How to Get Rid of Textured Skin: 6 Gentle Steps for Smoother-Looking Skin

If you're wondering how to get rid of textured skin, the honest answer is that you can't sand it off overnight, and trying to usually makes it rougher. What works is a short, boring routine that clears away dead-cell buildup gently and keeps your skin calm enough to look smooth.

What textured skin is (and why it happens)

Textured skin is skin that looks or feels uneven instead of smooth: rough or flaky patches, dullness, enlarged-looking pores, tiny bumps from clogged pores, or fine lines that catch the light. Most face texture is cosmetic and comes from a few everyday causes.

• Dead-cell buildup. Old cells sit on the surface, so skin feels rough and looks flat. Chemical exfoliants use alpha and beta hydroxy acids "to dissolve dead skin cells," says the AAD.
• Oil and clogged pores. The AAD says "clogged pores or an oily complexion can make pores look larger."
• Sun and age. The same AAD page links sun damage and age to skin that's less firm, which makes pores and lines more visible.
• Irritation. Scrubbing, hot water and too many actives leave skin red and rough, which is texture of a different kind.

Some bumps aren't texture at all. Acne scars, milia and rosacea look like uneven skin texture but need a dermatologist, and we cover them below.

How to improve skin texture: 6 steps

1. Switch to a gentle cleanser for textured skin

Wash when you wake up, before bed and after sweating, as the AAD suggests. Use lukewarm water and your fingertips, not a washcloth or brush. The AAD notes that hot water can irritate skin and make pores look larger.

A low-strength glycolic wash can pull double duty. Dr. Joshua Zeichner told Women's Health that because cleansers rinse off quickly, a glycolic acid cleanser "can be a great way to introduce exfoliating acids" to sensitive skin. Our best glycolic acid face wash roundup has six options, from gentle daily washes to stronger weekly ones.

2. Exfoliate with an acid, a few times a week

This is the step that does the most for smooth skin texture. Chemical exfoliants come in two main kinds:

• AHAs (glycolic, lactic and mandelic acid) are water-soluble and work on the surface. NBC Select's dermatologists say dry skin may do better with glycolic or lactic acid.
• BHAs (salicylic acid) are oil-soluble. Dermatologist Dr. Hadley King told NBC Select they "can work on the skin's surface and inside your pores," which makes them a good fit for oily skin with clogged-pore bumps.

Pick one exfoliant to start. If you're new to acids, King suggests "gentle exfoliation once or twice weekly." Dermatologist Dr. Stephen Suah recommends one to three times a week in NBC Select's guide, and Dr. Liza Moore suggests once or twice for sensitive skin. Apply moisturizer right after, as the AAD advises.

3. Put the scrubs down (and stop picking)

It's tempting to buff texture away with a gritty scrub. NBC Select's experts say dermatologists "don't generally recommend a physical scrub for your face" because chemical exfoliants tend to be less harsh. The AAD puts it simply: scrubbing irritates skin and "can worsen any skin condition, including acne."

Picking makes things worse too. The AAD says squeezing or digging at pores can "irritate your skin, making pores look more noticeable," and picking at breakouts raises the chance of scarring.

4. Add a retinol at night, slowly

Retinol is the other ingredient with a real track record for face texture. The AAD says a retinol product "may help" pores look smaller and that it's best applied before bed. For fine lines, see our best anti-aging serum for your 50s roundup, which has two retinoid picks.

The AAD's retinoid advice is to choose the least-intense formula you can find and use it every other night to start, only at night, with sun protection by day. A pea-sized amount covers your whole face. Expect some dryness or flaking in the first two to four weeks, which Zeichner told TODAY is part of getting used to retinol.

Don't stack it with your acid on the same night. Dermatologists in TODAY's retinol guide say hydroxy acids and scrubs "should be avoided the same day as a retinoid." Alternate: acid one night, retinol another, a plain night in between. Skip retinol if you're pregnant or breastfeeding; the AAD says you shouldn't use it then.

5. Moisturize every night

A plain, fragrance-free moisturizer keeps the acid and the retinol from leaving you dry and flaky, and dry skin looks rougher than it is. The AAD calls sunscreen and moisturizer the two most effective anti-aging products you can buy. Our moisturizer to use with retinol roundup has six gentle options for every skin type.

6. Wear sunscreen every morning

Acids and retinol both make sunscreen non-negotiable. The FDA says AHAs may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, so use sunscreen while you use them and for a week after you stop. The AAD recommends a sunscreen that's broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher and water resistant, applied every day before you go outdoors.

It goes on last in your morning routine, after moisturizer. Our moisturizer or sunscreen first guide shows the full order and how much to use.

A simple week for uneven skin texture

Every morning: cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen. If your skin stings, turns red or starts flaking, drop back to moisturizer only for a few nights.

Signs you're overdoing it

More is not faster here. The AAD warns that over-exfoliating "could lead to skin that is red and irritated," and that exfoliating while using retinol "may worsen dry skin." If your face feels tight, stings when you apply moisturizer, or looks shiny but rough, stop the acids and retinol for a while. Our skin barrier repair guide walks through the reset.

If you have a darker skin tone, go gently. The AAD advises avoiding strong chemical or mechanical exfoliation if you tend to get dark spots after acne, burns or bug bites.

When texture isn't texture

See a board-certified dermatologist if your bumps are red, sore, spreading, or haven't budged after a few months of gentle care. A few common look-alikes:

• Acne scars. The AAD says sunken scars give skin "a rough, uneven appearance", and a dermatologist can help you make them less noticeable. Over-the-counter acids won't erase them.
• Milia. Cleveland Clinic describes these as small, white cysts that aren't acne, and says not to pick or squeeze them.
• Rosacea. The AAD says rosacea can cause acne-like breakouts and redness. The AAD's retinoid advice is that people with a lot of redness or inflammation should avoid retinoids and ask their dermatologist.

Picks that help

L'Oréal Paris Revitalift 3.5% Pure Glycolic Acid Cleanser

Best for: a gentle glycolic wash for most skin types. Drugstore.

• L'Oréal says it pairs glycolic acid with salicylic acid and aloe, is "designed for daily use," and is fragrance-free, according to the brand.
• Women's Health says its 3.5% strength is "on the lower end, so it's suitable for sensitive or dry skin," and Marie Claire named it the best drugstore glycolic cleanser.
• Keep in mind: it contains menthol, which Marie Claire flags "may be irritating to some." Because it has salicylic acid too, use it instead of the BHA liquid below at first, not on the same night.

Check price on Amazon

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Best for: oily or combination skin with clogged-pore bumps and enlarged-looking pores. Mid-range.

• A leave-on 2% salicylic acid liquid that the brand says removes dead skin cells and unclogs pores. It's fragrance-free and alcohol-free, per Paula's Choice.
• It's NBC Select's best overall salicylic acid product: dermatologists Dr. Ryan Turner and Dr. Annie Chiu call it "one of the most effective products for exfoliation and addressing skin clarity and tone."
• Paula's Choice says to start a few times a week and finish with SPF 30 or higher by day. NBC Select's con: it's pricier.

Check price on Amazon

RoC Derm Correxion Fill + Treat Serum

Best for: a first retinol, including for sensitive skin. Drugstore.

• Retinol plus three forms of hyaluronic acid, fragrance-free, according to RoC. The brand says to begin every other night and build up.
• Zeichner told TODAY the formula "helps minimize potential irritation, so it can be used even in people who have sensitive skin."
• Keep in mind: it's a small bottle, and RoC suggests AM and PM. We'd keep it to nights, as the AAD advises for retinoids.

Check price on Amazon

Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion

Best for: a plain moisturizer for nights you use acids or retinol. Drugstore.

• Vanicream says it's non-comedogenic and free of fragrance and masking fragrances, with "no botanical extracts or essential oils," per the brand.
• Dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch told TODAY it's "a great, light option for even sensitive skin types trying to get started on a retinol."
• Keep in mind: TODAY notes it "may feel thick." One pump bottle covers face and body.

Check price on Amazon

FAQs

How do you get rid of texture on your face fast?

There's no fast fix, and rushing usually backfires. A gentle acid two or three times a week can make skin look smoother within a few weeks, but the AAD says most products take at least six weeks to work, and sometimes up to three months. Sunscreen and moisturizer help keep the results.

How to fix textured skin if you have dry skin?

Choose a gentle AHA such as glycolic or lactic acid, use it once or twice a week, and moisturize right after. The AAD notes that exfoliating can be drying, so don't skip the moisturizer.

Is salicylic acid or glycolic acid better for textured skin face?

It depends on the cause. Salicylic acid (a BHA) works inside oily, clogged pores, so it suits bumpy, oily skin. Glycolic acid (an AHA) works on the surface and suits dull, rough or dry skin. Use one, not both, while you're starting out.

Can I use glycolic acid and retinol together?

Not on the same night. Dermatologists quoted by TODAY say to avoid hydroxy acids the same day as a retinoid. Alternate nights and moisturize after both.

Does exfoliating help skin tone and texture?

It can help both. Dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano told Marie Claire that glycolic cleansers can help improve "dullness, texture, and uneven skin tone." Daily sunscreen matters too, since sun exposure makes uneven tone more visible.

How to get smooth skin without a scrub?

Use a chemical exfoliant instead. NBC Select's dermatologists say they prefer chemical exfoliants because they tend to be less harsh, and generally don't recommend physical scrubs for the face.

How long does it take to improve skin texture?

Plan on six weeks to three months, per the AAD. With retinol, the first two to four weeks can look drier before skin settles, so don't judge it too early.

Go gentle, go slow and wear sunscreen: smoother-looking skin is mostly the result of not overdoing it.