What is keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition that causes small, hard bumps on the skin. These bumps can resemble goosebumps, the skin of a plucked chicken, or small pimples. They are actually plugs of dead skin cells and appear most often on the upper arms and thighs (front). Children may have these bumps on their cheeks.

Although keratosis pilaris is harmless, treatment can help ease the symptoms and improve the appearance of the skin. If the itch, dryness, or the appearance of these bumps bothers you, you may consider treatment.

Treating dry skin often helps. Dry skin can make these bumps more noticeable. In fact, many people say the bumps clear during the summer only to return in the winter. If you decide not to treat these bumps and live in a dry climate or frequently swim in a pool, you may see these bumps year round.

Keratosis pilaris symptoms

Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition that causes tiny bumps to appear on the skin. These bumps can feel rough and dry like sandpaper, and resemble the skin of a plucked chicken or goosebumps. They can also become more noticeable in winter or a dry climate, and may itch. Keratosis pilaris can appear in different colors, including the same color as your skin, white, red, pinkish purple (on fair skin), and brownish black (on dark skin). Some people have a few flesh-colored bumps, while others have noticeable bumps that look like pimples or a rash.

These bumps can appear anywhere on your skin, except on your palms and soles. Bumps on the arms are common. Most people will see these bumps appear in the following areas:

• Children: Upper arms, thighs (front), and cheeks

• Teens and adults: Upper arms, thighs (front), and buttocks

In some cases, people develop so many bumps on their skin that the bumps extend to their lower legs and forearms.

Who gets keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition that can affect people of all ages and races. However, it usually begins early in life, with children and teenagers being most likely to have this skin condition. Fewer adults have it because keratosis pilaris can fade and gradually disappear.

The bumps may clear by the time a child reaches late childhood or adolescence. Hormones, however, may cause another flare-up around puberty. When keratosis pilaris develops in the teenage years, it often clears by one’s mid-20s.

Keratosis pilaris can also continue into one’s adult years. Women are a bit more likely to have keratosis pilaris.

What causes keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that is not contagious. It occurs when dead skin cells accumulate and block hair follicles, which are also known as pores. Since every hair on our body grows out of a hair follicle, we have thousands of them. When many hair follicles are clogged with dead skin cells, it can lead to the development of rough, dry patches on the skin, which is known as keratosis pilaris.

How do dermatologists treat keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is a harmless skin condition that does not require treatment. However, if the itch, dryness, or appearance of your skin bothers you, a dermatologist can create a treatment plan that addresses your concerns. A treatment plan may include:

• Relieving the itch and dryness: A creamy moisturizer containing one of the following ingredients can soothe the itch and dryness:

  • Urea

  • Lactic acid

• Diminishing the bumpy appearance: Dermatologists often recommend exfoliating (removing dead skin cells from the surface of your skin) to diminish the bumps and improve your skin’s texture. Your dermatologist may recommend that you gently remove dead skin with a loofah or at-home microdermabrasion kit. Alternatively, your dermatologist may prescribe a medicine that will remove dead skin cells. Medicine that can help often contains one of the following ingredients:

  • Alpha hydroxyl acid

  • Glycolic acid

  • Lactic acid

  • A retinoid (adapalene, retinol, tazarotene, tretinoin)

  • Salicylic acid

  • Urea

The medicine you use to exfoliate your skin may also contain a moisturizer, which can help with the itch and dryness.

• Treating the bumps: Some patients may need to apply a corticosteroid to the areas with keratosis pilaris. This medicine helps soften the bumps and reduce redness.

• Using lasers when moisturizer and medicine fail: A laser or light treatment may be used to treat keratosis pilaris. Your dermatologist may recommend one type of laser to reduce the swelling and redness. Another type of laser may improve your skin’s texture and reduce discoloration, including the brown spots that may appear when the bumps clear. To get the best results from the laser treatments, your dermatologist may add a few microdermabrasion sessions to your treatment plan.