As we age, many people experience the annoyance of enlarged pores, especially those with oily or acne-prone skin. Today, we will delve into the workings of sebaceous glands and how to mitigate the issue of excessive oil secretion, particularly in understanding and treating rosacea.
Before the age of ten, sebaceous glands are almost undeveloped, and everyone has skin as smooth as a baby’s. During this period, the skin does not typically experience chronic inflammation or pore issues. However, as puberty sets in, sebaceous glands begin to develop, and the production of oil increases. In this stage, three scenarios may arise: some individuals may not develop acne despite enlarged sebaceous glands; others may have slightly oily skin but not necessarily form pimples; of course, most young people may face acne troubles due to excessive oil secretion. For healthy sebaceous glands, occasional acne is not a concern, but if oil is produced in excess, it may lead to allergies and inflammation.
As people grow older, especially after reaching their twenties, the oil production by sebaceous glands continues to increase, which in some cases may cause the glands to become further enlarged or even form small tumors. During this age, lifestyle factors such as genetics, hormonal changes, and daily skincare routines can all impact the health of sebaceous glands. Particularly, males aged forty to sixty often encounter raised skin lesions around their faces, typically caused by the excessive proliferation of sebaceous glands.
However, beyond these basics, a more serious condition that requires attention is rosacea. This condition is often marked by additional skin sensitivity and enlarged pores, resulting in the appearance of many small bumps, particularly on the nose, and causing the skin to display a reddish hue, which is a prominent sign of rosacea.
The first symptom of rosacea is persistent skin sensitivity, usually due to chronic inflammation. As the oil secretion increases, the chronic inflammation escalates as well. In the process of addressing skin sensitivity, many people mistakenly believe that using excessive moisturizers can improve the situation, but this is incorrect; the key lies in controlling oil secretion.
To treat rosacea, the first step is to regulate oil secretion. In this regard, oral retinoid medications can be helpful in improving skin conditions. Additionally, choosing skincare products that enhance the skin barrier function, such as vitamins B, C, E, and glutathione, are also good choices. It is also crucial to avoid oily products, as the root of the problem lies in the excess oil secretion.
For those with enlarged pores and signs of rosacea, I recommend considering fractional laser treatments, such as fractional CO2 laser, to improve skin texture. However, it’s important to choose the depth of laser treatment carefully, as superficial resurfacing procedures often yield limited results.
If there is significant vascular proliferation on the face, appropriate treatment should be implemented according to the specific situation, such as using pulsed dye lasers to reduce redness. Importantly, the approach to rosacea should be tailored to individual issues and should not rely solely on a single treatment method to achieve the best results.