Monday, February 16, 2015

Shrinking those pores

While using a clinical strength topical retinoid can shrink pores, they'll come right back if you stop using it.

To shrink the pores on the face, longer term, I prefer treatment with fractional radiofrequency or a combination device that does fractional radiofrequency (RF) with microneedling simultaneously.  I am seeing lasting pore shrinkage for at least six months or more and still counting.  Multiple treatments are sometimes necessary, like 2-3 depending on the device and severity of the pore problem, but I am seeing modest improvement with even a single treatment with my Endymed Intensif device that combines the RF with microneedling.

A study from Korea, published 9/2014, had patients with large pores, treated with a fractional radiofrequency device and they were followed for three months after their last treatment and improvement was sustained.   I would like to see longer follow up to know more formally how lasting the pore shrinkage really is, but I am hopeful that it is at least six months and possibly longer.