Frequently Asked Questions
What causes rough and bumpy skin on the body?
“Rough, bumpy skin on the body is often caused by an abnormal buildup of dead skin cells that don’t shed as efficiently as they should,” says Dr. Day. “On areas like the upper arms and thighs, those cells can collect around hair follicles and create the small, rough bumps we commonly see with keratosis pilaris.” Dryness can amplify the problem, too. “Body skin tends to have fewer oil glands than facial skin in many areas,” she says, so it may be more prone to dryness, which “can make that texture feel even more pronounced.”
What ingredients should you look for in a body lotion for rough and bumpy skin?
“For rough and bumpy skin, I look for ingredients that both moisturize and help loosen the buildup of dead skin cells,” says Dr. Day. For the latter, “alpha hydroxy acids like lactic acid and glycolic acid exfoliate the skin’s surface, while beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid help clear the keratin buildup around hair follicles,” she says. On the moisturizing side, look for humectants like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and urea, as well as barrier-supporting ingredients such as ceramides and cholesterol.
What’s the difference between keratosis pilaris and dry skin?
Where the texture shows up—and what it looks like—can help distinguish keratosis pilaris from plain dry skin. “Keratosis pilaris usually appears as small, uniform bumps around hair follicles, most commonly on the backs of the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, and sometimes the cheeks,” says Dr. Day. Dryness, on the other hand, “tends to be more diffuse, with broader areas of roughness, flaking, or scaling rather than bumps concentrated around individual follicles,” she says. And the two aren’t mutually exclusive: Dry skin can make KP feel rougher and more noticeable.
Meet the experts
- Rachel Day, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and chief medical officer of Zest Health based in Washington, DC
- Sumeet Thareja, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Indigo Dermatology based in Tampa, Florida
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best lotions for rough and bumpy skin, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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