Strawberry skin arms, chicken skin… No matter what you call it, Keratosis Pilaris can be an annoying skin condition to experience.
Keratosis Pilaris— KP for short— looks like dry, rough, and bumpy skin. KP is usually painless but can make your skin look very textured and dry, leading many who deal with it to seek ways to improve its appearance.
The bad news: Keratosis Pilaris isn’t curable or 100% preventable. The good news: it’s harmless and is mostly a cosmetic concern. But if the texture is making you self-conscious, there are ways to treat KP to reduce the look and bumpy feel. I, myself, have lived with it since childhood, but have had success in managing symptoms once I learned more about the condition.
What is Keratosis Pilaris?
Keratosis Pilaris is a skin condition caused by the body producing excess keratin, a hard protein that acts
as a building block for your hair and nails, as well as the skin’s outermost layer. As excess keratin builds up, it blocks the hair follicles resulting in patches of small bumps called keratin plugs. These bumps usually feel dry and sandpaper-y.
It’s important to know that KP is an extremely common condition. According to Cleveland Clinic, it affects nearly 50-80% of teenagers and 40% of adults. While most people who experience KP in their childhoods will see the condition disappear on its own as they get older, it can affect people of all ages.
The frustrating reality is that experts don’t know exactly what causes Keratosis Pilaris in certain people, though it is considered a hereditary condition. The American Academy of Dermatology Association links the likelihood to develop KP to people who also have asthma, eczema, dry skin, or carry excess weight.
Additionally, there is no way to completely get rid of Keratosis Pilaris.
How to Tell if You Have Keratosis Pilaris
Keratosis Pilaris bumps can appear anywhere hair follicles exist on the skin and won’t appear in places there aren’t, like the palms or soles of feet. It most commonly lives on the upper arms, thighs, chest, back, and butt. The keratin plugs can look like permanent goosebumps, or even small pimples, and may appear red, white, brown, or flesh-colored depending on your skin tone. Your skin might look or feel dry in these areas as well, and while painless, the dryness can cause itchiness.
You can have a dermatologist or medical provider diagnose your Keratosis Pilaris (and rule out other skin conditions that may benefit from a different approach), but there’s no formal test for it. Generally, KP does not need medical intervention since it does not pose any health risks.
It is generally noted that for people who develop KP in their childhood, it often clears up on its own around age 30. While my own KP symptoms were more prominent as a child and in my early twenties, I do still have very mild symptoms in my early thirties. As the years go on and with skin care maintenance, I have been able to significantly reduce the appearance of the symptoms.
Despite not being able to prevent KP, there are steps you can take to manage symptoms and improve the appearance of the skin.
How to Treat Keratosis Pilaris
The two main methods of treating Keratosis Pilaris are moisturizing and exfoliating.
Since dry skin can make KP worse, and keeping skin moisturized addresses both the look and feel of the bumps. Exfoliating will help remove dead skin buildup and smooth out the rough texture. With that said, treating Keratosis Pilaris will yield temporary results— these methods must be done consistently to maintain smoother and more even skin.
If that sounds daunting, don’t worry— do double duty with a low maintenance product like the Haruharu wonder Black Bamboo Daily Smoothing Body Oil. This is a lightweight milky oil that exfoliates and moisturizes, leaving your skin soft with no stickiness or residue.
Unlike other body oils, this formula is thin and sinks in instantly. It deeply hydrates with sweet almond oil, squalane from sugarcanes, tamanu oil and argan oil, plus an antioxidant boost from bamboo water, leaves, and shoots. The Mayo Clinic suggests the use of AHAs (or, Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and urea to improve the look of KP, and this body oil utilizes both. AHAs exfoliate, while urea helps break down keratin in the outer layer of skin and retain moisture. Plus, this product has been clinically tested to be safe for sensitive skin.
This is an easy step to work into your routine for treating Keratosis Pilaris— just massage it evenly onto dry or damp skin. I usually apply it when I get out of the shower and after a couple weeks, my upper arms appear and feel smoother. If you want to also use heavier products like lotion or body butters, be sure to apply the Smoothing Body Oil as your first step. Your skin will instantly feel softer, and over time it can help reduce the appearance of KP.
Lifestyle Changes to Help Manage Keratosis Pilaris
There are also simple changes you can make to your lifestyle to help reduce the effect of Keratosis Pilaris bumps.
- Shower in warm— not hot— water. Hot water can dry out your skin, exacerbating symptoms. Limiting your time in the shower or bath can also help prevent dryness.
- Use a washcloth in the shower to gently exfoliate. This will give you a jump start in removing dead skin cell build up, and also help your moisturizers penetrate more effectively.
- Avoid harsh soaps. Soaps or cleansers with sulfates can strip your skin of its natural oils, causing dryness and irritation.
- Use humidifiers. Dry weather and climates can worsen KP.
- Avoid tight clothing on affected areas. The friction from tight clothing can irritate Keratosis Pilaris bumps, making them more prominent.
- Don’t pick at KP bumps. Just like any other blemish on the skin, it’s a bad idea to squeeze or pick Keratosis Pilaris bumps. This can lead to scarring and worst case, infection.
Final Takeaway
While Keratosis Pilaris is a benign skin condition, it’s understandable to want to minimize the texture and bumps it causes. Moisturizing and exfoliating will help you achieve smoother and more even skin, but consistency is key to maintaining results. Over time, you can usually count on KP disappearing.
The Good News & Bad News about Keratosis Pilaris (And How to Treat It)
Strawberry skin arms, chicken skin… No matter what you call it, Keratosis Pilaris can be an annoying skin condition to experience.
Keratosis Pilaris— KP for short— looks like dry, rough, and bumpy skin. KP is usually painless but can make your skin look very textured and dry, leading many who deal with it to seek ways to improve its appearance.
The bad news: Keratosis Pilaris isn’t curable or 100% preventable. The good news: it’s harmless and is mostly a cosmetic concern. But if the texture is making you self-conscious, there are ways to treat KP to reduce the look and bumpy feel. I, myself, have lived with it since childhood, but have had success in managing symptoms once I learned more about the condition.
What is Keratosis Pilaris?
Keratosis Pilaris is a skin condition caused by the body producing excess keratin, a hard protein that acts
as a building block for your hair and nails, as well as the skin’s outermost layer. As excess keratin builds up, it blocks the hair follicles resulting in patches of small bumps called keratin plugs. These bumps usually feel dry and sandpaper-y.
It’s important to know that KP is an extremely common condition. According to Cleveland Clinic, it affects nearly 50-80% of teenagers and 40% of adults. While most people who experience KP in their childhoods will see the condition disappear on its own as they get older, it can affect people of all ages.
The frustrating reality is that experts don’t know exactly what causes Keratosis Pilaris in certain people, though it is considered a hereditary condition. The American Academy of Dermatology Association links the likelihood to develop KP to people who also have asthma, eczema, dry skin, or carry excess weight.
Additionally, there is no way to completely get rid of Keratosis Pilaris.
How to Tell if You Have Keratosis Pilaris
Keratosis Pilaris bumps can appear anywhere hair follicles exist on the skin and won’t appear in places there aren’t, like the palms or soles of feet. It most commonly lives on the upper arms, thighs, chest, back, and butt. The keratin plugs can look like permanent goosebumps, or even small pimples, and may appear red, white, brown, or flesh-colored depending on your skin tone. Your skin might look or feel dry in these areas as well, and while painless, the dryness can cause itchiness.
You can have a dermatologist or medical provider diagnose your Keratosis Pilaris (and rule out other skin conditions that may benefit from a different approach), but there’s no formal test for it. Generally, KP does not need medical intervention since it does not pose any health risks.
It is generally noted that for people who develop KP in their childhood, it often clears up on its own around age 30. While my own KP symptoms were more prominent as a child and in my early twenties, I do still have very mild symptoms in my early thirties. As the years go on and with skin care maintenance, I have been able to significantly reduce the appearance of the symptoms.
Despite not being able to prevent KP, there are steps you can take to manage symptoms and improve the appearance of the skin.
How to Treat Keratosis Pilaris
The two main methods of treating Keratosis Pilaris are moisturizing and exfoliating.
Since dry skin can make KP worse, and keeping skin moisturized addresses both the look and feel of the bumps. Exfoliating will help remove dead skin buildup and smooth out the rough texture. With that said, treating Keratosis Pilaris will yield temporary results— these methods must be done consistently to maintain smoother and more even skin.
If that sounds daunting, don’t worry— do double duty with a low maintenance product like the Haruharu wonder Black Bamboo Daily Smoothing Body Oil. This is a lightweight milky oil that exfoliates and moisturizes, leaving your skin soft with no stickiness or residue.
Unlike other body oils, this formula is thin and sinks in instantly. It deeply hydrates with sweet almond oil, squalane from sugarcanes, tamanu oil and argan oil, plus an antioxidant boost from bamboo water, leaves, and shoots. The Mayo Clinic suggests the use of AHAs (or, Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and urea to improve the look of KP, and this body oil utilizes both. AHAs exfoliate, while urea helps break down keratin in the outer layer of skin and retain moisture. Plus, this product has been clinically tested to be safe for sensitive skin.
This is an easy step to work into your routine for treating Keratosis Pilaris— just massage it evenly onto dry or damp skin. I usually apply it when I get out of the shower and after a couple weeks, my upper arms appear and feel smoother. If you want to also use heavier products like lotion or body butters, be sure to apply the Smoothing Body Oil as your first step. Your skin will instantly feel softer, and over time it can help reduce the appearance of KP.
Lifestyle Changes to Help Manage Keratosis Pilaris
There are also simple changes you can make to your lifestyle to help reduce the effect of Keratosis Pilaris bumps.
Final Takeaway
While Keratosis Pilaris is a benign skin condition, it’s understandable to want to minimize the texture and bumps it causes. Moisturizing and exfoliating will help you achieve smoother and more even skin, but consistency is key to maintaining results. Over time, you can usually count on KP disappearing.