Concerns · Lines & Skin Quality · CityLink Mall
Enlarged Pores Treatment in Singapore
Pores look larger for three main reasons: oil, loss of firmness around them, and bigger hair follicles. The right treatment depends on which one is driving yours.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 8 October 2026
Quick answer
- Pores look larger for three main reasons: oil, loss of firmness around them, and bigger hair follicles. The right treatment depends on which one is driving yours.
- Non-invasive at SkinRev Lab (CityLink Mall): HydraFacial Syndeo, SKINLDM®, SKINTIGHT®.
- Medical, performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic (Pacific Plaza, Orchard): RF Microneedling, 少女光 Laser, FSX Laser.
- Assessment first; individual results vary. Medical pricing is given at consultation.
Pores are the openings of hair follicles and their oil glands. On the nose, inner cheeks and forehead they can look like small dots or an orange-peel texture, especially under bright office lighting or in close-up photos. Enlarged pores treatment in Singapore is a common request, because heat and humidity keep oil glands busy all year and makeup tends to settle into open pores by the afternoon.
Research points to three main reasons pores look larger: high sebum (oil) output, loss of elasticity in the skin around each opening, and larger hair follicles. Sebum output, age and male sex each track with pore size. Repeated acne can stretch pores and leave their edges uneven. With age and sun damage, the collagen supporting each pore weakens and the openings sag into an elongated, teardrop shape, most often on the cheeks.
No treatment changes how many pores you have, and pores cannot be sealed shut. What can change is how much oil and debris they hold and how firm the surrounding skin is. That is why cleansing treatments help oily pores for a while, and collagen-building treatments performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic are used when pores have become stretched or slack. Many people have more than one type, so a mixed plan is common.
“Pores cannot be closed; the realistic aim is cleaner openings and firmer skin around them, so they catch less light.”
— Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic
- Three main types
- Oily (sebum-filled), ageing (slack, teardrop-shaped) and follicle-related
- Common areas
- Nose, inner cheeks, forehead and chin
- Structures involved
- Pilosebaceous unit (hair follicle and oil gland) and the dermal collagen around it
- 675 nm laser target
- Dermal collagen, with contact cooling to protect the surface
- RF microneedling
- Insulated needles release radiofrequency heat in the dermis rather than at the surface
- Contributing factors
- Sebum output, age, sex hormones, acne history, sun damage, skin care habits
What goes where
The honest ladder:
non-invasive first, medical when it is needed
At SkinRev Lab · non-invasive
HydraFacial Syndeo — Vortex cleansing and extraction clear oil and debris from congested pores, so they look smaller and less dark for a while. It does not change the structure of the pore, so regular maintenance is needed. Read more
SKINLDM® — Dual-frequency micro-massage ultrasound is used to calm congested, reactive skin. It helps where pores sit in inflamed, oily or acne-prone skin, as a supporting step rather than a pore treatment on its own. Read more
SKINTIGHT® — Alma PrimeX microplasma and UltraWave energy resurface and tighten the surface layer, which can refine texture around pores. It works at the surface and is gentler than the doctor's dermal treatments. Read more
At IN Eternity Clinic · Dr Sin Yong
RF Microneedling — Fine insulated needles release radiofrequency heat in the dermis around the pores, prompting collagen remodelling in the skin that supports each opening. It suits ageing or acne-stretched pores and uneven texture. How it works
少女光 Laser — A DEKA RedTouch Pro 675 nm fractional laser whose energy is absorbed mainly by dermal collagen, with contact cooling. It addresses pores, texture and redness together, which suits oily skin that also flushes. How it works
FSX Laser — A non-ablative fractional protocol with thulium and erbium-glass passes that remodels the upper dermis while most of the surface stays intact. It suits pores with uneven texture or shallow marks. How it works
Enquiries to SkinRev Lab about medical treatments are passed to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong performs them.
Start non-invasive if your pores look larger mainly because they are oily or clogged, if your skin is still firm, or if you want regular maintenance. Pair this with a consistent routine: a gentle cleanser, an oil-control or vitamin A product as advised, and daily sunscreen. See the doctor first if pores are stretched or teardrop-shaped, if they sit among acne scars, if you still have active acne that may need prescription treatment, or if months of facials have not changed much. Dr Sin Yong will also check whether rosacea or another condition is making pores look more obvious. Whichever route you take, protecting the skin from sun helps keep the collagen around each pore from weakening further.
Where this happens
Assessment and non-invasive care — SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall #B1-28, 1 Raffles Link, Singapore 039393. Underground from City Hall MRT and Esplanade MRT; a short walk from Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Suntec and Bugis. Open daily 11am–8pm.
Medical treatment — IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210, beside Orchard MRT (three stops from City Hall on the North-South line). Mon–Sat 11am–8pm, closed Sunday. Treatments are performed by Dr Sin Yong. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008.
What the research says
The evidence,
with sources
A review of facial pores identified three main clinical causes, namely high sebum excretion, reduced elasticity around the pore and increased hair follicle volume, and concluded that treatment should be chosen to match the cause in each person (Lee et al.). An earlier study of 60 adults measured pores with a dermoscopic camera and found that larger pores were associated with higher sebum output, older age and male sex, with sebum output showing the strongest link (Roh et al.).
For energy-based treatment, a retrospective study of 75 people treated with fractional microneedle radiofrequency for enlarged pores found that improvement built up with more sessions, and side effects were mainly short-lived pain, redness and swelling (Ren et al.). A review of the newer 675 nm laser describes a wavelength that targets collagen and reports good outcomes in skin ageing and acne scars, although the studies are small and varied (Tolone et al.). Pore studies use different measuring methods, so the fairest comparison is within one person over time.
References
- Lee SJ, Seok J, Jeong SY, et al. Facial pores: definition, causes, and treatment options. Dermatol Surg. 2016;42(3):277-285.
- Roh M, Han M, Kim D, Chung K. Sebum output as a factor contributing to the size of facial pores. Br J Dermatol. 2006;155(5):890-894.
- Ren K, Liu H, Li B, Zhou B. Fractional microneedle radiofrequency treatment for enlarged facial pores: a real-world retrospective observational study on 75 patients. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022;21(12):6742-6753.
- Tolone M, Bennardo L, Zappia E, et al. New insight into nonablative 675-nm laser technology: current applications and future perspectives. Dermatol Clin. 2024;42(1):45-50.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
Can enlarged pores be closed for good?
No. Pores are the openings of hair follicles and oil glands, and they are needed for healthy skin. Treatments can make them look smaller by clearing oil and debris, reducing oil output for some people and firming the collagen around each opening. Because oil production and ageing continue, maintenance is part of any plan, and individual results vary.
What is the most suitable enlarged pores treatment in Singapore for oily skin?
For oily, congested pores, regular deep cleansing such as HydraFacial Syndeo at SkinRev, plus a home routine that controls oil, is a sensible start. If pores stay prominent, a doctor-led option such as RF microneedling or the 675 nm laser can work on the collagen around each pore. Dr Sin Yong will also check for acne that needs medical treatment.
How much does enlarged pores treatment in Singapore cost?
At SkinRev, HydraFacial Syndeo is from S$288 per session, SKINLDM is S$288 and SKINTIGHT is S$588. RF microneedling, the 少女光 laser and FSX laser are medical treatments, so pricing is given at consultation at IN Eternity Clinic after Dr Sin Yong has assessed what is driving your pores and how many areas need treatment.
Does pore extraction make pores bigger?
Gentle, correctly done extraction removes trapped oil and dead cells, which usually makes pores look smaller for a time. Squeezing with fingernails or forcing deep spots can damage the pore wall, cause inflammation and leave dark marks or small scars, which can make pores look worse. Leave stubborn or inflamed spots to a trained therapist or a doctor.
Is RF microneedling painful, and what is the downtime?
Numbing cream is applied beforehand, and most people describe heat and pressure rather than sharp pain. Afterwards, expect redness and mild swelling for a day or two, and sometimes tiny grid marks that fade within days. Makeup is usually avoided for the first day. People with active infection, a pacemaker or some metal implants should mention this at consultation.
How many sessions are usually needed for pores?
Facials give a short-term improvement and are repeated as maintenance. Collagen-building treatments work gradually, because new collagen forms over weeks to months after each session, so a course is usually planned at consultation with sessions spaced several weeks apart. Results are reviewed along the way, and the plan is adjusted to how your skin responds.