-- getting the section url from article. This has been done so that correct url is Q My pores are the size of soup plates. Is there an actual remedy for this, or do I have to learn to suppress vanity and live with it?
Mrs D, Aberdeenshire
A Open pores: such a bore. A variety of villains are to blame: ageing, sun damage, oily skin and genetics (the last two often go hand in hand). If you take a close look at a toddler rsquo;s skin, you will see that their pores are charmingly invisible.
Sadly, with age and exposure to the elements, the buggers lose elasticity. They get clogged-up with excess oil, dead cells and bacteria. Result: enlargement.
If you want to know what a particularly bad case of open pores looks like, check out James Woods in Shark: not just the odd soup plate, but an entire banquet rsquo;s worth. What to do? Avoid harsh toners or astringents, since they will simply strip the skin of its natural oil, encouraging it to overcompensate and generate more.
Practise good skin hygiene: cleanse, tone and, most of all, exfoliate. Use oil-free foundations, and avoid heavy, greasy moisturisers; go for something light but nourishing instead. A really excellent example is PX Advantage AM Facial Multi-Complex SPF 20 ( 60, from Harvey Nichols).
As a salon treatment, vacuum microdermabrasion, of the kind practised by Crystal Clear (call 08705 934934 for salons) is also very effective. The facialist Vaishaly Patel (020-7224 6088), aka London rsquo;s eyebrow queen, is also a whiz at this. She recently launched her own range of products designed specifically to nourish without clogging the skin.
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