How Dry Skin Can Lead To Bumpy Texture + What To Do About It

Skin texture is a broad term, encompassing everything from acne scars to active breakouts to even dryness. One of the most common signs is tiny bumps that don't quite look like inflamed pimples but aren't necessarily blackheads, either. 

The surprising culprit: dehydrated and overworked skin. See, when you start using a new active skin care product, whether that means a chemical exfoliant or a retinol, your skin may begin to dry out for the first few weeks. 

Naturally, dry skin craves moisture. If you don't replenish it with a topical hydrator, then your skin can produce excess sebum to fill the gap. 

Sebum is the sticky oil that clogs pores, which is most often what those tiny bumps represent. They may not turn into full-fledged inflamed pimples, but they do add texture to the skin and can be difficult to treat. 

What's more, adding new products like retinol to the mix on a daily basis can cause inflammation in the skin, due to a damaged skin barrier. The hard part about treating these tiny bumps is that your skin may feel like it needs exfoliation, but it actually just needs a metaphorical glass of water. 

"Certain products to calm the skin and decrease inflammation can help maintain a healthy skin barrier during the purging period," board-certified dermatologist Gabriella Vasile, D.O., FAAD, previously told mbg about this type of skin texture.