10 Habits That Causes Clogged Pores

Clogged skin pores are easily visible on the skin surface, appearing larger and darker and often leading to the development of blackheads and pimples. If your pores continue to be clogged, they may become dilated over time.

Therefore, it is essential to prevent clogging of pores to keep your skin healthy. For this, you need to know the common factors responsible for blocked skin pores, including hormones, pollution, and sun exposure, and to take steps to prevent such problems.

# Picking your skin pores or pimples

Many people pick or squeeze their pimples or large pores, stretching the skin. This habit can often lead to irritation and inflammation, along with the development of fine lines, thus further increasing the pore size.

Moreover, touching your pimples with your hands can transfer bacteria, dirt, and oil to your face, leading to clogging of pores and increasing the risk of infection.

# Touching your face repetitively

It is common to unconsciously touch your face several times throughout the day. However, this habit can largely affect your skin health, especially contributing to clogged skin pores.

Since your hands come in contact with various surfaces throughout the day, you transfer the dirt and bacteria present on your hands directly to your facial skin. This dirt can accumulate in your skin pores, leading to blocked pores and eventually acne breakouts.

# Not exfoliating your skin properly

Skin exfoliation is a vital step of any skin care routine as it gets rid of the dirt and dead skin cells on the skin surface. This not only helps prevent clogging of pores but can also clear out the accumulated debris and oil inside the pores.

Not exfoliating your skin properly or skipping this step completely can increase the chances of clogged pores. However, it is also important not to overexfoliate your skin or use a harsh scrub as this can damage your skin barrier.

Overexfoliation can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness. To overcome this dryness, your skin ultimately increases sebum production, leading to clogged pores and acne.

# Lacking skin moisturization

Another frequently encountered cause of blocked skin pores is a lack of moisturization. Since moisturizing your skin is essential for its sebum production, barrier function, elasticity, and overall health, it is vital to pay attention to this skin care step.

If you do not moisturize your skin properly, its absorbing power decreases. As a result, the vital nutrients remain on the skin surface, eventually accumulating in skin pores. Moreover, poor skin hydration can make your pores dry and hard.

Conversely, when you moisturize your skin adequately, it absorbs the nutrients readily. Moisturizers can also loosen the oil and dirt present in your pores, enabling easy cleansing.

# Using a moisturizer not suitable for your skin

Moisturizing is essential to your skin health, but you must be mindful of the moisturizing product that you use. Moisturizers are usually classified into two broad categories: emollients and humectants.

Emollients are largely oil-based, forming a protective layer on the skin. Humectants help the skin in remaining hydrated by adding water to it. Since large or clogged pores are highly common with oily skin, using emollients adds to the oil content, thereby increasing the problem

# Excessive sun exposure
The harmful UV rays of the sun can damage your skin collagen and tissues, contributing to large, clogged skin pores. Moreover, long sun exposures can stimulate melanin production and aggravate skin hyperpigmentation.

# Sleeping with your makeup on

Makeup, which includes foundation, CC or BB cream, and powder, is a quick and easy way to conceal large pores. While these products fulfill their role of giving your skin an even look, they attract dirt and pollution.

Moreover, many cosmetic products are oil based, which can accumulate in the pores, leading to clogging and making it difficult for your skin to breathe. These effects of wearing makeup for long hours also contribute to premature skin aging.

# Wearing makeup while working out

While it is fine to wear makeup when you are going out, it should be avoided while exercising. Since you sweat during exercise, having makeup on can prevent the sweat from escaping easily, thus attracting bacterial and dirt buildup. This can often lead to blackheads, acne breakouts, and skin irritation.

# Not cleaning your makeup brushes

Similar to keeping your face clean, it is vital to wash your makeup brushes from time to time. If you avoid cleaning these makeup tools, grime and dirt can collect on them. This also makes the brush bristles hard, which can irritate your skin.

Moreover, unwashed brushes, being exposed to the environment, are suitable breeding grounds for bacteria. When you use these dirty brushes to do makeup, you transfer the dirt and bacteria into your pores.

# Using dirty towels

Cleansing your face every day is essential to prevent accumulation of dirt, dead skin cells, and oil in your skin pores. However, if you use a dirty towel to wipe your freshly cleansed face, you run the risk of transferring bacteria and dirt to your pores.

A towel hung in a bathroom with high humidity is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. You can easily develop skin infections by using one.