Orange Peel Skin: What It Is & How To Remedy This Skin Texture

In the search for younger, dewy skin, there are several skin care concerns that often come up, some with quite peculiar names: crow's feet, marionette lines, liver spots.

Add this one to the list: Orange peel skin. So what is this skin texture, what causes it, and what can you do about it? Below, our investigation. 

Imagine an orange or other citrus fruit like a lemon or lime. It has a very specific texture: Slightly dimpled texture around visible pores.

That's the comparison for a very specific type of skin texture, colloquially called "orange peel skin." This is not a dermatological diagnosis, we should note, merely a descriptor. 

"'Orange peel skin' is a phrase used to describe skin that resembles the peel of the orange.

Imagine skin that is thick and shiny with tiny divots in the skin," says board-certified dermatologist Zenovia Gabriel, M.D. "With orange peel skin, the pores appear to be enlarged and dimpled."

The skin type may look perfectly normal to the naked eye, especially at a distance.

It's really not until you get up close to the skin that you might start to notice texture variations.

Thus, it's usually a skin care concern that people self-"diagnose," yet onlookers may not see the issue.

"The cause for 'orange peel skin' is mainly due to deeper skin structures that impact the surface, such as muscle contraction, sebaceous gland size, and collagen and elastin loss," says Gabriel. "With aging, our sebaceous glands (pores) enlarge and our skin loses firmness and elasticity, causing pores to look deeper and enlarged."  

Like many skin woes, it comes from sun damage, oxidative stress, and age.

"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," says Morgan Rabach, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical NYC.

It's also common in those who have oilier skin. "People with more oil output in their skin have enlarged thick pores and can show signs of orange peel skin," says Rabach. 

It can start early and get more pronounced with age. This is because your collagen can start to decline in your 20s. "Usually this starts in your late 20s and continues as you get older—but of course things like sun damage play a role," says Rabach. 

Then, of course, there are personal skin variants that have nothing to do with external forces, lifestyle habits, and skin care behaviors. "Genetically, some of us have thicker, larger sebaceous glands, and this contributes to the quality and texture of our skin," says Gabriel.   

However, it is certainly more common in mature skin: "Older women are more prone to 'orange peel skin' since with age collagen levels decrease and skin loses its elasticity and plumpness, causing pores to look enlarged," says Gabriel. 

Your approach should be twofold: First, you'll want to encourage collagen production internally.

Second, you'll want to tend to your pores externally.

Because this skin texture is the result of diminished collagen levels, the most important thing you need to do is encourage collagen production in the skin.

How does one do that? Well, the most effective way to promote collagen production is to start from within.

As we know that collagen is too large of a molecule to penetrate the epidermis, the most effective way to get it is through hydrolyzed collagen supplements. 

You can't physically shrink pores, full stop. But you can make them appear smaller through a few pathways. One way to do that is to make sure they are clean.

When pores are filled with excess sebum, dirt, and buildup, they may appear larger and more visible.

Consider using clay masks regularly, which can all help lift grime out of pores. 

From there, board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., says you can use hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs, specifically) which exfoliates the top layer of skin, aiding the texture's appearance and makes pores appear smaller.

Retinoids can also help by encouraging cell turnover, smoothing skin, and encouraging collagen production.

This, of course, isn't a one-and-done measure since your pores are constantly producing sebum (a good thing!), and your skin is always coming into contact with dirt, pollution, and the like.

After you've cleared out the pores and bolstered them from the inside, you can superficially improve the appearance with serums like hyaluronic acid. This super-hydrating active pulls in up to 1,000 times its weight in water, plumping up skin and smoothing out the appearance. 

"Along with these treatments, it is important to protect the skin from further damage by wearing sunscreen daily with a minimum of SPF 30 and minimizing UV exposure," says Gabriel. "This is especially important if you are using AHAs, as they will increase skin's sensitivity to sunlight." Stick to a clean mineral sunscreen and wear it daily. 

Orange peel skin is a colloquial term that refers to a specific texture that, well, looks like an orange peel: slightly indented around pores.

It's the result of collagen loss—from aging and sun damage specifically—as the skin starts to lose firmness and appears dimpled. You can help the skin's texture through collagen supplements and certain topicals.*