How to Close Your Body Pores After a Hot Shower

Pores help your skin to breathe and are an integral part of healthy skin. You may find that your pores look larger after showering, and may find this detracts from your skin's overall appearance. Although pore size is set genetically and can't be physically modified, good skin care and certain showering practices can help minimize your pore size.

Step 1

Turn the water in your shower to a comfortably hot temperature.

Step 2

Wash your body with a skin scrub or cleanser formulated with alpha hydroxy acid at a concentration of 8 percent or higher, recommends skincare expert Paula Begoun. The acid helps exfoliate the surface of your skin and your pores, helping to keep your pores clear and unclogged. This allows your pores to close naturally, whereas clogged pores may be stretched and appear bigger.

Step 3

Rinse off the skin cleanser, and then turn the temperature to the coldest setting on your shower's dial. Hot water dilates and opens your pores, but cold water constricts the surface of your skin and tightens up your pores.

Step 4

Pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Don't rub your skin vigorously, as the back-and-forth motion can irritate your skin and cause redness, flaking and other skin problems.

Step 5

Smooth on a body lotion formulated with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Both can help keep oil production in check and prevent your pores from getting clogged and stretched.

Things You'll Need

• Alpha-hydroxy acid skin cleanser

• Towel

• Salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide body lotion

Tip

Turning your shower's water settings to a hot temperature before washing with the acid-enhanced cleanser helps to open your pores and allows the acid to better penetrate your pores.