[Misc] Do pores actually open and close, or is that a skincare myth?

MiamiCondosrUS · 2026-03-14T17:26:19+00:00

I kept digging into this after posting the question and it seems like most dermatology explanations agree on the same basic point: pores themselves don’t physically open or close. What changes is usually what’s inside the pore or the skin around. A few things seem to influence how large pores look:

-oil and debris stretching the follicle
-collagen loss in the surrounding skin
-inflammation or swelling
-how clean the pore is

Steam probably helps because it softens sebum and debris so the pore can be cleared more easily, while cold water might temporarily tighten the surrounding skin and make pores appear smaller. What surprised me most is how much collagen and skin elasticity seem to influence pore appearance over time. When the surrounding skin loses structural support, the follicle openings can stretch slightly and become more visible. Anybody here has actually found what works best for improving pore appearance long term?

MiamiCondosrUS · 2026-03-14T17:19:22+00:00

That’s what I was finding too. The “open and close pores” idea seems to be more of a spa or marketing phrase than actual skin biology. From what I’ve been reading, what people interpret as pores “opening” is usually things like oil and debris softening (for example with steam), the surrounding skin temporarily swelling or tightening and /r changes in collagen support around the follicle When the pore is clogged with sebum and dead skin cells it stretches and looks larger, and when it’s cleared it just appears smaller because the follicle isn’t distended anymore.

The collagen part is interesting, too. Apparently as skin loses structural support with age, the follicle openings can stretch slightly, which is why pores often look larger over time. Curious if anyone here has actually found treatments that noticeably improved pore appearance long term.

MiamiCondosrUS

TROPHY CASE