How to get rid of enlarged pores: what works, and what can't

How to get rid of enlarged pores: the honest answer

Hello, I'm Dr. Won Woo Choi, a board-certified dermatologist and chief director at WELLS Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul. I completed my dermatology residency at Seoul National University Hospital, hold a doctorate in dermatology from Seoul National University, and serve as an adjunct professor in the hospital's Department of Dermatology. Patients often ask me how to get rid of enlarged pores, usually after years of trying products that never quite made a difference.

The honest answer is that you cannot remove pores completely, and you would not want to. What you can do is make enlarged pores look smaller by treating the reason they stretched: excess oil, loss of elasticity, or damage from squeezing and acne. Home care keeps pores from getting worse, while pores that are already stretched usually need treatment that works in the dermis underneath.

Below I explain why pores enlarge, where home care stops, and the in-clinic options we use at WELLS.

Why do pores get bigger in the first place?

A pore is the opening through which oil from the sebaceous gland reaches the surface. That oil protects the skin, so pores are a normal part of healthy skin. Glands are larger in the T-zone, which is why pores on the nose and forehead are the most visible.

In my practice, enlarged pores almost always come down to one or more of three causes:

• Excess oil. With stress or incomplete cleansing, sebum pools inside the pore and gradually stretches it
• Loss of elasticity. As collagen declines with age, the skin around each pore sags and the pore elongates into a teardrop shape
• Damage. Squeezing spots by hand and repeated acne inflammation break down the tissue around the pore, leaving it wider or scarred

Knowing which cause dominates on your face is what decides the treatment. An oily nose in your twenties and stretched cheek pores in your forties are different problems.

What home care can do for pores, and what it can't

Good habits keep pores from blocking and stretching further. The core rule is simple: do not do things that clog or damage them.

• Cleanse at the end of the day without putting it off, using a gentle lather and lukewarm water
• Never rub hard to remove makeup; friction damages the skin barrier and makes texture rougher
• Choose cosmetics that suit your skin type and avoid heavy, oily layers if you are oil-prone
• Exfoliate gently, about once a week at most, then replace moisture
• Have acne treated early by a dermatologist instead of squeezing it

Where home care stops is the structure underneath. Pores that have already stretched improve only a little with home care alone, because the support around them sits in the dermis, out of reach of anything applied to the surface.

How we treat enlarged pores at WELLS

Our main tool is Fractional Picosecond Laser Treatment, often called pico fraxel. Rather than resurfacing the skin, it restores elasticity in the dermis so enlarged pores tighten from underneath. Because the surface is spared, it also suits skin that reacts badly to heat.

It works by laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB): tiny micro-cavities form inside the dermis, and the skin responds by making new collagen and elastin. There is no oozing and no wound dressing, and any redness usually clears in 3–4 days.

Where the nose or cheeks need extra tightening, we add Genius RF microneedling or Winergy. Genius places RF energy precisely where collagen is made, and our anesthesia protocol controls about 80% of the usual Genius discomfort.

For an oily surface, Rejuran Tox combines Rejuran HB+ (3 cc) with microdroplet skin smoothing injection (3 cc) in one visit. The neuromodulator refines pores and reduces excess oiliness at the surface, working on the tiny muscle beside each pore, while Rejuran HB+ supports regeneration and elasticity underneath.

Which pore treatment suits which kind of pore?

This is where a dermatologist's examination earns its place. I match the plan to the cause rather than to the most popular device:

• Oily T-zone pores often respond well to skin smoothing injection, with pico fraxel added if they have already stretched
• Sagging, teardrop-shaped cheek pores need collagen and elasticity rebuilt, so pico fraxel and Genius RF lead the plan
• Pores mixed with acne scars are treated with the acne scar and enlarged pore programme, which combines fractional laser, microneedle RF and other tools depending on scar type

Active acne comes first, because new inflammation keeps damaging pores while we try to repair them. You can see all options on our acne, scar and pore treatments page, and we check progress with a dermatoscope rather than by eye alone.

Sessions, recovery and realistic expectations

When patients ask me how to get rid of enlarged pores quickly, I explain that tightening builds over a series of sessions, because new collagen forms gradually. The number of sessions and the interval are set at consultation, based on your pores, your skin and your schedule.

Recovery is usually light. After pico fraxel any redness generally settles within days, and after Genius you can generally wash your face gently and return to routine the same day, skipping scrubs for 2–3 weeks. Treatment energy is kept appropriate rather than aggressive, because overly strong fractional or RF sessions can leave skin dry and irritated.

Expect smaller-looking pores and smoother texture, not poreless skin. Results vary between people, and side effects are possible with any procedure, which is why every plan starts with a consultation.

Planning pore treatment on a trip to Seoul

Many visitors who ask how to get Korean glass skin are really asking about pores and texture, since smooth, light-reflecting skin depends on tight pores. If you are also wondering how to get fair skin or a more even tone, that is a pigment question we can look at during the same consultation.

The visit is simple. Message us on WhatsApp with a photo and your dates, a dermatologist examines your skin at our Apgujeong clinic, and you leave with aftercare instructions and a way to reach us afterwards. You can read about our team on the doctors page.

If scarring is part of the picture, our Korean acne scar treatment guide explains how to plan sessions around a trip. And if your concern is tiny white bumps rather than open pores, see how to get rid of milia under eyes.

Results and recovery vary by individual. Every treatment carries possible side effects, which are explained at the consultation. Prices are in Korean won, excluding 10% VAT, and confirmed at your consultation. This article is general information from the clinic, not a diagnosis.

Written by

Dr. Won Woo Choi

Medical Director · M.D., Ph.D. · WELLS Clinic, Apgujeong

• Board-certified dermatologist in Korea; trained at Seoul National University Hospital
• Dermatology residency, Seoul National University Hospital; board certification in dermatology in Korea
• Ph.D. in Dermatology, Seoul National University
• Former clinical instructor, Seoul National University Hospital
• Adjunct professor, Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital

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