Keratosis Pilaris: What Is It and How To Deal With It

Keratosis Pilaris (KP) is a common skin condition that causes hard, dry bumps around hair follicles. These bumps are usually seen on the upper arms but can occur anywhere there are hair follicles. Keratosis Pilaris is also commonly called chicken skin. KP is caused by excess keratin, a protein that is an essential part of hair, nails, and the skin's outermost layer, the epidermis. When keratin clogs the pores instead of flaking off, it results in the formation of bumps.

KP is most common in babies, children, and teenagers, and often worsens around puberty. It affects around 50-80% of teenagers and 40% of adults at some point in their lives. If someone in your family has KP, you are more likely to have it too, which suggests certain genetic traits may cause it.

Most medical treatments for KP contain chemical exfoliants, such as lactic acid, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid. However, these treatments can be harsh on the skin and harmful to the environment. Here are some natural ways to treat KP:

- Remove products containing sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate from your hair and skincare routines, as these ingredients are common in foaming products. They can also be present in your laundry detergent, so check that too!

- Avoid synthetic fragrances especially in your hair and skincare products.

- Take warm showers instead of hot showers, as hot showers can dry out the skin more and exacerbate KP.

- Exfoliate KP areas once or twice a week using a gentle exfoliator, such as a salt or sugar scrub. Do not over-scrub, as vigorous scrubbing can worsen KP. Bonus points if your scrub has a moisturizing base such as grape seed oil.

- Use a natural cleanser, such as bar soaps and body washes that retain glycerin, a humectant that draws moisture to the skin and helps it stay hydrated.

- Use a moisturizer, such as lotion bars, that do not contain alcohol or other drying agents found in drugstore lotions. Apply the lotion bar to wet skin freshly out of the shower and rub in well to seal in the moisture.