Most patients will develop larger pores as they age. Common sites of larger pores in women are the nose, cheeks and chin but they can affect any part of the face. These large pores give the skin an “orange peel” effect.

Large pores make it difficult to obtain a healthy, smooth appearance to the skin. Makeup will often not sit well in the presence of large pores. 

Causes of large pores:

• Genetic predisposition
• Aging
• Chronic ultraviolet exposure
• Acne vulgaris
• Seborrhea

Patients with a history of acne even when it was present in teenage years have a greater number of larger pores as they age.

Until recently, the only treatments surgeons would use would be ablative lasers like the CO2 laser or the Erbium laser. These did not really give a significant degree of pore size reduction. Fortunately, an observation by an astute researcher has resulted in our ability to obtain excellent results with pores. Using a mixture of treatment modalities including the carbon peel and the skin tightening mode of the 1064 Nd:Yag, we have obtained excellent results with tightening of pores.

Roh MR, Goo BC et al. Treatment of enlarged pores with the quasi long-pulsed versus Q-switched 1064 nd:YAG lasers: a split-face, comparative, controlled study. Laser Therapy 2011;20:3:175-180.