Peptides for Body Skin: Crepey Arms, Stretch Marks, Rough Skin and What Actually Works

Do peptide body lotions work? An evidence-based look at crepey skin, stretch marks, keratosis pilaris, dry skin, cellulite and collagen supplements, plus what to put in your body-care routine.

By the Glow Cosmetics Editorial Team. Updated .

Quick answer

For body skin, the best-proven ingredients aren't peptides. Humectants like urea, lactate and glycerin reliably reduce dryness and roughness, and 0.4% retinol significantly improved fine wrinkling on aged arm skin in a 24-week vehicle-controlled trial. Peptides are gentle extras in body lotions, but we found no published peptide trials for stretch marks or crepey skin. No cream has been shown to prevent pregnancy stretch marks (cocoa butter and olive oil failed in controlled trials), and independent studies of collagen supplements found no benefit.

  • Urea, lactate and glycerin moisturizers have controlled-trial evidence for dry, rough body skin.
  • Retinol 0.4% improved fine wrinkling on aged arm skin vs vehicle (24 weeks), the strongest body "anti-aging" evidence.
  • A Cochrane review found no high-quality evidence that any topical prevents pregnancy stretch marks; tretinoin helps early red stretch marks but isn't for use in pregnancy.
  • Topical cellulite creams show small effects with a large placebo response.
  • Independent, high-quality trials of oral collagen found no significant skin benefit.

Body skin gets less attention than the face, but it's where many people notice crepey texture, stretch marks, rough bumps and dryness. Here's what the research says about each, and where peptide body lotions fit.

Dry, rough body skin: the best-supported fixes

Dry skin is very common on the body, especially the legs. In a study of nursing-home residents, leg skin was drier than arm and trunk skin, and structured moisturizing routines significantly reduced dryness compared with usual care (Hahnel et al., 2017). A systematic review found moisturizers with humectants reduce dryness and itch in older skin (Lichterfeld-Kottner et al., 2020).

The standout ingredients:

  • Urea: part of skin's natural moisturizing factor. It hydrates, gently loosens rough buildup and supports the barrier, with mostly mild side effects (Piquero-Casals et al., 2021). A 10% urea lotion improved dry lower-leg skin in older adults over 4 weeks (Lee Seifert et al., 2026).
  • Lactate (lactic acid): in a double-blind trial of 60 people, a 12% lactate lotion kept dry legs improved longer after stopping than a plain emollient (Dahl & Dahl, 1983).
  • Glycerin + niacinamide: body lotions combining them improved dryness and hydration versus other moisturizers in two randomized studies (Christman et al., 2012).

That's why our Peptide + Urea Body Lotion is built on urea, niacinamide and panthenol, with peptides as a gentle extra rather than the main event.

Keratosis pilaris ("chicken skin")

Keratosis pilaris causes small, rough bumps, usually on the upper arms and thighs, from keratin plugging the hair follicles. A 2022 review found lactic acid and salicylic acid among the most effective topical options, but noted that high-quality long-term trials are lacking (Suástegui-Rodríguez et al., 2022). In an open study of 30 people, a 20% urea cream improved smoothness within 4 weeks (McCormick et al., 2024).

What to expect: smoother skin while you use the product. Keratosis pilaris tends to return if you stop, and creams don't "cure" it.

Crepey skin on arms and legs

"Crepey" skin (thin, finely wrinkled skin that looks like crepe paper) comes mostly from sun damage and age-related loss of collagen and elastin.

Retinol: the strongest evidence

In a 24-week, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial, 36 older adults applied 0.4% retinol to one arm and a plain lotion to the other. Fine wrinkling improved significantly on the retinol side (−1.64 vs −0.08 on the vehicle side), and biopsies showed increased glycosaminoglycans and procollagen (Kafi et al., 2007).

Firming body lotions

  • A brand-sponsored, placebo-controlled split-arm study of 40 women found a firming body moisturizer outperformed a placebo moisturizer on crepiness and laxity over 12 weeks (Kavali et al., 2021). A vehicle-controlled trial of 54 women reported similar results on upper-arm firmness (Makino et al., 2023). Neither abstract reported effect sizes.
  • A vitamin A moisturizer improved crepey texture on the décolletage, arms and legs versus no treatment, with legs responding best (Rawlings et al., 2013).

Topical collagen and peptides

  • In a 6-month, double-blind trial of 56 older women with fragile forearm skin, neither topical collagen serum nor oral collagen improved anything compared with placebo (Guadanhim et al., 2023).
  • We found no published trials of peptide body lotions for crepey skin. Peptides are a gentle, well-tolerated addition, but hydration and retinol are what the evidence supports.

Stretch marks

Stretch marks (striae) affect 50–90% of pregnant women and many people during growth spurts or weight changes (Brennan et al., 2012).

Prevention: no cream is proven

  • A Cochrane review of 6 trials (800 women) found "no high-quality evidence to support the use of any of the topical preparations" for preventing stretch marks in pregnancy (Brennan et al., 2012).
  • Cocoa butter didn't work in two placebo-controlled trials: 45% vs 49% developed stretch marks (Osman et al., 2008), and 44% vs 55%, not significant (Buchanan et al., 2010).
  • Olive oil didn't either: 72% with olive oil vs 60% with no treatment (Soltanipour et al., 2014).
  • Older, small trials of centella-based and hyaluronic-acid-based creams reported prevention benefits, but a systematic review concluded no topical has been shown to be most effective, and couldn't separate product effects from massage (Ud-Din et al., 2016).

Treatment: early red marks respond best

  • Tretinoin 0.1% improved early (red) stretch marks in 80% vs 8% with vehicle over 6 months in a small trial (Kang et al., 1996). Tretinoin is prescription-only and should not be used during pregnancy.
  • Older, white stretch marks respond poorly to creams. In-office treatments (lasers, microneedling) are the main options.
  • Peptide stretch-mark creams: we found no peer-reviewed trials, and one widely advertised "clinically proven" stretch-mark ingredient had no published data, according to a systematic review (Ud-Din et al., 2016).

What moisturizing does do: it relieves the itch and dryness of stretching skin, which is reason enough to keep skin well moisturized during pregnancy (check with your doctor about specific products).

Cellulite

Cellulite is a structural feature of fat and connective tissue, not a skin-surface problem. A systematic review of 24 randomized trials found the most promising treatments were shock-wave therapy, radiofrequency and collagenase injections; topical creams weren't among them (Lim et al., 2025).

  • In a 12-week placebo-controlled trial, a 2% caffeine cream reduced cellulite scores more than placebo (3.96 → 2.50 vs 3.88 → 2.83), but thigh circumference fell equally in both groups, showing a large massage and placebo effect (Ponto et al., 2026).
  • Retinol improved skin elasticity over cellulite, but the lumpy appearance "showed either little response or was not responsive" (Piérard-Franchimont et al., 2000).

Creams can make skin over cellulite feel smoother; they don't remove cellulite or "burn fat".

What about collagen supplements?

Collagen peptide supplements are hugely popular for skin. The research is genuinely split:

  • A 2021 meta-analysis of 19 trials favored collagen for hydration, elasticity and wrinkles (de Miranda et al., 2021), and an 8-week placebo-controlled trial found improved elasticity (Proksch et al., 2014).
  • But a 2025 meta-analysis of 23 trials found that when you look only at trials without industry funding, or only high-quality trials, there was no significant benefit, concluding there's "no clinical evidence to support the use of collagen supplements to prevent or treat skin aging" (Myung & Park, 2025).

Glow Cosmetics makes topical products, not supplements. If you're considering one, talk to your doctor.

A simple body-care routine

Daily, after showering

  1. Pat skin until just damp.
  2. Apply a humectant body lotion: the Peptide + Urea Body Lotion for rough or bumpy areas, the Rich Avocado Body Cream for very dry skin, or the Vitamin C + Niacinamide Body Lotion for dull-looking skin.
  3. Sunscreen on arms, chest and legs when they'll be in the sun. Sun is the main cause of crepey skin.

2–3 nights a week (optional)

  • A retinol product on crepey areas like the upper arms or chest. Start slowly, follow the product's directions for where to use it, and avoid retinoids during pregnancy.

Habits

  • Short, lukewarm showers; harsh soaps and hot water dry skin out.
  • Gentle exfoliation for keratosis pilaris (lactic acid or urea products rather than rough scrubs).

Frequently asked questions

Do peptide body lotions work?

Peptide body lotions can be pleasant, gentle moisturizers, but most of their benefit comes from humectants and emollients like urea, glycerin and shea butter, which have strong evidence for dry skin. We found no published trials of peptides specifically for crepey skin or stretch marks.

What is the best ingredient for crepey skin on arms?

Retinol has the strongest evidence: in a 24-week vehicle-controlled trial, 0.4% retinol significantly improved fine wrinkling on aged arm skin. Daily moisturizing and sun protection help too.

Can peptides get rid of stretch marks?

There are no published trials of peptide creams for stretch marks. Prescription tretinoin can improve early red stretch marks (not during pregnancy), and in-office treatments are the main options for older white marks.

Does cocoa butter prevent stretch marks?

No. Two placebo-controlled trials found cocoa butter didn't significantly reduce stretch marks in pregnancy, and a Cochrane review found no high-quality evidence for any preventive cream.

What helps keratosis pilaris?

Regular moisturizing with urea or lactic acid products, and gentle exfoliation, can make the bumps smoother. Results last only while you keep using them.

Do collagen supplements improve skin?

The evidence is mixed. Industry-funded studies tend to show benefits, but independent and high-quality trials found no significant effect on hydration, elasticity or wrinkles.

Sources

  1. Hahnel E, et al. The effectiveness of standardized skin care regimens on skin dryness in nursing home residents: A randomized controlled parallel-group pragmatic trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2017;70:1-10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28214613/
  2. Lichterfeld-Kottner A, et al. Maintaining skin integrity in the aged: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2020;103:103509. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31945604/
  3. Piquero-Casals J, et al. Urea in Dermatology: A Review of its Emollient, Moisturizing, Keratolytic, Skin Barrier Enhancing and Antimicrobial Properties. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2021;11(6):1905-1915. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34596890/
  4. Lee Seifert C, et al. 10% Urea-Based Moisturizing Lotion on Xerosis in Aging Skin. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2026;39(1):8-14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41231732/
  5. Dahl MV, Dahl AC. 12% lactate lotion for the treatment of xerosis: a double-blind clinical evaluation. Arch Dermatol. 1983;119(1):27-30. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6336928/
  6. Christman JC, et al. Two randomized, controlled, comparative studies of the stratum corneum integrity benefits of two cosmetic niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers vs. conventional body moisturizers. J Drugs Dermatol. 2012;11(1):22-29. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22206073/
  7. Suástegui-Rodríguez I, et al. Keratosis Pilaris Treatment: Evidence from Intervention Studies. Skinmed. 2022;20(4):258-271. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35976015/
  8. McCormick E, et al. Moisturizing Cream with 20% Urea for Keratosis Pilaris. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(1):1274-1277. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38206153/
  9. Kafi R, et al. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol). Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(5):606-612. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17515510/
  10. Kavali CM, et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Split-Body, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of a Topical Body Firming Moisturizer for Upper Arm Rejuvenation. Aesthet Surg J. 2021;41(6):NP472-NP483. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32462206/
  11. Makino ET, et al. Restoration of Aging Body Skin with a Firming and Toning Body Lotion. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(9):887-897. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37683065/
  12. Rawlings AV, et al. Effect of a vitamin A palmitate and antioxidant oil-based moisturizer on photodamaged skin of several body sites. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2013;12(1):25-35. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23438139/
  13. Guadanhim LRS, et al. Topical or Oral Hydrolyzed Collagen in Women with Dermatoporosis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Factorial Design Study. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2023;13(2):523-534. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36547800/
  14. Brennan M, Young G, Devane D. Topical preparations for preventing stretch marks in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(11):CD000066. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23152199/
  15. Osman H, et al. Cocoa butter lotion for prevention of striae gravidarum: a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. BJOG. 2008;115(9):1138-1142. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18715434/
  16. Buchanan K, Fletcher HM, Reid M. Prevention of striae gravidarum with cocoa butter cream. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2010;108(1):65-68. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19793585/
  17. Soltanipour F, et al. The effect of olive oil and the Saj® cream in prevention of striae gravidarum: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2014;22(2):220-225. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24731892/
  18. Ud-Din S, McGeorge D, Bayat A. Topical management of striae distensae (stretch marks): prevention and therapy of striae rubrae and albae. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2016;30(2):211-222. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26486318/
  19. Kang S, et al. Topical tretinoin (retinoic acid) improves early stretch marks. Arch Dermatol. 1996;132(5):519-526. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8624148/
  20. Lim SK, et al. Comparative Analysis of Cellulite Treatment Modalities: A Systematic Review. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2025;49(7):2051-2075. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39547984/
  21. Ponto T, et al. Caffeine Nano-Cream for Cellulite Reduction: A Randomised Double-Blind Trial. Pharmaceutics. 2026;18(2):151. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41754894/
  22. Piérard-Franchimont C, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of topical retinol in the treatment of cellulite. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2000;1(6):369-374. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11702613/
  23. de Miranda RB, Weimer P, Rossi RC. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2021;60(12):1449-1461. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33742704/
  24. Proksch E, et al. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(1):47-55. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23949208/
  25. Myung SK, Park Y. Effects of Collagen Supplements on Skin Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Med. 2025;138(9):1264-1277. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40324552/