Enlarged Pore Treatment Guide — Find the Method for Your Pore Type

Last updated 2026-10-28

⏱Treatment time

10–40 minutes (about 1–1.5 hours including numbing cream)

✋Pain

Toning and peels: a mild prickling / RF microneedling: a dull ache after numbing — mostly tolerable

🩹Downtime

Toning and skin botox: almost none / fractional laser and RF microneedling: redness and tiny scabs for 2–7 days

🏨Recommended stay

Toning and injections: same day to one night / fractional and microneedling: at least 4–5 days recommended

✨Results begin

Skin botox and peels: changes in oil and texture within 1–2 weeks / collagen treatments: gradually over 1–3 months

📅How long it lasts

Skin botox about 3–4 months; texture tightened by collagen treatments lasts relatively longer — pores can widen again with oil and aging, so maintenance is needed

🔁Sessions

Toning and peels: several sessions 2–4 weeks apart / fractional laser and RF microneedling: 3–5 sessions 4–6 weeks apart

Send us a photo of your pores and we'll tell you for free which treatment suits your pore typeGet a free consultation →

Contents

Who it suits / What to check first
What type are my pores?
Why pores get larger
Treatments by pore type
At a glance — results, downtime, sessions and suitability for a trip
A short trip vs. repeat visits — a realistic plan
Downtime — how the days go
Things to watch out for while traveling
Aftercare and home care
Good questions to ask at your consultation
What to look for in a clinic

Who it suits / What to check first

Pores are a normal part of skin structure, so it is not possible to ‘get rid of’ them. However, reducing causes such as oil, loss of firmness and scarring can make them far less noticeable. The causes of enlarged pores differ from person to person, so knowing your own pore type is the starting point of treatment.

Those whose nose and inner-cheek pores stand out by the afternoon after applying makeup
Those whose outer-cheek pores look stretched into long vertical teardrops
Those whose pores after acne look uneven and pitted
Those who want low-downtime care during a short trip to Korea, or who want to treat seriously over several visits

If you also have many pitted acne scars, see our acne scar treatment page as well. If you are currently having many inflamed breakouts, acne treatment comes before pore treatment. If you are taking oral acne medication (isotretinoin) or stopped recently, be sure to tell us.

What type are my pores?

Having several types mixed on one face is the most common situation. The treatment that suits you depends on the type.

Type	Appearance / location	Main cause	Treatment direction
Oily pores	Nose, forehead and inner cheeks; round, wide openings, often with blackheads and shine	Heavy oil production and built-up dead skin make the pore openings wider	Reduce oil (skin botox, peels), clear dead skin and blackheads, toning
Sagging pores (loss of firmness)	Outer cheeks and below the cheekbones; long vertical teardrop or oval shapes, often lined up in rows	Collagen decreases with age and UV, so the skin around the pores sags	Stimulate collagen (RF microneedling, fractional laser), skin boosters
Scar-type pores	Irregular pits on the cheeks with uneven edges	Marks left where acne inflammation damaged the pore walls	Scar-remodeling treatments such as fractional laser and RF microneedling

If you gently lift your cheek upward with a finger and the pores look much smaller, sagging pores are likely; if they are round and open in oily areas, oily pores are common. A precise judgment is made by a doctor examining you under lighting and magnification.

Why pores get larger

Oil production: oily skin, male hormones and hot weather increase oil and widen pore openings.
Dead skin and blackheads: when old dead skin and oil clump and fill the pore, the opening stretches and looks darker.
Aging and UV: when the collagen and elastic fibers that hold pores in place decrease, pores sag downward.
Acne inflammation: repeated inflammation damages the pore wall and leaves wide, scar-like pores.
Bad habits: squeezing by hand, harsh scrubs and frequently peeling off nose strips irritate the skin around the pores and can make things worse.

That is why pore treatment is generally a combination of ‘treatments that reduce oil’ and ‘treatments that restore firmness’, tailored to your skin.

Tell us your travel dates and we'll plan your pore treatment around your downtimeGet a free consultation →

Treatments by pore type

Korean dermatology clinics often combine 2–3 of the methods below depending on your pores.

Treatment	How it works	Best for
Laser toning	Low-energy laser applied evenly over the whole face to refine oil, tone and texture	Oily pores, dullness, light care during a trip
Peel (chemical peel)	Ingredients such as salicylic acid dissolve dead skin and oil inside the pores	Oily pores with many blackheads
Fractional laser	Creates tiny columns of micro-injury in the skin to trigger regeneration	Scar-type pores, sagging pores, overall skin texture
RF microneedling	Fine needles deliver radiofrequency heat into the skin (Potenza, etc.)	Sagging and scar-type pores, with oil
Skin botox	Very diluted botulinum toxin injected closely into the shallow layer of the skin	Oily pores, very shiny T-zone and cheeks
Skin booster	Hyaluronic acid or regenerative ingredients injected to replenish moisture and firmness	Sagging pores, recovery support after treatment
Extraction / care	Hygienic removal of blackheads and oil, followed by soothing care	Clogged pores, support before or after other treatments

More important than device or product names is whether the method fits the cause of your pores. For treatments that use a product, such as skin botox and skin boosters, ask whether it is opened in front of you and whether you can check the product name and dose, and you can ask to see the empty vial or label afterward.

At a glance — results, downtime, sessions and suitability for a trip

Treatment	Main effect	Downtime	Usual sessions	Short-trip suitability
Laser toning	Refines oil, tone and texture	Almost none (redness for 1–2 hours)	5–10 sessions 1–2 weeks apart (2–4 weeks apart at some clinics)	Excellent
Peel	Clears dead skin and oil	Redness and light flaking for 1–5 days	Several sessions 2–4 weeks apart	Good
Skin botox	Less oil and shine, tighter-looking pores	Small wheals and bruising for a few hours to 2 days	Repeat every 3–4 months	Excellent
Skin booster	Replenishes moisture and firmness	Injection marks and small bruises for 1–3 days	2–3 sessions 2–4 weeks apart	Good
RF microneedling	Collagen regeneration; improves sagging and scar-type pores	Redness and needle marks for 2–5 days	3–5 sessions 4–6 weeks apart	If staying 4–5 days or more
Fractional laser	Regenerates scar-type pores and skin texture	Redness and tiny scabs for 3–7 days	3–5 sessions 4–6 weeks apart	If staying 5 days or more

These periods are general ranges and vary with intensity and skin condition. For a short trip, we can lower the intensity or build a combination around low-downtime treatments.

A short trip vs. repeat visits — a realistic plan

If you're staying 3–4 days

A consultation and diagnosis sort out your pore type and give you a long-term plan.
We first refine oil and texture with a low-downtime combination (for example, skin botox + toning or a light peel).
After you return home, you maintain results with home care and sun protection, and share your progress by photo.

If you're staying a week or more, or can visit several times

Early in your stay, you have RF microneedling or fractional laser, and your progress is checked before you leave.
You visit every 1–2 months and complete 3–5 sessions as one set, with skin boosters and toning in between to support recovery and texture.
After the course, before and after photos are compared to decide your maintenance interval.

We don't recommend packing strong treatments into a short period. Giving your skin time to recover lets collagen regeneration build up and lowers the risk of side effects such as pigmentation.

Downtime — how the days go

Based on RF microneedling and fractional laser

Day of treatment
Your skin is red and feels hot like a sunburn, and the needle marks may look like dots. Mild swelling can occur.
Days 1–3
Redness gradually fades, and tiny sand-like scabs form where fractional laser was used. Skin feels tight and dry.
Days 4–7
The scabs fall off and most can be covered with makeup. Even if skin starts flaking, don't pick at it.
Weeks 2–4
A faint pink tone may remain, and UV exposure at this stage makes brown marks likely.
Months 1–3
As collagen builds, skin texture becomes smoother and pores gradually look less noticeable.

With skin botox, the injection sites swell slightly and settle within a few hours, and the reduction in oil is usually felt over 1–2 weeks. Don't rub or massage your face hard on the day of treatment.

Things to watch out for while traveling

Schedule important photo occasions about a week after RF microneedling or fractional laser. Toning and skin botox put little strain on your itinerary.
For 2–3 days after treatment, avoid saunas, jjimjilbang, swimming pools, alcohol and intense exercise. Heat and sweat can increase redness and inflammation.
For outdoor sightseeing, be sure to bring a hat, a mask and sunscreen.
You can usually fly from the next day, but cabin air is very dry, so bring a moisturizer.
If possible, finish treatment 2–3 days before your departure so your progress can be checked once before you leave.

Aftercare and home care

Apply sunscreen every day and reapply every 2–3 hours. Take special care for at least 1–2 months.
For about a week after treatment, pause retinol, exfoliants, peeling products and scrubs, and apply plenty of the regenerating cream and moisturizer you received at the clinic.
Even after recovery, avoid scrubbing hard with grainy scrubs or frequently peeling off nose strips. They irritate the skin around the pores and can make them look larger.
Wash gently with lukewarm water, and if your skin is oily, choose non-comedogenic products that don't clog pores.
For oily pores, consistent use of ingredients such as salicylic acid or retinoids, discussed with your doctor, may help maintain results.
Don't squeeze blackheads by hand. It can cause inflammation and scars.

Contact your manager right away if

Redness, swelling or pain keeps getting worse day by day
Yellow discharge or pus appears, or lots of small bumps suddenly break out
Blisters appear or brown marks become distinct

Good questions to ask at your consultation

Which of the types — oily, sagging or scar-type — are mixed in my pores?
What method and order will you use today, and why that combination?
How many sessions and what interval do you think I need? Is it possible within my travel schedule?
How many days of downtime, and what will my skin look like on my departure day?
If an injectable is used, which product and how much, and can I check that it is opened and labeled in front of me?
What ingredients should I use for home care after I return, and which products should I avoid?
Can you check my progress by photo?

What to look for in a clinic

A dermatologist personally diagnoses and explains your pore type and its cause
Rather than recommending just one device, the clinic uses different methods depending on whether the cause is oil, firmness or scarring
The clinic adjusts intensity and order to fit your travel schedule and downtime
Before and after photos are taken under the same conditions and compared
For injections, the clinic readily agrees to open genuine products in front of you and show the product name
Staff speak your language, and the clinic follows up on your progress by photo after you return home

KBEAU connects you with partner dermatology clinics in Gangnam and Apgujeong. If you send a photo of your pores before your consultation (front and both sides, without makeup, in bright light), we'll tell you in advance the treatment scope that fits your pore type and schedule, and a dedicated manager accompanies you and interprets on the day of treatment. If needed, we can also arrange accommodation near the clinic and an airport pickup car.

Partner clinics offering this treatment

IEUL SKIN CLINICGangnam, Seoul색소 미백 · 난치성 반점 · 탄력 개선 리프팅 · 여드름 흉터 NANA Dermatology ClinicSeoul Apgujeong리프팅 · 타이트닝 · 입술 필러 · 울쎄라 JUAN CLINICGangnam, Seoul리프팅 · 흉터 · 줄기세포 · 잔주름 IS-ON CLINICSeoul Apgujeong레이저와 리프팅 · 보톡스 · 필러 · 스킨부스터 등 비수술적 시술과 상안검을 비롯한 성형수술 VOS Dermatology ClinicGangnam, Seoul울쎄라 · 쥬베룩 · 라풀렌 윤곽고정술 · 써마지

Frequently asked questions

Can pores be removed completely?

Pores are a normal structure that releases oil, so they cannot be removed. The goal of treatment is to reduce causes such as oil, loss of firmness and scarring so that pores look less noticeable, and the degree of improvement varies from person to person.

How many sessions do I need?

Toning and peels are planned as several sessions 2–4 weeks apart, and RF microneedling and fractional laser usually as a set of 3–5 sessions 4–6 weeks apart. Skin botox is often repeated every 3–4 months.

Can I have it during a short trip?

Yes. Treatments with almost no downtime, such as skin botox, toning and light peels, are easy to fit into a 3–4 day trip. To seriously treat sagging or scar-type pores, we recommend staying 4–5 days or more, or planning several visits.

When will I notice results?

With skin botox and peels, many people notice less shine and a change in texture within 1–2 weeks. With RF microneedling and fractional laser, results appear gradually over 1–3 months as collagen builds, and become clearer as sessions accumulate.

How long do results last?

The oil-reducing effect of skin botox usually lasts about 3–4 months. Texture improved by collagen treatments tends to last relatively longer, but oil production and aging continue, so maintenance is needed.

Does it hurt?

Toning and peels feel like mild prickling, and RF microneedling and fractional laser are done with numbing cream, so most people find them tolerable. Skin botox feels like repeated pricks from a fine needle.

Is skin botox different from regular Botox?

It uses the same family of ingredient, but skin botox is diluted heavily and injected closely into the shallow layer of the skin, not the muscle. It is mainly used to reduce oil and shine, and the depth and amount are adjusted so it does not affect your facial expression muscles.

I have both pores and acne scars.

Scar-type pores overlap a lot with acne scar treatment, so they are often treated together with fractional laser and RF microneedling. If you have deep scars, treatments such as subcision may be added, so a plan is made after an examination.

Can I use scrubs or nose strips at home?

Scrubbing hard with grainy scrubs or frequently peeling off nose strips irritates the skin and can make pores stand out more. Gentle cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection are the basics, and it's best to use exfoliating ingredients after talking with your doctor.

Can I fly the day after treatment?

Most people can fly the next day. Cabin air is dry, so bring a moisturizer, and for treatments with a recovery period such as RF microneedling or fractional laser, we recommend finishing 2–3 days before departure if possible.