What is it?
A Dilated Pore is a cutaneous condition usually indicated by a solitary, prominent and open-clogged follicle found on the face or the upper trunk of the patient. They are benign and can occur on both young and elderly patients.
When dead skin cells accumulate on the skin’s surface, they can plug a hair follicle (pore) opening, causing gunk (keratin) to accumulate in the pore. As keratin collects, the pore remains plugged and it will dilate in size due to its packed contents.
When the pore is exposed to air these contents will oxidize or turn black. They tend to occur on the face, neck, back, and chest.
This condition affects the appearance of the skin. When disturbed, these growths can bleed and become painful. The bleeding can attract microbes such as fungi, bacteria, and >viruses causing infections in the affected areas of your skin.
Causes
- Cystic acne
- Exposure to ultraviolet radiations
Treatment
Some of the treatment options doctors opt for while treating dilated pores are:
- Removal/Surgery excision: Removal of a dilated pore can be achieved using the surgical procedure called punch excision. The doctor will administer anaesthesia to the patient before the actual procedure through the veins around the wound. This will help the patient feel comfortable and also reduce pain during surgery.
Depending on the size of the pore, the doctor will use a punch tool to remove the content and the pore completely and then the site is stitched to prevent further damage.
Usually a day after the surgery, the doctor will prescribe the use of an antibiotic ointment on the wound. This will help prevent infections from bacteria. - Application of exfoliating skin scrubs: used to treat small pores that are less painful.
