Textured Skin 101: Causes, Treatments, Prevention + More Tips From Derms

Let's be clear: Nobody has perfectly smooth skin all the time. While heaps of makeup and hours of photo editing may have you believing skin should look like silk, that's not normal. Everyone has texture, and there are plenty of reasons for it.

While redness is the most common symptom of rosacea, it's not the only one. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, rosacea symptoms can also include roughness, small bumps, and even thickening skin that can lead to more uneven texture (though the latter is rare). 

Eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) can also cause uneven skin texture. This can look like scaly, dry patches or thicker skin. 

Orange peel skin is one form of texture that is, in part, related to collagen loss. Imagine a citrus peel—the texture isn't necessarily smooth, but it's not dramatically uneven either. To the naked eye, the skin looks dimply and has enlarged pores. 

"It's a sign of sun damage and aging. Basically, as collagen and elastin are compromised, the pores are not held closed, leaving them larger and more visible," Morgan Rabach, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical NYC previously said about orange peel skin.

"AHAs work to improve skin by removing the top layers of the skin through weakening the lipids that bond them together, thus removing dull and dead skin cells and revealing healthy skin cells," says board-certified dermatologist Dendy Engelman, M.D.

​​The most popular of the AHA family are glycolic acid and lactic acid. "Glycolic acid, derived from sugar cane, is the smallest acid in size, meaning the molecule can get deep into the skin," says Engelman.

"Retinoids are particularly helpful as they help to improve cell turnover, stimulate collagen, and regulate sebaceous glands," board-certified dermatologist Rebecca Marcus, M.D., FAAD, explains. 

However, retinol won't work instantaneously. You'll have to commit to using the product every few days for a good month or two before seeing peak smoothing results. "With continued usage of this ingredient and over time, you can see an improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, tone, and texture, as it is strengthening the skin barrier," Engleman says. 

Using vitamin C topically has been shown to help overall quality and tone by diminishing hyperpigmentation4, brightening5 complexions, decreasing moisture6 loss, helping reduce skin inflammation4, and fighting against UV-induced photodamage7.

As mentioned above, skin texture can be caused by inflammation. What triggers your inflammation is important to note (dehydration, rosacea, acne, etc.), but how you tame it is just as essential. 

If you're struggling to ease skin texture at home, you're not alone. Especially deeper scars (like ice-pick acne scars) are nearly impossible to treat DIY-style. While this might make you feel discouraged at first, you should find peace knowing that assistance is available (plus, some much-needed reassurance that you're probably doing all the right things). 

Given that skin texture can be caused by a lack of collagen in the skin, it only makes sense that collagen supplementation can help. You should be mindful of what kind of collagen you purchase, as hydrolyzed collagen peptides have been the most extensively studied. 

More specifically, research has shown that taking collagen peptides will support skin elasticity, hydration levels, and promote youthful texture8.* Not to mention, collagen can help support your gut health9, which is essential for easing inflammation from the inside out (yes your gut and skin are connected). 

If your texture is caused by dry skin, or the texture of your skin creates sagging, then hyaluronic acid is a must-have in your lineup. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural humectant, which means it retains moisture. 

For HA, that's 1,000 times its weight in water. So, it's really hydrating. "It helps smooth the skin surface due to increasing the amount of water in the dead cell layer, which delivers moisture to dry, rough skin surface," Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, tells mbg.

Getting regular facials has a very long list of benefits, including maintaining a smooth complexion. Depending on what other skin concerns you have (dryness, acne, skin aging, etc.), what type of facial you get will differ. 

See when you visit a skin expert like an esthetician, they can help clear your dead skin cells via gentle exfoliation to reveal a fresh new canvas. Plus, the high-tech tools and professional-grade topicals might help you clear your texture even more quickly. 

"Enzymes work by ungluing stored-up dead cells at the skin surface and in the pores," Ciraldo says. "This could include bromelain from pineapple, pumpkin, or pomegranate." You can find enzymes in at-home products like masks and cleansers or opt for a professional enzyme facial. 

Prevention is always going to be easier than treatment. This means not just preventing texture from the start but also ensuring that what texture you do have doesn't get even worse. 

As you can tell, there are plenty of at-home options for easing skin texture. That being said, not everything is DIY-friendly. It can make you feel even worse if you're trying at-home remedies again and again with no success, so it's important to know when to ask for help if you have access to it.