Enlarged pores: what laser treatment can and cannot change

Short answer: laser treatment may make enlarged pores look less noticeable for some people, but it does not close them or remove them. Pores are openings for hair follicles and oil glands, so they cannot be shut permanently. The trials we found are small, and they mostly tested specific fractional or picosecond lasers. Results depend on the device, your skin and the cause of your pores. Your practitioner can tell you what is realistic for you.

Why pores look enlarged

A 2016 review in Dermatologic Surgery (Lee et al.) describes enlarged pores as a cosmetic concern rather than a medical problem. It names three main contributors: high oil (sebum) output, loss of elasticity around the pore, and larger hair follicles. Past acne, hormones and skincare habits can also play a part. Its conclusion was that treatment should be matched to the likely cause.

DermNet and Cleveland Clinic give a similar picture. Genetics, oil production, sun damage and age-related collagen loss all affect how visible pores look. The practical point is that a laser that helps one cause may do little for another. Pores that look wide mainly because of oil are a different problem from pores that look wide because the surrounding skin has lost firmness.

What laser is thought to do

Non-ablative laser heats the deeper skin layers and is thought to prompt collagen remodelling. Some studies also measure a drop in oil production. Cleveland Clinic's dermatologist reviewer says laser may help more noticeably than home products, usually through a series of sessions. That is a general statement. It is not a promise for any one laser or person.

What the research shows

The evidence is real but limited.

• Review of 19 trials (2023). A review in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (Parvar et al.) covered 19 trials with 591 patients. It found that multiple sessions and combined treatments improved pore area and number. Side effects were usually mild and temporary, such as burning and redness.
• Split-face trial, 1064 nm picosecond laser vs 1565 nm fractional laser (2023). Nineteen people finished five monthly sessions (Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, Qian et al.). Pore counts fell on both sides with no significant difference three months after the last treatment. Hyperpigmentation was far less common with the picosecond laser (5.3% vs 52.6%), and it was less painful.
• A similar comparison in 25 people (2024). The picosecond laser with a microlens array and the 1565 nm laser gave comparable improvement over three sessions. The picosecond laser caused less pain and less hyperpigmentation (Lasers in Medical Science).
• A different result with a different pair of devices (2025). In a split-face study of 17 women who completed treatment, intense pulsed light combined with a non-ablative fractional laser did better on pores than a picosecond alexandrite laser. But it caused more pain, a longer recovery and more post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (58.8% vs 23.5%). The picosecond side did better on brown spots (Lasers in Surgery and Medicine).

The studies do not agree on a single best laser. Which one comes out ahead depends on the devices compared and the outcome measured. The trade-off between pore improvement and pigmentation risk appears repeatedly.

Limits of this evidence

• Samples are small (typically 17 to 25 people), and several were run at single centres in East Asia. Results may not transfer to every skin tone. The Fitzpatrick skin types are not reported in the abstracts we read.
• Follow-up is short. The 2023 split-face study followed people for about seven months from the first session. We found no long-term data showing how long any improvement lasts.
• Pore improvement is measured in different ways (imaging counts, scores, patient ratings), so numbers from different trials are hard to compare.

What laser cannot change

• Pore structure. Dermatologists quoted by Cleveland Clinic say pore size is largely genetic and cannot be permanently changed. The realistic aim is a less visible pore.
• Oil production, permanently. Some studies show less sebum after treatment, but we found nothing showing this lasts without maintenance.
• Blackheads and clogged pores. Cleveland Clinic advises against squeezing pores or using extractor tools because they can cause scarring.

Other options to weigh first

DermNet lists topical retinoids, chemical peels and nicotinamide, among others, and notes that for some people oral acne treatments are used. Cleveland Clinic recommends daily broad-spectrum sunscreen because UV damage breaks down collagen. Cleveland Clinic also says research has not shown red light therapy to reduce pore size. A GP, pharmacist or dermatologist can advise on prescription options, which this article cannot.

Questions to ask at a consultation

1. Which laser or device would you use, and is there evidence for it on enlarged pores specifically?
2. What is the likely cause of my pores (oil, past acne, sun damage, ageing), and does this treatment address it?
3. How many sessions are usually planned, and how will we judge whether it is working?
4. What are the risks for my skin tone, including pigmentation changes, and how would you reduce them?
5. What recovery should I expect, and what should I avoid before and after (for example sun exposure)?
6. Are there lower-risk options I should try first?

Where Progen's laser skin rejuvenation fits

Progen's laser skin rejuvenation page describes a non-ablative skin tightening treatment aimed at collagen stimulation, fine lines and skin tone. It does not describe pore treatment as a specific indication, and this article does not claim that it treats enlarged pores. If pores are your main concern, say so at the consultation. The clinician will assess your skin, your history and whether this treatment is suitable. For comparison with PRP and polynucleotides, see Laser Skin Rejuvenation, PRP Facial or Polynucleotides?.

Frequently asked questions

Can laser permanently shrink pores?

No source we reviewed shows that laser permanently changes pore size. Dermatologists quoted by Cleveland Clinic say pore size is largely genetic. Trials of fractional and picosecond lasers report that pores look less noticeable after a series of sessions, but follow-up is short, about seven months from the first session in one study.

How many laser sessions are used for enlarged pores in studies?

The trials we read used three to five sessions, spaced two to four weeks apart in some studies and a month apart in others. Your practitioner will advise on a plan that suits your skin and the device used.

Are there risks with laser for enlarged pores?

Yes. Studies report redness, swelling, burning and pain. Hyperpigmentation was common with some devices: 52.6% with a 1565 nm fractional laser in one 19-person trial and 58.8% with IPL plus fractional laser in another. Risk depends on the device and your skin, so discuss it at consultation.

Does Progen Aesthetics treat enlarged pores with laser?

Progen's laser skin rejuvenation page describes skin tightening, collagen stimulation, fine lines and skin tone. It does not list enlarged pores as a specific indication. If pores are your main concern, raise it at a consultation so a clinician can assess your skin.

Explore laser skin rejuvenation at Progen Aesthetics

Sources and further information

• Parvar et al., J Cosmet Dermatol 2023;22(3):763-775 (PMID 36440737): review of 19 clinical trials with 591 patients; multiple sessions and combination therapies improve pore area and number; side effects mostly mild and reversible (burning, erythema).
• Lee et al., Dermatol Surg 2016;42(3):277-285 (PMID 26918966): enlarged pores are a cosmetic concern; main causes are high sebum excretion, reduced elasticity and larger follicle volume; treatment should be individualised.
• Qian et al., Lasers Surg Med 2023;55(2):169-177 (PMID 36718089): split-face study, 19 of 20 completed five monthly sessions; both lasers reduced pore counts with no significant difference 3 months after the last treatment (p=0.092); hyperpigmentation 5.3% with fractional 1064 nm picosecond laser vs 52.6% with 1565 nm fractional laser; pain VAS 1.48 vs 4.45.
• Lasers Med Sci 2024 (PMID 38396012): 25 participants, picosecond 1064 nm with microlens array vs 1565 nm non-ablative fractional, comparable improvement over three sessions, less pain and less hyperpigmentation with picosecond. Lasers Surg Med 2025 (PMID 39950332): 17 of 18 women completed; IPL plus non-ablative fractional better for pores (p<0.01) but more pain, longer recovery and PIH 58.8% vs 23.5%.
• Cleveland Clinic (reviewed by Jane Wu, MD, June 7 2022): pore size is largely genetic and cannot be permanently changed; collagen loss and sun damage affect appearance; avoid squeezing or extractor tools; laser usually needs a series of treatments; red light not shown effective for pores.
• DermNet: causes include sebum, follicle size, comedogenic products, ageing, sun damage and acne; treatments include topical retinoids, peels, nicotinamide, oral acne treatments, laser and radiofrequency microneedling.