What is "Orange Peel" Skin & How Do You Fix It?

Let’s face it — our skin isn’t always on its A-game. We all have skin-related insecurities we wrestle with. A particularly irksome one? Peau d'orange, or orange peel skin texture. 

While it’s a cute name honoring our favorite citrus fruit, there’s nothing sweet about this pesky skin texture issue. Orange peel complexions don’t just put a dent in our self-esteem; they can also be a frustrating problem to remedy. 

But don’t worry — in this guide, we’ll spill all about peau d'orange and how to get rid of it once and for all.

What Causes Orange Peel Skin Texture?

First thing first, what is orange peel skin? 

“Orange peel skin” isn’t technically a scientific classification in dermatology — it’s more an informal, blanket term describing slightly dimpled or dented skin.

What does orange peel skin look like exactly? Firstly, it’s not orange. Orange peel texture is characterized by skin that becomes thick and pitted, resembling the outside of an orange peel. 

Pores appear enlarged, giving your skin a rougher texture and a more obvious pore appearance. Sometimes it’s accompanied by redness, tenderness, scaling, or darkening of the skin.

Peau d'orange develops for a number of reasons. Mainly, it stems from a loss of elasticity in your skin. Other common culprits are sun exposure and aging. 

It may also indicate underlying conditions, including:

• Cellulite — also known as orange peel cellulite, this common skin condition occurs in over 80% of women in which the skin becomes bumpy and dimpled.
• Lymphedema — swelling and discomfort caused by a build-up of lymph fluid in the fatty tissues just under the skin.
• Infection — caused by bacteria penetrating your skin’s protective layers and pitting the skin.
• Grave’s dermopathy — caused by a build-up of carbohydrates in the skin.
• Pseudoxanthoma elasticum — occurs when elastic fibers in your skin and connective tissues begin to harden, losing their ability to contract.
• Inflammatory breast cancer — orange peel skin texture around the breast could be a symptom of breast cancer.

And other times, orange peel skin is caused by genetics (thanks, mom and dad). Although there’s nothing we can do about our genetic predisposition, we can certainly take steps to remedy the issue and give your skin the dewy, fresh glow you crave.

The key to smoothing your complexion (and confidence)? A personalized approach to skincare.

How to Get Rid of Orange Peel Skin 

Ever run to the store to try a new product after hearing a friend rave about how amazing it left their skin, only to use it yourself and wonder, “Why is my face peeling… or burning… or breaking out?“ 

We’ve all been there! But like our founder, Dr. Cat, always says: skincare isn’t one-size-fits-all. Yet, most over-the-counter skincare products are manufactured for the mass market. What gives?

The reality is that everyone’s skin is different and unique, and what works for your friend might not work for you. In fact, the wrong products can further exacerbate your skin woes. 

So what can you do about orange peel skin? Tailoring your routine to target your skin’s needs is a fabulous first step.

Ditching generic OTC products and switching to science-backed, innovative skincare technology that targets your individual skin needs is a game-changer. Harnessing the magic of active ingredients not only helps improve orange peel texture, but they reinforce your skin’s health delivering glowing, confidence-inducing results.

That said, navigating the vast world of skincare is tricky. Getting into actives and figuring out which products to use for peau d'orange and which to avoid? It’s overwhelming, to say the least.

We’ve got you covered! Here’s what you can do.

Don’t skimp on SPF

What’s the number one cardinal rule of skincare? Always wear sunscreen. 

Sunscreen does more than prevent skin cancer and premature aging. You see, the sun’s harsh UV rays permeate through your skin’s protective barrier, damaging your cell’s elastin production. And remember what we said about orange peel skin texture and skin elasticity? 

But not all sunscreens are made equally. Many popular, big-name SPF brands use harmful filler ingredients that ought to make you think twice before lathering them on. Common chemicals like oxybenzone and homosalate, aren’t just irritating to the skin — they’re not great for the environment either.

The better solution?

MD Glam’s Sunshout Sunscreen 50 SPF uses skin-boosting ingredients, like zinc oxide, antioxidants, coconut oil, and vitamins A and C to shield skin from UVA/UVB rays and other environmental irritants. These gentle but potent ingredients protect your skin while nourishing your complexion, repairing existing damage, and preventing collagen breakdown (an MVP for skin elasticity). 

…now that’s one powerful SPF.

Exfoliate at least once weekly

While peeling skin could be the unwanted consequence of a new product, it could also stem from a lack of exfoliation. 

But wait: how does exfoliation help remedy orange peel skin? 

Exfoliation is the process of buffing away and removing dead skin cells. This helps keep your complexion smooth and silky soft. Whether you naturally have large pores or they appear larger because of orange peel skin texture, exfoliating regularly keeps them from getting clogged (which further stretches them), giving the illusion of smaller pores.

There is no shortage of exfoliating products that do more harm to your complexion than good. From too-harsh, skin-tearing physical scrubs to hyper-strong chemical exfoliants that wreak havoc on your natural skin barrier, finding one that plays well with sensitive skin and soothes peau d'orange is no easy feat.

MD Glam to the rescue!

Our Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub uses natural exfoliating enzymes that gently remove dead skin cells and pore-clogging bacteria without aggravating the skin. Ingredients like aloe vera and glycolic acid soothe and revitalize your skin, delivering youthful radiance and a buttery smooth complexion. Use it once weekly and watch your skin (and feel-good vibes) transform. 

Use a hydrating, pore-clarifying cleanser

Clogged pores look bigger because they dilate and stretch as build-up gets trapped inside. These seemingly enlarged pores are what give your complexion that orange peel-like appearance. Cleansers rid your pores of build-up, balancing your skin’s texture and overall health. But which cleanser should you reach for?

It’s easy to assume that all facial cleansers have one universal purpose: to cleanse. But that’s only half-true. Good cleansers will remove makeup and grime but leave your skin’s natural oils intact. Poor formulations will strip your skin dry or leave you needing a second cleanse — who’s got time for that? Not us. 

Your best bet for improving orange peel skin texture is a hydrating, pore-purifying face wash, like MD Glam’s Deep Pore Foaming Cleanser. This holy grail cleanser does away with the need to “double-cleanse,” melting away makeup, impurities, and stress in one step. 

The best part? Its blend of pore-clarifying ingredients, minerals, and antioxidants boost skin health and leave your moisture barrier perfectly intact. Get ready to glow!

Harness the power of active ingredients 

Actives can be an intimidating topic for skincare beginners, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Yes — using the wrong ones or too many can hamper their efficacy, but you don’t have to be a dermatologist to get it right the first time. 

When it comes to orange peel skin, there are two active ingredients you want to incorporate into your routine: 

1. Hyaluronic acid (HA), and; 
2. Retinol

Hyaluronic acid is a skincare superhero. For starters, it holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, supercharging your moisture barrier. HA is proven to help skin regenerate collagen, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and reverse signs of aging. Its ability to smooth and plump skin makes orange peel texture a thing of the past. 

Retinol (or vitamin A) is both a remedy and a way to prevent orange peel texture. It stimulates skin cell turnover, giving you a smoother complexion and tighter pores. On its own, retinol can trigger irritation or dryness at first, but using it with HA helps cancel out any potential irritability — making retinol and hyaluronic acid one dynamic duo for orange peel skin.

Say au revoir to peau d'orange with MD Glam!

Smooth, glowy skin should be accessible to everyone. Which is why our founder, Dr. Cat, was inspired to create MD Glam. As a world-renowned plastic surgeon and scientist, she’s leveraged her expertise and knowledge to transform the skincare world. 

As a result, our line of science-backed, luxurious products are proven to deliver on their promises — giving your complexion precisely what it needs: gorgeous, glowing, effortlessly beautiful skin.

Isn’t it time to leave the citrus where it belongs? Away from your complexion and in your mimosas. 

With the right skincare, orange peel skin will become a thing of the past. Ready for the fierce, unstoppable you to finally break through to the surface? It’s your time to shine.

Explore MD Glam’s premium line of anti-aging skincare products today!