The pores in the skin become open when the skin is warm or when the pore is forced open by being squeezed. Opening the pores on the face is a good thing to do during the cleansing process, which should be completed daily. The pores can be opened simply by washing the face with warm water, steaming the face in the shower, or applying a warm, damp towel to the face. Once the pores are open, the face can be cleaned in order to clear out the pores and keep the skin healthy.
After the open pores have been cleaned, they can be disinfected with an astringent, which should be applied with a cotton ball or cotton pad. Astringent is especially useful for people with acne, people with oily skin, and people whose skin gets dirty or grimy on a daily basis. It can be too irritating, however, for people with dry or sensitive skin. After the astringent is applied, the face can be rinsed with cold water, which will close the pores once again.
In order to open and clean out an infected pore or a pimple, the skin should be thoroughly steamed so that the pore will open with as little pressure as possible. The less strain that this process puts on the skin, the better. There are tools that are intended specifically for this purpose. The pore can also be opened with fingers as long as the hands are very clean and the fingers have been wrapped in tissue or cotton.
Sometimes pores can become enlarged to the extent that they seem to be permanently open or are large enough so that oil and debris collects in them. These kind of open pores can be combated by a daily cleansing and moisturizing regimen for the face. There are also pore-refining products and pore-shrinking products that can help to shrink these kinds of open pores. Pore-shrinking masks may also be helpful for people with these kinds of pores.
It is important to remember that pores that are opened for cleansing purposes should be closed. If the open pores are not closed, the skin is less protected and the pores can more easily become infected. Also, for those who decide to force open pores by squeezing them, the pores should always be disinfected afterwards and closed again with the application of astringent followed by cool water.