Key takeaways
- Round openings that fill with oil are enlarged pores; dents that vary in shape and depth are atrophic acne scars.
- Scar width: Ice pick scars are under 2 mm, boxcar scars are usually 1.5 to 4 mm, and rolling scars are wider than 4 to 5 mm.
- Oily pores call for oil control and firmness care, while dented scars call for procedures matched to each scar shape.
- Timeline: Scar procedures like microneedling are often planned as about 3 sessions, 4 weeks apart, with changes starting around week 6.
If the openings fill with oil and look round and evenly spread, you're most likely looking at enlarged pores. If the dents vary in size and shape, look narrow and deep, or have sharp, boxy edges, they're closer to acne scars. Plenty of faces have both, so it helps to judge each mark on its own before choosing a treatment.
What Do Oil-Enlarged Pores Look Like Beside the Nose and on the Cheeks?
What Do Oil-Enlarged Pores Look Like Beside the Nose and on the Cheeks?
A pore is the opening of a hair follicle. When it's stretched by oil, you'll see similar-sized round openings clustered where oil glands are busiest, such as the creases beside your nose. Once oil collects inside, the pores can look like tiny yellow or dark dots. In a Korean study that measured the pores of 60 adults under magnification, people who produced more oil had larger pores, and being male and being older were also linked to pore size.
Hair follicle: The tiny pocket a hair grows from. An oil gland sits beside it and releases oil through the same opening.
Oil is one reason pores widen, but reviews also point to a loss of firmness in the skin around each pore and to an increase in the size of the follicle itself. That's why oily skin in your twenties and skin that's lost some bounce in your forties can both show "big pores" yet need a different focus.
What Do Oil-Enlarged Pores Look Like Beside the Nose and on the Cheeks?
What Are the Different Types of Acne Scars?
What Are the Different Types of Acne Scars?
Ice pick scars are the most common dented scars, making up 60% to 70% of them. Their opening is narrower than 2 mm and they taper into a deep V, so they look small but run deep. Boxcar scars are round or oval dents with steep, vertical walls, usually 1.5 to 4 mm across. Rolling scars form when bands of tissue tether the skin down to the fat beneath. They're wider than 4 to 5 mm and shallow, and when there are many, the skin takes on a wavy look.
Dermis: The layer under the skin's surface that gives it thickness and spring. When acne inflammation breaks down collagen here, the skin sinks into a scar.
| Enlarged pore | Ice pick scar | Boxcar scar | Rolling scar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening | Round, similar sizes | Narrow point, tapers into a V | Round or oval with sharp edges (U shape) | Broad, gentle dip |
| Width | Judged separately from scars | Under 2 mm | Usually 1.5 to 4 mm | Wider than 4 to 5 mm |
| Depth | Wider follicle opening | Into the deep dermis or below | Shallow (0.1 to 0.5 mm) or deep (0.5 mm or more) | Shallow; tends to smooth out when stretched |
| Share of dented scars | Not a scar | 60% to 70% | 20% to 30% | 15% to 25% |
When all three scar types show up on the same face, it can be hard to sort them by eye. Separating broad, wavy areas from isolated deep pits is a practical first step, because it shapes the order of treatment.
What Are the Different Types of Acne Scars?
Can You Tell Them Apart in the Mirror?
Can You Tell Them Apart in the Mirror?
To a degree, yes. A few hours after washing, once your skin has turned a little shiny, check whether the openings have filled with oil and look like dots. If they have, that points to enlarged pores. A dent that stays in the same place and shape no matter how oily your skin is, especially where you once had red, swollen breakouts, is more likely a scar.
Gently stretching your cheek between two fingers is another clue. Rolling scars tend to smooth out when the skin is stretched. Scars that stay put even when stretched are graded as more severe on a common acne scar scale.
At the clinic, the skin is checked under both straight-on and side lighting, and each mark is noted by type before a plan is made. Side lighting brings out the shadows of broad dips, while straight-on light makes oil-filled pores and narrow pits easier to see.
How Does Treatment Differ for Pores and Scars?
How Does Treatment Differ for Pores and Scars?
For pores, the aim is to reduce what's stretching them. For dented scars, it's to rebuild the lost volume. A review of 19 clinical trials covering 591 people recommended focusing on oil control in younger patients, and on skin rejuvenation plus oil control in older patients. More sessions, and combining two or more methods, shrank pore size and count further. Individual results vary.
With scars, the type decides the method. Options like punch excision, subcision, and laser resurfacing are chosen only after the scars have been sorted. For isolated deep ice pick scars, a technique called TCA CROSS applies a high-strength acid only to the base of each scar. For larger scarred areas, microneedling uses fine needles to create tiny wounds in the dermis so new collagen can fill in.
Subcision: A procedure where a fine needle is slipped under the skin to release the bands of tissue pulling a scar down.
Don't expect one visit to change much. Microneedling is usually done as about 3 sessions roughly 4 weeks apart. Changes tend to start around week 6, take at least 3 months to show fully, and skin texture keeps improving slowly over 12 months as collagen builds up. How much you see depends on your skin.
How Long Does Redness Last, and When Should You Call?
How Long Does Redness Last, and When Should You Call?
Mild, temporary burning and redness are common after pore treatments. With microneedling, the skin bleeds briefly during the session and small bruises can form. After TCA CROSS, you'll need to apply a moisturizer for 7 days and be strict about sun protection. Never pick at the treated spots while they heal.
Seek medical care right away from the clinic that treated you if you notice any of these:
- Blisters, oozing, or pus where you were treated
- Burning or pain that gets worse day by day, along with warmth
- Skin that stays darker or turns pale after the redness settles
Fitting Treatment Into a Trip to Seoul
Unless you've had sedation that day, there's no reason to postpone your flight because of these treatments. Most of them don't transform the skin in a single visit. Instead, the skin gradually improves toward a smoother version of itself, and a scar plan of about 3 sessions spaced 4 weeks apart usually means more than one trip. After you get home, you can send photos through the consultation channel on this site. If you notice spreading redness, fever, or worsening pain, see a local doctor first.
What Should You Note Before Your Consultation?
Before you decide, ask which scar types are mixed into your cheek marks and how many sessions, how many weeks apart, they'd plan for. That one answer makes different plans much easier to compare. STON Clinic is in Seoul. When you reach out, mention whether you still get breakouts, any acne medicines you take or apply, and any scar treatments you've had before. Photos of your cheeks right after washing and again in the evening, taken in the same light, help separate oily pores from scars.
If this raised a question about your own skin
Ask a questionReferences
- Three main causes of enlarged facial pores and treatment options — Dermatol Surg, 2016 — PubMed Central
- Oil output, sex, age, and pore size measured in 60 Korean adults — Br J Dermatol, 2006 — PubMed Central
- Review of 19 clinical trials on facial pore treatments — J Cosmet Dermatol, 2023 — PubMed Central
- Ice pick, rolling, and boxcar acne scar classification and treatment order — J Am Acad Dermatol, 2001 — PubMed Central
- How acne scars form, how they're classified, and how they're treated — Dermatol Res Pract, 2010 — PubMed Central
- TCA CROSS applied only to the scar base in 65 patients — Dermatol Surg, 2002 — PubMed Central
- What each type of acne scar looks like — American Academy of Dermatology — American Academy of Dermatology
- When to start acne scar treatment — American Academy of Dermatology — American Academy of Dermatology
- Acne scar types and treatment options — DermNet — DermNet NZ
Frequently asked questions
Q. If my acne was severe, will my pores be larger too?
A. Not necessarily. In a Korean study of 60 adults, pore size was linked to oil output, being male, and age, but not clearly to how severe a person's acne was. That said, a review notes that long-running, recurring acne can affect pore size, so it's worth getting repeated breakouts under control first.
Q. Can my pores look bigger at certain times of the month?
A. They can. In the same Korean study, women's pores were measurably larger around ovulation. Hormones seem to play a role beyond oil output. If you're comparing before-and-after photos, try to take them at a similar point in your cycle.
Q. Why do men's pores beside the nose often look larger?
A. In men, the link between oil output and pore size was stronger than in women. The Korean study found a correlation of 0.47 for men versus 0.38 for women. So for men with large pores, checking oil output is a natural place to start planning.
Q. I still get breakouts. Can I start scar treatment now?
A. Usually acne treatment comes first. The American Academy of Dermatology says that if you're breaking out, your plan will likely begin with acne treatment, and scar treatment typically starts once acne is under control and you're using acne medication. New breakouts can leave new scars.
Q. Are flat red or brown marks acne scars too?
A. They're a different kind of mark. On a common acne scar scale, flat red or brown marks are classed as a color problem rather than a dent in the skin. So the focus shifts to fading the color instead of filling a dent. Running a finger over the area to feel for a dip is a good first check.
Q. How many TCA CROSS sessions do ice pick scars need?
A. Many plans start with about 3 sessions, 4 weeks apart. In a Korean study of 65 patients with darker skin, 82% of the 65% acid group and 94% of the 100% acid group had a good response, and everyone who received 5 or 6 sessions at 100% had excellent results. No significant complications were reported.
Q. Can chemical peels alone get rid of ice pick and rolling scars?
A. Peels alone don't fully erase ice pick or rolling scars. A review of acne scar treatment notes these scars need repeated peels plus at-home retinoids or AHAs. Peels work best on flat marks where only the color remains.
Q. I have darker skin. Which option is less likely to cause dark spots?
A. Microneedling is generally considered lower risk for dark spots after treatment. A review found it carries less risk of post-inflammatory darkening than dermabrasion, chemical peels, or laser resurfacing, and it can be used on all skin tones. With fractional lasers, darker skin needs extra care to avoid dark spots.
Treatment guide for this topic
Jangju Kim Senior Director
JANGJU KIM
Dr. Jangju Kim is a clinic director at STON Clinic, LOTTE HOTEL in Myeongdong.
Career / Education
- 현) 스톤클리닉 명동 롯데호텔 원장
- 경희대학교 의과대학 졸업
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