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Shrink Large Pores

Updated: 01/31/2010

Natural Remedies From Our Readers!

Clogged and enlarged pores ordinarily are not a dangerous medical condition, but they can certainly be a nuisance. With time, the effects of make-up and dirt, skin secretions, and the work of bacteria on the sebaceous and sweat glands throughout our bodies, pores can become clogged with oils as well as dead and living materials. These clogged pores can become more easily visible and unsightly (particularly on the skin on our faces) when they enlarge, take on colors other than that of our skin, and become deeply pitted.

Gentle, proper cleaning is ordinarily recommended as the best recourse to remove unwanted material from our pores, allowing the pores to shrink and our skin in general to take on a healthier and more youthful appearance.

DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

2 YEA
1 SIDE EFFECT

[SIDE EFFECTS]  07/15/2009: Suzie from BSB, Brunei writes: "Dear all,

I have read user comments raving usage of ACV for face pores. I happen to have a bottle in fridge and decided to give it a go treating the visible pores on my T ZOne area (Forehead, Nose, Sides of Nose). No doubt that my skin feels softer this morning but my pores were SO VISIBLE and now it upsets me wondering what have gone wrong.

As for my application, I apply it directly to my wet face after cleansing, followed by a blackhead solution (T zone area), and then a whitening essence for whole face, then lastly a moisturiser.

I am wondering if this is only a short term effect. Whats the cause of this unwanted result? Does anyone out there had experienced the same thing? Please kindly share/ advise."

07/16/2009: Tim from LA, CA replies: "Hi I am not sure, but often ACV and other remedies that are being talked about on this forum can react to other lotions etc. we use after using them. I would reccomend first to use ACV and othe stuff alone and then if there is not adveres reaction then use othere lotions one by one."

01/27/2010: Tas from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates replies: "well, i have been going to the derma for boils treatment and i was given roacutine and the doctor told me it is becoz of this medicine the pores open but i have stopped it becoz firstly it dint work on my boils at all,but i still see large pores on my skin,specially the places where i have hair. and this luks bad coz it spoils the luk of my face. iam getting married in the next month and sincerely dont know what to do with all these weird problems which i never took care of earlier and now want to get rid of it asap.

does anyone know how shud i get rid of the following problems please help me:-
1) Hyperpigmentation- i have dark skin in my underarms and inner thigh area, boils have also left dark marks on my body and specially bikini area. what to do
2) boils- i get red boils which are damn painful, and then they turn to puss but the lump remains there and again after sometime another boil recurs in the same area again and again. what to do. iam currenly having a blood purifier syrup named safi.
3) large pores and facial hair- as i told before that i have been using this medicine, my skin all of a sudden has turned dark and pores are so visible. i am thinking of using ubtan(an old indian remedy used for getting a glowing healthy skin at the time of marriages) for dark skin..

if you have any gud things to share please email me on tasnim.rashida@gmail.com.

i wud be more than obliged if i get some good remedies from here. but fast and effective please."

[YEA]  02/07/2007: Dixie from NYC writes: "Hi, I found this site and am amazed by what I am reading. My mother always told a story of how in the thirties, my uncle was a little boy and desperately ill. The doctors could not figure out what was wrong or how to help him and finally told my grandparents to prepare for the worst. Apparently all he kept asking for was vinegar (my mom never specified if it was ACV) and when things looked really bleak, they decided to let him have it since he never stopped asking for it and since there was no real reason to deny him, however bizarre it seemed to give it to him. He apparently struggled to drink it, but got through a whole bottle in a few hours despite his weakness. The fever suddenly broke and he fully recovered, and to this day no one in my family really understood how. Now I'm getting a clue as to why! So, I thought I would try the honey/water/AVC drink three times a day- today is day 5 and while I didn't see any real weight loss until today, today my jeans are suddenly loose! Also been using it as a toner and guess what! No trip to the dermo like I planned because my pores are getting smaller on their own! Depression doing a lot better too - though the jury is still out on that since today I was a bit down after a few up days - will check back in and let everyone know- but WOW! I'm amazed! My little uncle was really on to something, clearly!"

06/25/2008: Judith from Brighton, Ont, Canada replies: "What is the proportion used in the water, honey, Apple cider vinegar cure for large pores?"

08/18/2008: Eny from Orlando, Florida replies: "Wanted to know the portions needed to take of honey/water/& apple cider vinegar for large pores."

10/07/2008: Andrea from Selden, NY replies: "can you tell me the amounts of water,vinegar, & honey for the large pores???"

[YEA]  02/04/2009: Navae from Portland, OR replies: "The apple cider vinegar (acv) drink is about 1-2 Tbsp ACV, 1 Tbs of raw (unheated/unfiltered) honey (or agave nectar) and about 8 oz. of Water. Drink that 3 times a day.

For your skin - I do about 4 Tbsp. ACV to about 2-4 ounces of Water. (dilution depends on personal sensitivity) I put it in a jar. You can add a little lavender/vitamin E oil and aloe vera gel as well. Just shake before each use and apply with a cotton ball.

Voila! Beautiful skin!"

06/13/2009: Terryberry from La Mirada, California replies: "Do you rinse off the avc after you a while? Or do you leave to dry?"

01/31/2010: Reeses from Hays, Ks replies: "i've always truggled with Large pores and have tried various stuff to help and it never works. I am going to try the acv (hopefully this will work). but I was wondering if you washed your face with a cleanser before or after? I don't know if that would change how it works or not?"

BAKING SODA

1 YEA
1 SIDE EFFECT

[SIDE EFFECTS]  11/20/2008: Carly from Poughkeepsie, NY writes: "Shrink pores with natural remedies. Ouch. Baking soda exfoliant Burns like hell Guess my skin is super sensitive -- never again!"

[YEA]  12/07/2006: Tara from Las Vegas writes: "Washing with baking soda twice a day is an inexpensive way to clean out and minimize the appearance of large pores. Splash warm water on the face and lighty exfoliate with a substantial amount of baking soda. By the second washing, one will see a noticable difference! I began doing this at the age of 21 and I have not bought a facial cleanser since. I am 26 years old. I always get compliments on my complexion and some believe I am wearing foundation when I am not!"

07/01/2008: Beth from The Woodlands, Texas, USA replies: "I am wondering if you are washing your make-up off with this method, or is this a washing for a face already make-up free?"

08/04/2008: Lucy from Anacortes, Washington replies: "Just a question. Do you rinse off the baking soda?"

EC: Most definitely!

COCONUT OIL

1 YEA
1 NAY

[YEA]  11/29/2007: Sandy from Bangalore, India writes: "Shrink Large facial pores: I drink coconut oil 2 teaspoons in the morning with my breakfast, and my facial open pores have shrunk completely. Sometimes I drink 2 teaspoons in the morning with breakast, and 2 teaspoons in the afternoon with my lunch."

[NAY]  11/25/2008: SHEANNA from DOUGLASVILLE, ATLANTA, GA replies: "I HAVE BEEN USING COCONUT OIL FOR 1 MONTH NOW. HAVEN'T SEEN ANY CHANGE YET. HOW LONG SHOULD I BE TAKING THE COCONUT OIL???? I USE IT AS A FACE WASH AND AS A FACE OIL. NOTHING CHANGE YET. I ALSO TAKE 3 TEASPOONS OF COCONUT OIL. 1 TEASPOONS WITH EACH MEAL. I NOTICE THAT IT LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL I HAVE LESS HEADACHES AND FEEL AWOSOME. I HAVE ALSO LOST 20 POUNDS TAKING THE COCONUT OIL.GUESS WHAT I STILL EAT WHAT I WANT 1 TAESPOON BEFORE EACH MEAL. I HAVEN'T CHANGED ANY EATING HABITS ALSO DRINK 6 TO 8 GLASSES OF WATER. I ALSO USE THIS AS A HAIR CARE PRODUCT ON MY SCALP. I HAVE TO BLADSPOTS THAT HAVE BEEN GROWING LIKE CRAZY. I HAVE TRYED EVERYTHING ON MY BALDSPOTS AND NOTHING HAS WORKED. EXTRA VIRGIN COCONUT OIL IS A BLESSING IN MY LIFE."

10/25/2009: Treva from Springfield, La replies: "I just have a question about the coconut oil. Is the kind you buy at grocery store in the cooking isle?"

EC: Typically the best brands of coconut oil are found at your local health food store, but you might also find at your grocery store. Our local grocery store (Publix) started carrying a great organic brand of coconut oil recently (in the salad dressing aisle).

LEMON JUICE

1 YEA
2 WARNINGS!

[YEA]  09/01/2008: Joyce from Houston, TX writes: "I have found a very simple way to remove freckles and even out skin tone..Before going to bed at night I would take a lemon and rub the cut lemon over clean skin where the freckles are or uneven skin color is..I try to saturate the skin and let it dry I do this every night it is a slow process but after two months almost all the freckles that covered my chest have faded away..If you use it on your face it helps shrink larger pores too Try this on elbows, knees and heels of feet.. It has made my skin look younger and at age 52 many people take me for wbout 10-15 years younger."

[WARNING!]  01/31/2009: Cass from Phoenix, AZ replies: "I am a licensed aesthetician and would like for you to know that while the lemon juice will most definitely fade your pigmentations, you have to be VERY careful that you're not creating new ones in the process. Citric acid is a very strong photosensitizer (that means it makes you sensitive to light) and if you're spending ANY time in the sun with lemon juice on your face (even a couple minutes) you are DRASTICALLY increasing your existing sun damage, freckling, pigmentation spots, and wrinkles. Just make sure to only do this at night, or wear a minimum of SPF 30."

04/18/2009: Jessica from Ottawa, ON replies: "Do you wash off the lemon juice after it dries?? or leave it on all night? Thanks!"

[WARNING!]  04/19/2009: Dianna from Austin, Tx replies: "I also used to do this - but with lime juice. I would clean my face and neck and then rub the lime juice into my skin. It made my skin very soft and also eliminated age spots and seemed to help with fine lines too.

BUT - be very careful about applying lemon/lime juice or essential oil and then going out into the sun! Usually, if you apply it and leave it overnight - and wash it off the next morning you will be fine. But one time I evidently didn't wash it all off and my skin became very sensitive to the sun and I could tell it was going to burn. Luckily I got out of the sun before it happened - but I have read about people getting very bad sun burns from this - and also having new spots form because of the photo sensitivity that lemon/lime juices causes to skin.

Just make sure you wash it ALL off before going outside!"

POSITIVE READER FEEDBACK ON TED'S REMEDY

1 YEA

[YEA]  11/15/2006: Boris from Vancouver, Canada writes: "My staph problem is clearing up with a topical application of clindoxyl, however I did want to comment on Ted's suggestion of zinc and manganese supplements for oily skin. Oily skin can help create conditions for stubborn bacterial infections for the bacteria feeds off all that excess sebum. Prior to Ted's suggestion I had been supplementing with 75mg of zinc gluconate with 10mg of tin oxide for about a month with perhaps the result of clearing up seborrheic dermatitis around my nose, eyebrows and ear folds. I still had very oily skin on my face and scalp though. As was recommended, I've been supplementing with a cup of soy milk along with 50mg of chelated manganese for six days now and my face is noticeably less oily. I've also been taking in 150mg of flax lignan, which I've read also helps. At any rate, something here is working. I'll continue to supplement with the manganese for another week, as per Ted's suggestion. Perhaps this info could be cross-posted to the acne page as well. Thank you!"

EC: Click here to read Ted's recommendation to Boris on the MRSA cures page.

PURE SHEA BUTTER

1 YEA

[YEA]  01/06/2008: Diana from Vinings, GA writes: "I have been using pure shea butter on my hands and cracked feet since the weather turned cool. I also apply it around my nose to help cracked, peeling skin from contact dermatitis. It is one of the few moisturizers that doesn't aggravate the condition! Well, recently I ran out of my expensive Q10 face cream and decided, it being winter and my skin being dry, that I would use the shea butter on the rest of my face. So I took about a dime size from the container and rubbed it in my palms, (it is solid and needs to be "melted") and then massaged it into my skin. The next day I noticed that my pores were visibly smaller! I have continued to do this each night to see what happens.. I wake up in the morning with my face glowing and it is not my imagination, my pores are smaller. I really massage the butter into my skin with small circular movements -- my face gets a little red from the increase of circulation from the massage. I am not sure I can keep using shea butter in hot summer months (too oily) but certainly during cool weather! My bottle of shea butter cost about $4.00. I will let you know if my forehead creases disappear. So far, the lines around my eyes are less noticeable, but no such luck on the forehead!"

SOUR CREAM

1 QUESTION

[QUESTION]  03/19/2009: Maggie from Chicago, IL writes: "Large pores: Has anyone tried using sour cream to shrink enlarged pores? I've heard this is a popular remedy used by Russian women in the 50's used like a mask."

03/19/2009: Joyce from Joelton, Tn replies: "Hello Maggie, I know nothing about using sour cream for large pores, but I have heard of the Chicago Face Lift that was quite popular several years back. It was so popular that those with hemorrhoids couldn't find Preparation H ointment for their hemorrhoids. I really laughed when I heard about it but it stands to reason that anything that would shrink, moisturize, heal mucosa should work pretty much the same on the skin and that is what the ladies were doing, smearing it on their faces and leaving it on for several hours before rinsing it off."

VITAMIN B COMPLEX

1 YEA

[YEA]  11/07/2008: Arlan from Midland, MI writes: "I became alarmed as my pores seemed to get bigger and bigger, accompanied with oily/dry skin....I took injections of b complex (available at a farm supply) and within a matter of 2 weeks my skin looked much better."

07/30/2009: Cass from Mt. Sterling, OH replies: "Just wondering where you inject the vitamin B Complex. Is it still working well for your skin? Thanks."

09/23/2009: Lita209 from Sanford, Fl replies: "I used to have real bad acne, and everything that goes with it; oily skin and of course large pores, lack of confidence, there were days when I didn't want to go out and be seen. What took care of my acne (that I had been suffering since I was a teenager until I was about 48 or 49 when somebody told my about this) was large doses of Pantothenic Acid. Do some research on this. There is a site where you can buy them specifically for this problem, but EC won't print it (and I have no personal of financial interest on this company whatsoever). But if EC gives you my e mail I will gladly share this with others. (I am afraid of posting my e mail because of junk mail) I am so thankful that I found this. I am defenitely more confident. I occasionally get a pimple with my period but it doesn't last long and for my this is a blessing!!"

09/23/2009: Tee from Chicago, Il replies: "I wanted to know if anyone can tell me why I have spots from pimples I dont pick with? Am I missing a vital nutrient? My skin never seems to just heal on it's on. Also I can squeeze oil out from under my skin for days. Seems like the only way to get rid of whatever it's called. It's always smelly and hard. It's not like pus. Will the b5 help help with that?"

09/24/2009: Jill from Gold Coast, Australia replies: "Hi Tee, I used to have a dreadful skin. It cleared when until I started taking 1000 mg vitamin C a day. "

09/24/2009: Tee from Chicago, Il replies: "Thanks Jill! Was it ascorbic acid or something else? To earthclinic I wanted to know is it possible to post pictures of certain conditions because I was reading the Perioral Dermatitis post and I think my situation might be that."

EC: Sure, you can send photos to deirdre@earthclinic.com.