Can Botox Improve Enlarged Pores? A Guide to Skin Botox, Microbotox, and Other Treatments

Written by:
Specialist Clinic for Nasolabial Folds and Wrinkle Treatments
Osaka Houreisen Skin Clinic / Tokyo Houreisen Skin Clinic / Nagoya Houreisen Skin Clinic
Shinya Sasagawa, MD, Director of Shingetsukai Medical Corporation Meet Our Doctors

Some people who have received Botox for wrinkles may have noticed that the skin around the injection area felt smoother or appeared firmer and more radiant.

In addition to reducing expression lines, Botox may help reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, excessive sebum production, and skin shine.

However, this does not mean that Botox is the right treatment for every type of enlarged pore.

There are several types, including pores enlarged by excess oil, pores affected by sagging skin, dark or congested pores, and pores associated with acne scarring.

In our daily practice, patients who come to us with concerns about their pores have very different underlying issues. Some have oily skin; others, particularly in their 40s and beyond, have a combination of reduced skin firmness and sagging pores; and some are primarily concerned about uneven texture from acne scars.

That is why we do not recommend skin Botox to everyone with visible pores. We first assess the type of pore concern, then suggest suitable options from skincare, chemical peels, skin booster injections, skin Botox, Potenza, Morpheus8, and other treatments.

In this article, we explain why Botox may help improve the appearance of pores and how microbotox and skin Botox are used for this purpose.

We also compare these approaches with other pore treatments, including Potenza, Morpheus8, skin booster injections, and skincare.

Why Can Botox Help Improve the Appearance of Enlarged Pores?

Botox works by inhibiting the action of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger released by nerves. This is how it helps treat wrinkles and conditions such as excessive sweating.

Sebaceous glands are also thought to have receptors for acetylcholine. By acting on these pathways, Botox may reduce sebum production, making enlarged pores and skin shine less noticeable.

As pores become less prominent, the skin’s surface may appear smoother.

Although the precise mechanism is not yet fully understood, Botox injected into the superficial layers of the skin may also make fine lines and minor surface irregularities less noticeable, giving the skin a firmer appearance.

For these reasons, Botox is now used not only for expression wrinkles but also to address concerns involving pores, excess oil, shine, fine lines, and sweating.

Reducing sebum production may also benefit acne that tends to worsen with excess oil.
For more on this topic, see our article Can Botox Injections Improve Acne?

Different Types of Enlarged Pores: When Botox May or May Not Be Suitable

The most important part of treating enlarged pores is recognizing that they are not all the same.

Even when pores appear enlarged, the underlying cause can vary from person to person.

Some people have excess sebum production; others have pores that appear vertically stretched due to age-related loss of skin firmness. In some cases, uneven texture from acne scars may look like enlarged pores.

If you would like to learn more about the different types, see our article What Type of Enlarged Pores Do You Have? A Dermatologist Explains the Causes and Treatments.

Skin Botox tends to be most suitable for enlarged pores associated with excess sebum production.

In contrast, reducing oil alone has limitations when the main problem is sagging pores or acne-scar-related irregularities.

In particular, when cheek pores appear vertically elongated in people in their 40s or older, the underlying issue is often reduced skin firmness or laxity rather than the pore opening itself. We explain this further in Sagging Pores After 40: Their Relationship with Nasolabial Folds and Effective Treatment Options.

What Are Microbotox and Skin Botox?

When Botox acts within the skin, it may improve the appearance of pores, sebum, shine, and fine lines.

How, then, can Botox be delivered in a way that targets these concerns?

For conventional wrinkle treatments, Botox is generally injected into the facial expression muscles. In other words, it is an intramuscular injection.

A cross-section of the skin shows that muscles lie deeper beneath the skin surface.

When the goal is to target the pores and sebaceous glands, however, Botox is injected in small amounts into the more superficial layers of the skin.

This technique is called microbotox or skin Botox.

For a more detailed explanation of conventional Botox treatment, see What Is Botox Treatment for Wrinkles?.

Because microbotox is not intended to completely stop the movement of deeper muscles, it is less likely to create an unnatural facial expression.

By placing many small injections in the superficial skin layers, the treatment aims to address pores, excess oil, fine lines, skin firmness, and sweating.

Other potential benefits include mild improvements in expression lines and fine lines, a reduction in the appearance of minor skin laxity, less sweating, and fewer acne breakouts.

To learn more, visit Microbotox for Enlarged Pores and Fine Lines: Benefits and Side Effects.

Microbotox: Before-and-After Case

This is an example of microbotox treatment performed on the neck.

The skin on the neck is thin, so fine lines and changes in texture can be particularly noticeable. Small injections into superficial layers may produce visible changes in smoothness and firmness.

See the treatment details and follow-up for this case

Although before-and-after cases can show noticeable changes, the same treatment is not suitable for every type of enlarged pore.

The best option depends on whether the concern is primarily related to excess oil, skin laxity, or acne scarring.

Our Clinic May Also Use Skin Booster Injections to Administer Skin Botox

At our clinic, we sometimes use a skin booster injection device to administer skin Botox when the treatment goal is to improve the appearance of pores, reduce excess oil, or enhance skin texture.

Skin booster injections are aesthetic treatments in which hyaluronic acid and other cosmetic ingredients, such as Lizne, Sunekos, Pluryal, and Botox, are delivered through multiple small injections into the superficial skin layers.

These treatments became popular in South Korea and are now widely used in Japan to support skin hydration, radiance, and firmness.

Small injections can also be performed manually, but a skin booster injection device may offer a more efficient way to administer products evenly over a large area.

Features and Benefits of Skin Booster Injections

Skin booster injections offer the following potential advantages:

• Multiple ultra-fine needles allow even injection into superficial skin layers.
• Larger treatment areas can be covered efficiently and with consistent distribution.
• They can help improve overall skin hydration, radiance, and firmness.
• They can be used to address pores, dullness, dryness, and uneven skin texture.
• Different products can be combined to tailor treatment to individual goals.

Important Considerations for Skin Booster Injections

Skin booster injections can help improve the overall condition of the skin, but results vary depending on the device, treatment settings, and injected ingredients.

For delicate areas such as around the eyes or sides of the nose, manual injections may allow more precise adjustments.

This does not mean that device-assisted injections are better or worse than manual injections. What matters is where the product is injected, which product is used, and how deeply it is delivered.

Learn More About Skin Booster Injections

For enlarged pores associated with excess sebum production, administering skin Botox with a skin booster injection device may help reduce oil and shine while making the skin surface appear smoother.

On average, men tend to produce more sebum than women, so enlarged pores and shine are common concerns.

In our clinical experience, skin Botox may be a suitable option for men with oily skin and prominent pores.

However, this does not mean that treatment should automatically be repeated every month. The appropriate interval should be based on sebum production, pore appearance, acne tendency, and overall skin condition.

Skin Botox Is Not the Only Treatment for Enlarged Pores

We have explained how skin Botox works, but it is far from the only option for treating enlarged pores.

In fact, in clinical practice, we do not simply recommend skin Botox to every patient who is concerned about their pores.

The most suitable treatment or skincare approach depends on the underlying cause.

Potenza is often considered for enlarged pores associated with acne scars, crater-like texture, and visible pore openings. When uneven skin texture cannot be adequately improved by reducing sebum alone, radiofrequency microneedling treatments such as Potenza may be considered.

Morpheus8 may be suitable for patients concerned about skin laxity, reduced firmness, and sagging pores in addition to enlarged pores. If the pores on your cheeks appear vertically stretched, our article Morpheus8: From Immediate Effects to Long-Term Results may also be helpful.

If your concerns also include dullness, melasma, redness, or overall skin texture, a broader approach to skin health may be appropriate. Our article Skin Management: Restore, Revitalize, and Strengthen explores this type of treatment planning.

Skincare Is Also Important for Improving the Appearance of Pores

When people think of pore treatments, procedures such as Potenza, Morpheus8, and skin Botox often come to mind.

While clinical treatments are helpful in some cases, simply reviewing your skincare routine can sometimes improve the appearance of pores.

For example, excessive cleansing, dry skin, over-removal of natural oils, or skincare products that do not suit your skin may make pores appear more noticeable.

People who worry about enlarged pores may be particularly likely to overuse strong cleansers. Others may not moisturize sufficiently, which can further disrupt the skin’s oil balance.

At our clinic, we also recommend skincare products according to each patient’s skin condition, rather than focusing on procedures alone.

Our range includes HC Clay Cleansing, HC Deep Clay Wash, HC Enrich Lotion, and HC Wrinkle Lift Cream, as well as products from ZO Skin Health, Gaudi Skin, Jan Marini, M-Dear, and other brands.

What matters is choosing products that address the specific cause of your pore concerns.

For example, if dark pores or sebum buildup are your main concerns, it is important to balance cleansing and moisturizing. For help choosing a cleanser, see Beyond Gentle Cleansing: HC Clay Cleansing Combines Clay and Hydration.

Reviewing your face-washing routine is also important if you struggle with excess sebum or rough skin texture. If your skin becomes dry from over-cleansing, or you want to remove oil without feeling tightness, read The Right Way to Cleanse Pores: Removing Excess Oil Without Over-Drying.

If dryness or loss of firmness contributes to the appearance of your pores, moisturizing and supporting overall skin condition are also important. We may recommend HC Enrich Lotion or HC Wrinkle Lift Cream, developed for nasolabial-fold and wrinkle care, for patients concerned about dryness or skin firmness.

However, skincare also has its limitations.

It may help with oil balance, dryness, and mild roughness, but skincare alone generally cannot substantially improve sagging pores or uneven texture caused by acne scars.

That is why it is important to determine whether skincare is sufficient or whether combining it with in-clinic treatments would be more appropriate.

How Long Does Skin Botox Last, and What Are Its Drawbacks?

Skin Botox may be useful for concerns such as excess oil, visible pores, shine, and fine lines, but it is not a universal solution.

As with other Botox treatments, the effects are not permanent and generally start to wear off gradually after around three to four months.

Therefore, periodic treatments may be necessary if you wish to maintain reduced oil and shine over time.

Because the procedure involves injections, possible side effects include pain, redness, swelling, and bruising.

Numbing cream can help reduce discomfort during treatment.

Since the treatment may reduce sebum production, patients who already have very dry skin may experience increased dryness.

For these patients, it may be more appropriate to focus first on skincare, moisturizing, and improving overall skin condition rather than proceeding directly with skin Botox.

Pricing

Fees vary depending on the product used, the amount injected, the treatment area, and whether treatments are combined.

Some patients may benefit from skin Botox alone, while others may be better suited to a combination of skin booster injections, Potenza, Morpheus8, or skincare.

For detailed pricing, please refer to our fee schedule below.

View Our Price List

Aftercare: What to Avoid Immediately After Microbotox

After microbotox or skin Botox, you may experience bruising, redness, or mild swelling.

On the day of treatment, avoid strenuous exercise, prolonged hot baths, saunas, excessive alcohol consumption, and strong massage of the injected areas.

When bruising occurs, it is often mild enough to cover with makeup and commonly resolves within one to two weeks.

However, the degree of redness or swelling varies from person to person. If you have an important event coming up, we recommend allowing enough time between treatment and the event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Botox really make pores smaller?

For enlarged pores associated with excess sebum production, skin Botox may help make pores less noticeable.

However, it does not completely eliminate the anatomical structure of the pores.

For pores affected by sagging or acne scarring, Botox alone may not provide sufficient improvement.

What is the difference between regular Botox and skin Botox?

Conventional Botox is injected into facial expression muscles to improve wrinkles.

Skin Botox involves multiple small injections into superficial skin layers to address pores, excess oil, shine, fine lines, and skin texture.

The main differences are the treatment goals and the depth of injection.

Which is better for pores: Potenza or skin Botox?

Neither is universally better. The most appropriate treatment depends on the cause of the enlarged pores.

If excess sebum and shine are the main concerns, skin Botox may be a good option.

If acne-scar irregularities or crater-like depressions are the main concerns, radiofrequency microneedling treatments such as Potenza may be more suitable.

Does Botox work on sagging pores?

Sagging pores are often associated more with loss of skin firmness and laxity than with excess sebum, so skin Botox alone may have limited results.

In such cases, it may be better to consider Morpheus8, DENSITY, or other treatments aimed at overall skin quality.

Can skincare alone improve enlarged pores?

If pores appear prominent because of excessive washing, dryness, an imbalance in sebum production, or unsuitable cleansers, adjusting your skincare routine may help.

However, significant improvement in sagging pores or uneven texture caused by acne scars is often difficult to achieve with skincare alone.

Summary

Botox can be used for more than wrinkle reduction. It may also help with concerns involving enlarged pores, sebum production, skin shine, fine lines, and sweating.

Skin Botox and microbotox may be particularly suitable for enlarged pores associated with excess oil.

However, there are several different types of pore concerns.

For sagging pores, acne-scar-related pores, dark pores, and dryness-related concerns, it is important to consider options beyond skin Botox, such as Potenza, Morpheus8, skin booster injections, chemical peels, and skincare.

In our daily practice, we find that the key to achieving satisfactory results is first understanding what causes the pores to look prominent, rather than immediately choosing a procedure.

Some pore concerns can be improved through skincare.

However, if you have struggled with prominent pores for a long time, or if skin laxity and uneven texture are also present, self-care alone may not be enough to achieve a significant change.

Choosing treatment based on the cause is generally the more effective approach.

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