Dull and textured skin can be uncomfortable, and the biggest culprit is the build-up of dead skin cells. Your pores become clogged due to all the build-up, causing pimples all over your face that may seem red or in the form of black and whiteheads. Ultimately, we all want our skin to be as smooth as a baby’s bump or something close to that because perfect skin does not exist.
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What causes textured skin?
There are many reasons why you have textured skin. Many factors come to play when it comes to figuring out what may be causing your skin texture. A few of the common causes are:
- Dry/dehydrated skin
- Too much sun exposure
- Poor diet
- Environmental pollutants
- Acne and acne scarring
- Smoking
- Dead skin cells build-up
- Stress
How to improve textured skin
Lucky you, there are so many ways in which you can get rid of the textured skin once you establish the root cause. By following a few suggestions, you will say hello to new and improved skin.
1. Improve your diet
You can improve many aspects of your life by simply being mindful of what you eat. Just as nutritious food can improve your skin, junk food can do the opposite. Foods rich in antioxidants can reduce your skin’s redness and inflammation, hence improving the texture. Certain foods can reverse skin damage and make your skin more plump and hydrated. Drink your daily recommended amount of water, too (8 glasses), and eat a healthy balanced diet.
2. Exfoliate your skin
All your dead skin will disappear with consistent exfoliation. Exfoliating, precisely chemical exfoliation, because physical can be a bit too harsh and make your skin worse. Exfoliating will unclog your pores, boost circulation and make your skin brighter and radiant, improving its texture.
3. Exercising regularly
While exercising, you increase the blood flow in your body, and by doing so, your body cells, including the skin cells, will be well nourished. Insider has an interesting article on the relationship between exercise and your skin; read it, and you will be amazed.
The blood circulating throughout your body will get rid of the waste faster and transport all the proper nutrients to your skin cells. This improves the skin texture drastically as well as your health.
4. Cleanse properly
Double cleansing has been the talk for a while now, and I cannot emphasize how important and beneficial it is for your skin. It ensures that your skin is thoroughly cleansed and ready to absorb the right products. Incorporating an oil cleanser first and then cleansing with your regular cleanser second will ensure that your skin is well-cleansed. If, for any reason, you cannot use an oil cleanser, use your regular cleanser for both cleansing steps.
5. Wear sunscreen every day
This may sound weird, but you need to use SPF even indoors because the sun’s rays can penetrate glass. Apply sunscreen regularly to prevent the sun from damaging your skin cells and causing premature aging. The sun causes so much damage to the skin by reducing the amount of collagen in your skin and reducing its elasticity. Avoid being in the sun for too long, even when you wear a broad-spectrum SPF, but if you have to, make sure to reapply when needed and use a hat.
6. Hydrate your skin for smoother textured skin
Every skin type can do with a hydrating serum and a good moisturizer. When your skin is hydrated, there is a balance, and when you have balance, your skin will be almost problem-free. Dehydrated skin is the root cause of many problems, such as acne and textured skin. When your skin is well-hydrated and moisturized, it will not flake, making it plump and youthful. Incorporate products with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin c for their hydrating and antioxidant benefits.
7. Get enough sleep
Lack of sleep can cause stress, aggravates your skin, and worsens any existing condition. Have you ever wondered why your skin looks so radiant and alive after a good night’s rest? Well, at night, your skin cells repair themselves, and only a sufficient amount of sleep can make that process effective. Besides that, 8 hours of rest is a well-deserved treat to recover from a long, stressful day of hard work.
What foods/supplements improve skin texture?
There is a reason why I mentioned diet as the first step in reducing skin texture. Mindful eating provides numerous advantages for your skin as a whole. There are so many fantastic foods, but to keep things simple, I’ll only name a few things I eat that have made a significant difference in my skin.
- Green tea is just the best. It is filled with antioxidants and is anti-inflammatory, making it great for your skin. It also flushes out toxins in your body.
- Carrots protect your skin from the sun.
- Avocados for all the healthy fats they contain that are great for the skin.
- Vitamin C powder and MSM powder(sulfur). After using them for about a month, this combo improved my skin texture drastically. Vitamin C helped the MSM powder work better. MSM helps detox the body. The only downside is that MSM should be used cautiously because some people react poorly to it.
- Leafy Greens have a ton of antioxidants that help fight free radicals in the skin and boost your skin’s ability to protect itself from the sun. My favorite leafy green is kale.
Visiting a dietician can benefit you because they can curate the perfect diet for your body’s needs.
What treatments improve textured skin?
Some professional treatments exist that can help with your textured skin. These can only be performed by visiting a licensed dermatologist or esthetician, and they are pricey but very effective at treating the texture.
1. Microneedling/ Dermarolling
Not the cutest procedure, but it has long-lasting benefits for your overall texture. A numbing cream is applied to the face then a small tool with tiny sterile needles is used to puncture the skin several times to encourage collagen production. This procedure allows for new tissue to be formed, which helps the skin to be smoother and tighter, improving the texture.
2. Laser resurfacing
A laser can be used to smoothen the skin’s surface to eliminate imperfections. It removes the deeper layers of the skin and encourages skin regeneration. Several laser resurfacing procedures exist. Visit your local dermatologist to get one best suited for your skin’s needs.
3. Chemical peels
They are a great way to speed up your skin exfoliating process. Peels are cheaper than the other procedures, and the results are faster to see, though they don’t last as long. Chemical peels raise your skin’s acidity, loosening the dead skin cells from your skin, then, over time, they shed. After a few procedures, your skin texture will improve, revealing smooth, glowy skin.
4. Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion uses a spray with exfoliating crystals that, in turn, remove dead skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. It is generally a safe and effective procedure.
What products improve skin texture?
Products containing exfoliation acids like AHA’s, BHA’s, and PHA’s can remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, revealing smoother skin. Niacinamide can help rebuild the skin barrier. Retinol can encourage increased cell turnover which will improve the texture over time.
Best products for textured skin
Here are some of my favorite products that helped me get rid of my texture.
1. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
This is my favorite cleansing oil; it’s excellent for removing all the gunk from my pores and leaving my skin soft and clean. It is a gentle cleansing oil, and a little goes a long way. The cleansing oil has an impressive ingredient list packed with vitamins and antioxidants.
2. CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser
This cleanser takes the crown as one of the market’s best BHA (beta hydroxy acid) cleansers. It is gentle on the skin yet powerful at cleaning your pores. Considering it has actives, it is not drying and leaves your skin texture smooth. With consistent use, you will see a drastic improvement in your skin.
3. Naturium PHA Topical Acid 12%
Any skin type can get away with using this gentle, hydrating, peeling serum. PHA’s (polyhydroxy acids) are more delicate than their cousins AHA’s and BHA’s, which is a bonus if you have sensitive skin. The product did not irritate me and worked perfectly for my textured skin.
4. Olay Regenerist Retinol 24-Night Face Moisturizer
A beginner-friendly retinol cream. The product is fragrance-free and will give your skin the extra boost it needs. You will wake up a different person after using this cream.
The takeaway
So many products and treatments are available to smoothen your skin texture. You can be one step closer to smooth, texture-free skin with a lot of consistency, mindful eating, and good skin care practices.
What do you think is causing your textured skin, and what do you plan on doing differently?
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.