Pore size is genetic, but pore visibility is largely within your control. The right combination of exfoliation, collagen stimulation, and sebum management makes a significant difference.
get startedEnlarged pores are pore openings that are visibly apparent on the skin surface, typically on the nose, cheeks, and forehead. Pore size itself is determined by genetics and cannot be permanently altered. What makes pores appear enlarged is a combination of factors: excess sebum stretching the opening, accumulated debris dilating it, and the loss of collagen and elastin surrounding the pore that provides structural tightness. All of these factors are addressable.
Patients come in about pores when they show up in photos or when makeup stops sitting smoothly over them. Many have tried pore strips and primers with limited success and want something that actually changes the skin.
Enlarged pores are primarily a structural and sebum-driven concern.
Genetics: Baseline pore size and sebaceous gland activity are largely inherited. Oily skin types naturally have more visible pores due to higher sebum production stretching the pore opening.
Debris accumulation: Sebum, dead skin cells, and environmental debris accumulate in pores and dilate the opening visibly. This is the most immediately addressable driver.
Collagen and elastin loss: The tissue surrounding each pore opening provides structural support that holds it compact. As collagen declines with age and UV damage, this support weakens and pores read as larger.
UV damage: Photodamage degrades the surrounding tissue and thickens the stratum corneum, both of which contribute to more visible pore appearance.
Patients concerned about enlarged pores typically notice:
Pores become more visible with age as the collagen and elastin surrounding them decline and UV damage accumulates. Patients who had minimal pore concerns in their 20s often notice more prominent pores through their 30s and 40s as this structural support weakens.
Sebum production can also shift with hormonal changes — fluctuations during perimenopause, for example, can cause previously well-managed pores to become more congested and visible.
Enlarged pore treatment works by keeping pores clear, tightening the surrounding collagen, and managing sebum production.
At CAMI, we're direct with patients about what's possible: pore size doesn't change, but pore visibility absolutely can. The protocol focuses on consistent pore clearance, collagen support around the pore opening, and management of the sebum production that stretches the opening in the first place.
Patients who maintain a consistent BHA routine between in-office treatments see significantly better long-term results than those who rely on in-office treatment alone.

Care guided by experience, precision, and a deep understanding of natural beauty.
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