid and retinoids reduce the appearance of enlarged but do not reduce the size of pores.¹,³

Niacinamide and sunscreen

Research using 2% niacinamide found reductions in some measures of facial oiliness, supporting its use when excess oil accompanies visible pores.⁴ The study examined sebum production rather than permanent pore reduction.⁴ Read my niacinamide skincare guide for more on concentrations and formulation choices.

Daily sunscreen helps limit skin photoageing, as demonstrated in a randomised trial.⁵ Its contribution is protection against cumulative sun damage, rather than an immediate pore tightening effect.⁵

Fractional CO2 laser, RF microneedling and fractional pico laser are commonly discussed options for enlarged pores and uneven texture. The most suitable procedure depends on skin type, treatment goals and the amount of recovery time a patient is prepared for.

Fractional CO2 laser for enlarged pores

Fractional CO2 laser is an established laser technology for rebuilding collagen fibres in the skin to tighten the appearance of enlarged pores. This laser creates microscopic columns of controlled skin injury, with surrounding untreated skin helping the healing process⁶,⁷. In a study of 32 patients, three treatments spaced four weeks apart reduced the average number of visibly enlarged pores by 54.5%, measured twelve weeks after the final session.⁶ 

The downside of fractional CO2 laser treatments is its initial downtime. Recovery involves redness, swelling, crusting and sensitivity, with its duration influenced by treatment intensity and healing response.⁷ 

RF microneedling for large pores

RF microneedling uses fine needles to deliver radiofrequency energy within the skin, producing controlled heating that stimulates tissue remodelling.⁹ A retrospective study of 75 patients reported improvement in enlarged pores, with greater improvement observed as the number of sessions increased.⁸ 

Comparing RF microneedling to fractional CO2 laser for enlarged pores, RF microneedling has a shorter recovery time of 2-3 days because microneedling directly bypasses the epidermis to deliver target radiofrequency energy into the dermis. In my experience, RF microneedling also produces more collagen building results compared to fractional CO2 laser and is my recommendation for patients who have severely enlarged pores. 

Fractional pico laser for pores and texture

Fractional pico laser uses specialised optics to concentrate energy into microscopic treatment zones¹⁰. Fractional pico laser for treating enlarged pores involves a different treatment configuration from conventional pigmentation treatment mechanics¹⁰.

A prospective study of 25 Asian patients reported an average reduction of approximately 30% in measured pore volume, six months after three monthly fractional 1064 nm picosecond treatments¹⁰ .

For more about pico laser for treatment of enlarged pores, scars and hyperpigmentation, please refer to my clinic’s guide to pico laser for acne scars and acne marks. 

Skin boosters may support pore refinement by improving skin quality and collagen support, although evidence differs between ECM, PDLLA and PN or PDRN based treatments. This graphic is intended as a simple overview of categories discussed in the article.

Can skin boosters reduce enlarged pores?

Skin boosters refer to injectable skin treatments that deliver microdroplets of active ingredients such as extracellular matrix, PDLLA, hyaluronic acid and polynucleotides. Skin booster treatments aim to trigger collagen building mechanisms in the skin to improve overall skin texture, elasticity, and radiance. Unlike facial fillers, skin boosters do not change facial volumes or contours. My clinic’s comparison of PDLLA, PLLA and ECM skin boosters explains how these ingredients in skin boosters differ.

ECM skin boosters

ECM stands for extracellular matrix, the network of structural materials surrounding cells¹¹. In Singapore and Korea, ECM skin boosters are typically derived from donated human cadavers. In ECM skin boosters, the human cells are removed to produce an acellular dermal matrix while retaining natural matrix components.¹¹

A 2026 randomised study treated 20 adults with this preparation on one side of the face and hyaluronic acid on the other.¹¹ The matrix treated side showed a greater reduction in measured pore area from twelve weeks onwards during the twenty week study¹¹. For a deeper dive into ECM skin boosters, please refer to my blogposts ECM Skin boosters Explained: What the Extracellular Matrix Means and ECM Skin Booster Controversies: Safety, Ethics and What Patients Should Know.

PDLLA skin boosters

PDLLA, or poly D,L lactic acid, is a biodegradable material used in collagen stimulating formulations, including preparations combined with hyaluronic acid.¹² A preliminary study of sixteen patients reported improvements in skin texture and changes in collagen and elastic fibres¹². When introduced into the skin, PDLLA skin boosters stimulate Type I collagen by fibroblasts in the dermis to tighten the skin and reduce the size of enlarged pores.

PDRN skin boosters and polynucleotides

PDRN and polynucleotides, or PN, are related DNA derived materials used in regenerative skin treatments¹⁵. Polynucleotide skin boosters in Singapore are typically derived from salmon or trout sperm. A 2026 study followed thirty patients receiving PN injections on both sides of the face, comparing needle and cannula delivery over twenty weeks.¹⁶ Both sides showed improvement in pore volume and texture, while sebum measurements remained largely unchanged¹⁶.

PN or PDRN skin boosters are a popular skin treatment for fine wrinkles, acne scars and hydration in Singapore and Korea. I’ve shared a detailed review of PDRN and PN skin boosters in Rejuran Healer: What You Should Know Before Getting It as well as PDRN skin care in PDRN Skincare: Benefits, Evidence and Popular Serums.

Treatments for large pores in Singapore at a glance

Employee table

Which treatment for large pores should you choose?

If you find that your blackheads and obvious whiteheads, exfoliation of these comedones with salicylic acid and retinoids to increase cell turnover are an easy starting point for most of my patients. These skincare ingredients can also complement the results of their pore refining treatments.

To truly reduce the size of enlarged pores, treatments that restore collagen and elastin need to be considered. Some of the options available in Singapore include:

• Fractional CO2 laser

• RF microneedling

• ECM skin boosters

• PDLLA skin boosters

• PN/ PDRN skin boosters

How many sessions of treatments are needed for enlarged pores?

Published studies use different schedules, with several laser and injection studies assessing outcomes after a series of treatments and additional follow up⁶,¹⁰,¹⁶. Depending on the baseline of pore sizes and treatment modality selected, patients may require 3-5 sessions of treatments.

Can pores be removed permanently?

Pores are the openings of pilosebaceous units and are essentially a normal part of our anatomy. It is not possible to close them although there are treatments that reduce their size and appearance¹,². 

References

1. Lee SJ, Seok J, Jeong SY, et al. Facial Pores: Definition, Causes, and Treatment Options. Dermatologic Surgery. 2016;42:277 to 285.
2. Dong J, Lanoue J, Goldenberg G. Enlarged facial pores: an update on treatments. Cutis. 2016;98:33 to 36.
3. Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2024;90:1006.e1 to 1006.e30.
4. Draelos ZD, Matsubara A, Smiles K. The effect of 2% niacinamide on facial sebum production. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2006;8:96 to 101.
5. Hughes MCB, Williams GM, Baker P, Green AC. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2013;158:781 to 790.
6. Kwon HH, Choi SC, Lee WY, Jung JY, Park GH. Clinical and Histological Evaluations of Enlarged Facial Skin Pores After Low Energy Level Treatments With Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser in Korean Patients. Dermatologic Surgery. 2018;44:405 to 412.
7. Ramsdell WM. Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing Complications. Seminars in Plastic Surgery. 2012;26:137 to 140.
8. Ren K, Liu H, Li B, Zhou B. Fractional microneedle radiofrequency treatment for enlarged facial pores: A real world retrospective observational study on 75 patients. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2022;21:6742 to 6753.
9. Varelas EA, Varelas AN, Kumar AT, et al. Complications of radiofrequency microneedling: a comprehensive review. BMC Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2026;2:21.
10. Palawisuth S, Manuskiatti W, Apinuntham C, et al. Quantitative assessment of the long term efficacy and safety of a 1064 nm picosecond laser with fractionated microlens array…. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2022;54:348 to 354.
11. Lee YI, Chau NH, Nguyen NH, et al. Injectable Particulated Human Acellular Dermal Matrix Booster for Skin Restoration: An Integrated Randomized, Split Face, Double Blinded Clinical Trial and Preclinical Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026;27:2193.
12. Seo SB, Park H, Jo JY, Ryu HJ. Skin rejuvenation effect of the combined PDLLA and non cross linked hyaluronic acid: A preliminary study. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2024;23:794 to 802.
13. Wan J, Seo SB, Yoon SE, Yi KH. The Efficacy of Combined Microneedling and Topical Poly D,L lactic Acid Application for Facial Pore Reduction and Skin Texture Improvement. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2025;13:e6838.
14. Oh DY, Seo SB, Jang YJ, Park EJ, Kim KH. Facial Skin Rejuvenation Using Poly D,L Lactic Acid Injected With a Laser Generated Needle Free Microjet Injector. Dermatologic Surgery. 2024;50:739 to 745.
15. Kim ST. Comparison of Polynucleotide and Polydeoxyribonucleotide in Dermatology: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Perspectives. Pharmaceutics. 2025;17:1024.
16. Chinpipat P, Chirasuthat S, Boonpethkaew S, et al. Polynucleotide Injection for Enlarged Pores: Comparison of Intradermal Needle and Subdermal Cannula Techniques in a Randomized Split Face Trial. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2026;25:e70946.
17. Sung SW, Lee SY, Seok J, Kim BJ. Vascular Complication Following Injection of Particulated Human Acellular Dermal Matrix: A Case Report. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2026;25:e71049.