Unfortunately for us, although reptiles hold the monopoly on rough, scaly skin, we humans aren’t immune. But if you’ve ever had rough, bumpy, or scaly areas of skin, you’re not alone. Having plump, smooth skin is something so many of us struggle to maintain as we age. And thanks to the body’s natural aging process, skin texture changes become more common the older we get. You should know how to categorize if you have uneven skin texture, what triggers it, and the best products to improve skin texture are clarified.

Fortunately, you can do those things to help protect skin and improve its texture. Here we discuss more about how to know if you have an uneven skin texture, what causes it, and the best products to improve skin texture so you can get started on your way to baby-smooth skin.

How to Know If You Have an Uneven Skin Texture—And What Causes It

Uneven skin texture is different from an uneven skin tone.

While uneven skin tone is more about a visual appearance and can consist of dark spots, splotchy areas, or dry patches, skin texture is about how the skin looks and feels.

An uneven skin texture may look like:

• Rough patches of skin
• Very dry or scaly areas of skin
• Bumpy or pitted skin
• Enlarged pores

Anything that causes your skin to look more textured and less smooth can result in an uneven skin texture.

Any number of things can be responsible for rough or scaly skin. Remember that cellular turnover—the process of your skin regenerating new skin cells and getting rid of old ones—naturally slows down with age. As a result, uneven skin texture is more likely the older you get. 

However, uneven texture could also be from skin conditions such as dermatitis, keratosis pilaris (also called chicken skin), and even acne. 

Sun damage can also influence skin texture, as it can cause hyperpigmentation that leads to rougher areas of skin. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can also cause DNA damage and permanent changes in skin cells that can affect skin texture, especially with repeated burns or getting too much sun over time. Sun damage to the skin can also accelerate collagen breakdown and lead to visible textural changes to the skin. 

Skincare Ingredients That Can Help Improve Texture

Since part of what causes an uneven texture leads back to cellular turnover, products that help increase the cellular renewal process may help with skin smoothness. 

These skincare ingredients in products to improve skin texture can include:

AHAs and BHAs 

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) can help exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin cells and reveal a smoother, more even skin texture. AHAs and BHAs can include glycolic acid and salicylic acid, but there are many others you can use depending on your skin type.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a humectant. It can help plump skin and reduce wrinkles and dryness while improving firmness, which can help restore skin texture. 

Retinol 

Products with retinol can help accelerate the cellular turnover process and improve skin texture, dryness, and even wrinkles. 

Vitamin C 

Not only can vitamin C fight sun damage: it can also improve the appearance of coarse wrinkles and overall skin texture. 

Best Products to Improve Skin Texture

The following are some of the best products to improve skin texture so you can start experiencing smoother, baby-soft skin even as you age.

Moon Juice Acid Potion

This liquid exfoliator contains a 25% AHA and BHA complex to break down dead skin cells and encourage collagen production. With glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid, this liquid can help clear pores while introducing reishi mushroom and niacinamide to reduce irritation. Apply by shaking into palms and patting into face and neck—no need to rinse. You can utilize it as a spot treatment for problem areas.

 It can also be used as a spot treatment for problem areas.

100% Pure Acai Pulp Facial Scrub

Say goodbye to dead skin with this superfruit-infused face scrub from 100% Pure. This concentrated face scrub can be watered down to your preferred intensity to be gentler on the skin. Crushed acai berries, vitamins A and C, goji berries, and elderberry extract give this formula its nourishing properties. Simply massage onto wet skin and rinse.

Tata Harper Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil

Formulated specifically for uneven skin texture, this blend of natural oils can help smooth fine lines and wrinkles and uneven texture to reveal radiant skin. With retinoic acid from rosehips and olive, jojoba, apricot, and neroli oils, you can fight visible sights of aging and soften skin. Apply a generous amount before bed as a deep moisturizing treatment and wake up radiant.

OSEA Seabiotic® Water Cream

This cream is weightless and yet delivers intense moisture to thirsty skin with a rough or uneven texture. Hyaluronic acid, aloe, calendula, ginger, and squalene work together in this formula to leave skin softer, smoother, and more radiant. For optimum effects, massage into the face and neck after serums, morning and night.

True Botanicals Repair Nightly Treatment

This serum has it all—BHAs, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants to improve uneven skin tone and texture, fine lines and wrinkles, and pesky breakouts. Apply two or three pumps to the face, neck, and chest at night before your moisturizer. In the morning, wake up with smoother-looking skin.

What Else Can You Do?

In addition to trying products to improve skin texture, you can also:

• Consider professional treatments 

Microneedling, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and other professional skincare treatments may help improve skin texture. 

• Follow up with your derm 

Your dermatologist can let you know if your uneven skin texture results from a medical condition and if there are any treatment options, you may qualify for.

• Always wear sunscreen

Sunscreen can help preserve your existing skin texture and prevent many of the changes that happen with getting too much sun exposure as you age, including visible lines and wrinkles.

• Stay healthy 

Eating plenty of antioxidants, drinking enough water, and exercising can help you stay healthy and support a healthy and smooth skin texture. 

Take Our Skin Type Quiz Now!

Do YOU know your skin type? Knowing your skin type can help you choose the best products to improve skin texture, whether you have sensitive, oily, dry, combination, or normal skin. Get started by taking our free quiz now!