Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and its outermost layer — known as the skin barrier — plays a critical role in protecting you from the outside world. This protective layer, also called the stratum corneum, acts as your skin’s first line of defense against environmental pollutants, UV radiation, bacteria, and irritants.

The skin barrier also helps retain moisture, keeping skin hydrated, comfortable, and resilient. When the skin barrier becomes damaged or weakened, moisture escapes more easily and irritants can penetrate the skin, which can lead to dryness, redness, irritation, and increased skin sensitivity.

Supporting and repairing the skin barrier is one of the most important steps for maintaining healthy, balanced skin, especially for people with sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a very common skin condition that causes small, rough bumps on the skin. These bumps usually appear on the upper arms, thighs, cheeks, or buttocks and are often described as looking like “chicken skin.”

Keratosis pilaris develops when keratin, a natural protein found in skin, hair, and nails, builds up around hair follicles. Instead of shedding normally, the keratin plugs the follicle opening and forms small bumps.