Enlarged Pores and Oily Skin: Can Microneedling Really Help?
If you've ever tilted your chin toward a bathroom mirror under bright light and noticed your pores looking bigger than you remembered, you're far from alone. It's one of the most common concerns patients bring up at Blanqa Medspa in Henderson — and our dry desert climate doesn't stop it. Plenty of Henderson and Las Vegas patients still deal with a shiny T-zone, visible pores across the cheeks and nose, and skin that feels oily by midday no matter how carefully they cleanse. So what's actually going on, and can microneedling make a real difference? Here's an honest look at the science.
Why Do Pores Look So Big When Skin Is Oily?
Pores themselves don't grow or shrink like a muscle — what changes is how visible they appear. A pore looks larger when the follicle opening stretches, fills with oil and debris, or loses the surrounding structural support that normally keeps its edges tight. Several things contribute to that:
• Sebaceous gland activity and genetics: some people are simply born with larger, more active oil glands, a major driver of how visible pores appear.
• Hormonal fluctuations: androgens can increase oil production during puberty, certain phases of the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, or with conditions like PCOS.
• Collagen and elastin loss: as skin ages or sustains sun damage, tissue around each follicle loses elasticity, so the opening looks more stretched and permanent.
• Follicle size and hair thickness: largely inherited and varies by area of the face, which is why the nose and central cheeks often show the most visible pores.
How Microneedling Works on Pores and Oily Skin
Microneedling — sometimes called collagen induction therapy — uses a device with very fine, sterile needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin's surface. That triggers the body's natural wound-healing cascade: growth factors are released, and the skin ramps up production of new collagen and elastin over the following weeks. As that structural support rebuilds around each follicle opening, the surrounding tissue can tighten, cosmetically making the pore look smaller and the overall texture appear smoother. The diagram below simplifies this process into four basic steps — a gradual, biological process rather than an instant fix.
What the Research Shows
The clinical evidence on microneedling specifically for enlarged pores is still a growing body of research, and much of the newest data pairs microneedling with an additional treatment rather than testing it entirely alone. Here's what several recent studies and a leading medical association actually found:
• Wan, Seo, Yoon & Yi (2025, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open): in a case series of 15 patients with enlarged facial pores, three sessions of microneedling combined with injectable poly-D,L-lactic acid dropped average pore-size grading scores from 6 down to 3 by 12 weeks, a statistically significant change, with roughly 80% of patients reporting high satisfaction and results holding through 22 weeks.
• Iraji et al. (2025, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology): a 30-patient split-face randomized trial compared microneedling-assisted delivery of botulinum toxin against standard intradermal injection for enlarged pores. Both approaches meaningfully improved pore appearance at one month with no significant difference between the two methods — supporting microneedling itself as a legitimate mechanical approach to pore texture, not just a vehicle for another treatment.
• Wan, Yoon & Yi (2025, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open): in a small case series of 3 patients, microneedling combined with topical exosome application produced visible reductions in pore size and improved texture, rated "much" to "very much improved" by independent evaluators, with no adverse events and results sustained through 22 weeks.
• American Academy of Dermatology: identifies microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, as a recognized option for large pores, uneven texture, and mild scarring, typically requiring a series of sessions with full results building over several months rather than appearing overnight.
It's worth being honest about the limits here: several of these studies are small, and most combine microneedling with an add-on like injectable filler, exosomes, or toxin rather than isolating microneedling alone. The direction of the evidence is consistently positive, but expect gradual, incremental refinement in pore appearance and oil control — shaped by genetics and hormones — rather than a dramatic, permanent transformation.
Is Microneedling a Good Option for You?
Microneedling tends to be a good fit for people dealing with visible pores across the cheeks, nose, or forehead, oily or combination skin, mild acne scarring or textural unevenness, and it's generally considered safe across a wide range of skin tones and types. That said, it isn't right for everyone. You should hold off on microneedling, or discuss alternatives with a provider, if any of the following apply to you:
• An active acne breakout, cold sore, or other active skin infection in the treatment area.
• A personal history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring.
• Isotretinoin use within the past month.
• Pregnancy, a weakened immune system, or active cancer treatment/radiation.
• A recent sunburn or other compromised, irritated skin barrier.
Because oily skin and enlarged pores can sometimes overlap with other conditions — hormonal acne, rosacea, or a skin barrier issue, for example — it's worth having a licensed provider assess your skin and health history before starting any series.
What to Expect: Timeline and Sessions
Most microneedling plans for pores and oiliness follow a similar general pattern, based on both clinical practice and the studies above:
• A series of 3 to 6 sessions is typical, spaced roughly 3 to 4 weeks apart to allow the skin's collagen-building process time to work between treatments.
• Early changes — subtle smoothing and a slight refinement in texture — are often noticeable within the first few weeks as the skin heals.
• Continued improvement in pore appearance tends to build over 8 to 12 weeks per series, matching the timeline for measurable pore-score changes.
• In the studies above, results held through 22 weeks, though maintenance sessions every few months can help sustain the look, since oil production and natural collagen turnover continue.
• Downtime is minimal — mild redness for 24 to 48 hours is common, and most patients return to normal activities the same day.
Finding Your Plan in Henderson
Enlarged pores and oily skin are frustrating, but they're also an approachable concern with a thoughtful, evidence-informed plan. If you're in Henderson, Las Vegas, or nearby and wondering whether microneedling is worth trying, the honest answer is: it depends on your skin, your history, and what's realistically driving your pore appearance. That's a conversation worth having in person. Book a consultation with our team at Blanqa Medspa, and let's build a plan together.
About the Author
Bianca Camille Fong, APRN, FNP-BC, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and the Founder & CEO of Blanqa Medspa and Fong Precision Care in Henderson, NV. She founded Blanqa to bring safe, evidence-based aesthetic and wellness care to the Henderson and Las Vegas community, combining her clinical nursing background with a genuine focus on patient education and long-term skin health.
Sources
Wan J, Seo SB, Yoon SE, Yi KH. The Efficacy of Combined Microneedling and Topical Poly-D,L-lactic Acid (Juvelook) Application for Facial Pore Reduction and Skin Texture Improvement. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2025 Jun;13(6). DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000006838.
Iraji F, et al. Comparison of Intradermal Versus Microneedling-Assisted Botulinum A Toxin Injection for Enlarged Facial Pores: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025 Jun;24(6):e70114.
Wan J, Yoon SE, Yi KH. The Efficacy of Combined Exosome (Exodew) and Microneedling Treatment for Facial Pore Reduction and Skin Texture Improvement. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2025 Jun;13(6). DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000006849.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Microneedling can fade scars, uneven skin tone, and more. aad.org.
This article is for general educational purposes and does not constitute personalized medical advice. Individual results vary. Please consult a licensed provider to determine whether microneedling is appropriate for your skin and health history.
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