Kayla Young
When you have smooth and even skin texture, you don’t even need a filter for your photos to look flawless! But what do you do when you have a sudden grainy skin texture on your face? Why does my face feel grainy?
It can be super frustrating to deal with grainy or sandy textures on your face. But the good news is improving it and achieving a more even texture is possible!Â
You just have to properly take care of your skin. To do that, you should get to know your skin first, then provide what it needs.
In this post, we are going to focus on those who have a grainy or sandy skin texture.
Contents
What Causes Sudden Grainy Skin Texture On Your Face?
The grainy texture of the skin on the face doesn’t look good on anyone. However, before you attempt to treat your face, it would be best to identify what causes that uneven texture on your skin.
There are a few common causes, and the solutions will vary depending on the cause. If you use the wrong treatment, that grainy texture might even get worse.Â
Here are the different causes of grainy texture on the face:
Skin Sensitivity
Before you had the grainy texture on your face, did you use any new products? It might be possible that your skin is reacting to one of the ingredients in the products you use. Sometimes, irritated skin would look reddish or rashes can also develop.
However, the skin can also respond by producing small bumps due to congestion. You might even have acne or dryness along with the sudden grainy texture.
There is an easy fix for this: stop using those products. Ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, or those considered heavy creams may be the culprit. Just try to stop using it for a few days and observe if there is an improvement.
Clogged Pores
Clogged pores can appear as bumps on the skin, too. If those pores become infected with bacteria, you can have pimples, light acne, blackheads, etc.
A remedy to this is to exfoliate your skin. However, take note that over-exfoliation can also cause a grainy skin texture, so don’t go crazy.
You could also consider microdermabrasion at home or at a spa.
Over-Exfoliation
Exfoliating your skin is a good way to remove the build-up of dead skin cells, etc (especially when combined with facial steaming!). It does help even out skin texture, and should be done.
But there is also such a thing as over-exfoliation.
When you overdo it, the skin gets irritated and could lead to dryness, redness, acne, overproduction of oil, and many other skin issues that cause uneven texture.
Dry Skin
If your skin is dehydrated, the dehydration can lead to an uneven texture. When there isn’t enough moisture, it is possible for the skin to flake off.
You might think that you just need to exfoliate to remove the flaking. But exfoliating dry skin often makes the texture worse. It dries out the skin even further so in this case, exfoliation is not the answer.
Steaming the face can work well in these circumstances. Hydration is key!
Diet
Do you indulge in eating all things sweet? Although we all do enjoy sweets, high glycemic foods can be the culprit. These foods can trigger inflammation and that could also worsen acne.
Food also has an effect on the hormones that we produce and those hormones can also cause your acne to worsen.
Pay attention to the relationship between your skin and what you eat.
How To Treat Uneven Texture On The Face
After observing your skin and getting to know the cause of your skin’s uneven texture, you can now focus on how to treat them. Here are a few ways on how to do that:
Exfoliate. But Don’t Overdo It
Even if exfoliation is the first treatment we’re discussing here, you should still take precautions about over-exfoliation. Exfoliation does help remove the dead skin cells that could clog pores and cause uneven texture but it is best to use gentle exfoliation. Don’t grab your loofa and rub it on your face for exfoliation. That will just damage your skin.
Instead, you can use a facial brush with soft bristles or a sonic facial brush like the FOREO Luna 2 shown above. These powerful devices use sonic pulsations to help gently remove dirt, makeup, bacteria, and dead skin cells.
Beware of other physical exfoliators that contain gritty substances like crushed walnut. These can cause microtears in the skin, especially for those who have sensitive skin.
Another gentler way to exfoliate is to use gentle acids like AHAs, BHAs, PHAs, or combinations like this one from The Ordinary.
If you are going to use acids, make sure not to use them every day. Start using them once a week until you build up to using them about 3 times a week.
Don’t Forget About SPF
The sun doesn’t just cause your skin to tan. It can worsen the uneven texture due to damage your skin gets out of UV exposure.
Make sure you use products with SPF during day time, or cover up if you’re going to be in the sun. If you’re going to tan, tan during the morning, and don’t stay out too long!
Exfoliating the skin with chemicals can make you more susceptible to sun damage as well.
Hydrate Yourself And Your Skin
Using moisturizers is a great way to keep your skin hydrated. This will prevent uneven texture due to dryness. However, you shouldn’t just leave hydration to your moisturizers.
You should also keep your whole body hydrated by drinking enough fluids. This will also help provide adequate moisture for your skin cells from within.Â
Use Retinol
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that can be applied to the skin. It helps with better skin cell turnover and it also helps with collagen production. It doesn’t only improve skin texture but it can also be used as an anti-aging treatment.
Retinol is usually added to creams and chemical peels. But if you are new to using retinol, make sure to use the gentler formulas first.
Also, retinol should never be used by pregnant, nursing, or those who are trying to get pregnant.
Balance Your Skincare Routine
The skincare routine involves various procedures that could include cleansing, exfoliating, toning, and moisturizing the face. You may add even more steps to target specific skin issues.
It is possible that you are overdoing or not doing enough of what your skin needs.
Make sure your skincare routine is balance. Hydrate your skin more and lessen exfoliation if it feels dry. You might also want to add exfoliation if you currently do not include it in your skincare routine. Also, make sure to give your skin ample time to adjust.
Be patient because results don’t come overnight. It may take some time for the products to work.
Final Thoughts
There are different causes of sudden grainy texture on the face. In order to successfully find the right treatment, you need to identify why your face is grainy.
Once you’ve got that, you can try removing the products that could cause the grainy texture, finding the right products to use, altering your skincare routine, and being patient while waiting for improvement is the best thing to do.Â
Related Questions
Why does the skin on my face feel like sandpaper?
When you have a condition called keratosis pilaris, your skin can feel like it is as rough as sandpaper. This is harmless but it can cause hard and small bumps on the skin. This condition may be treated by using exfoliants, retinol, and properly moisturizing the skin.
