Pores - we all have them! The primary purpose of our pores is to release oil, water, and sweat from our glands.
Types of pores
As humans, we have two types of pores:
- Sweat Pores
- Oil Pores (aka Hair Follicles)
Sweat pores help regulate our body temperature. These are often invisible to the eye.
Oil pores release oil, or sebum, to keep our skin hydrated. These are found everywhere in our body with 3 exceptions.
The palms of our hands, soles of our feet, and our eyelids do not have oil pores. Our faces and scalp have more oil pores than the rest of our body.
Oil pores
Oil pores are important for keeping skin hydrated and supple. Pores are generally self-cleaning. However, our pores can become clogged.
Clogged pores result in whiteheads, blackheads, acne, or cysts.
Clogged pores
What causes clogged pores?
- Buildup of dead skin cells
- Makeup
- Medication
- Genetics
- Age
- Hormones
Sebum
The oil released from our oil pores is called sebum. Sebum comes from a gland in our skin. It is made up of squalene, esters of glycerol, wax, cholesterol, and fatty acids.
Sebum helps hydrate our skin and plays a vital role in maintaining skin health.
Long story short, our skin has a natural barrier. This barrier protects our skin from bacteria and other irritants. Sebum helps protect this natural barrier.
Sebum production depends on your hormones, age, and genetics.
