Like it or not, but pores are essential to the skin, as they act as a ventilation: they provide your skin with access to sweat glands, sebaceous (oil) glands and hair follicles, and they evacuate the debris. Without pores, your skin would suffocate.

Before we get started on this sun vs pores matter, let us explain a few things about the skin's structure.

About the skin, Collagen and Elastin in the Dermis

Your skin consists of three layers. The outermost epidermis contains no blood vessels and mainly acts as a waterproof barrier between the atmosphere and your body. The innermost layer, the hypodermis, mainly stores your fat tissue. The key layer is the middle one. The dermis contains pores, blood vessels, and a network of collagen and elastin fibers proteins that give your skin structure and flexibility.

The effects of UV rays on the skin's structure: UV-A rays on the line

These proteins help skin recover its original shape after it gets stretched or pulled. When skin tans or burns, damage occurs to the epidermis. Even when you don't burn or tan, however, UV-A rays can reach deep into your skin to break down the collagen and elastin and prevent skin from producing more. The result? Skin loses structure and begins to show typical signs of aging brown spots, leathery skin texture, wrinkles, and even the appearance of larger pores.

And what about the pores?

Pore size is largely determined by genetics: if your parents had large pores, you will likely have them as well. However, your lifestyle (i.e., sun exposure. smoking, eating habits) plays a key role in how they shape up in adulthood.

Imagine a pore as a small, flexible rubber bowl. Now imagine that the sun acts as a direct heat source that softens the edges of the bowl, widening the rim. When sun exposure damages the collagen in your skin, the walls of your pores lose elasticity and sag, appearing larger as a result.

How to reverse and avoid further damages on pores

Even if you worshipped the sun at some point, you can reverse some of the damage by changing your approach to sun protection and skin care, and especially when it comes to passive exposure to ambient sunlight which accounts for 80% of our exposure year-round and 90% of the damage to our skin. The skin on your face is fragile and prone to sun damage, and you should always treat it with extra care. Limiting your sun exposure in the summer is one thing, but applying strong UV-A protection every day year round will definitely help prevent further damage and give your dermis a chance to heal.

Recommended products: Incidental Sun Smart Serum