How to Manage Your Keratosis Pilaris This Season
For as long as I can remember, skin-care commercials composed of women with impossibly smooth, virtually glowing skin seemed like a myth to me. As a twenty-year sufferer of keratosis pilaris, I have grown used to the red goosebumps that cover my arms and legs as well as the common question, “oh my gosh, what is all over your arms?” Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition, one that impacts 40% of adults, that manifests as little, hard bumps on the upper arms, legs, buttocks, and sometimes face. It occurs due to a blockage of hair follicles.
Rachel Nazarian, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology in New York, explains the process, “the skin just creates a buildup of a protein called keratin – the same building block for hair, skin and nails – and the keratin creates a plug that blocks the hair follicle, which leads to the little bumps. The plug can also trigger inflammation in the skin, which is what causes the redness around each hair follicle.” KP tends to go away on its own as adults age into their 20s and 30s, however, every person is different. Luckily, with consistency and the right products, you can greatly reduce the appearance of your keratosis pilaris (because who wants to have obvious chicken skin while relaxing on the beach this summer?)
Simple routine to manage your body KP:
· A thick, super moisturizing body cream EVERY single night
· A lactic acid-based lotion every OTHER night
· An acid-based body scrub ONCE a week in the shower
It is important to note that simply loading up your arms with acid and trying to exfoliate the bumps away, will only cause your KP to come back stronger and more irritated. I have found that light exfoliation paired with heavy moisturization leads to the best management of my KP. With thousands of products currently on the market, claiming to cure KP, it can be a little overwhelming choosing which creams and exfoliants to purchase without breaking the bank. After reading every thread on Redditt, trying an endless supply of expensive cremes and at-home remedies, luckily for you, I have spent (way too much) time, money, and energy narrowing down the best products to help treat keratosis pilaris. Remember, everyone’s body is different, so don’t be afraid to try out different combinations to find what works best for your skin!
Best Moisturizers for Keratosis Pilaris
AmLactin Daily Lotion ($12.97)
You can’t mention keratosis pilaris without talking about this staple. AmLactin’s everyday moisturizer is filled with 12% lactic acid which helps dissolve keratin plugs through gentle exfoliation while also moisturizing your skin. This lotion works wonders, but only if you lather up consistently. This moisturizer is kind of sticky, so I like to apply it nightly after I shower.
Image Courtesy: Amazon
Gold Bond’s rough & bumpy skin daily therapy cream is another staple moisturizer. The cream is formulated with a triple exfoliating blend of AHA, BHA, and PHA as well as 8 intensive moisturizers that help to exfoliate and condition keratosis pilaris. Again, daily use is crucial in order to soften and reduce the appearance of bumps.
Advanced Clinicals Retinol Cream ($21.92)
Advanced Clinical’s retinol cream is a stronger option that I do not recommend everyday use for sensitive skin. Retinoids speed up cell turnover and help your skin shed faster, making it difficult for keratin plugs to form. Although retinol is not typically used for keratosis pilaris, this cream helps reduce the redness that occurs due to inflammation. It is able to replenish the moisture in your skin with the help of aloe vera and chamomile. An extra bonus to this cream is it is paraben-free and has not been tested on animals.
Best Exfoliants for Keratosis Pilaris
First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub with 10% AHA ($28)
Image Courtesy: Cherie
Whenever using exfoliants with KP remember that exfoliating with harsh scrubs or loofahs can actually cause more inflammation and worsen your keratosis pilaris. Once a week, gently rub an alpha hydroxy acid-based body scrub over wet skin in the shower. Let it sit for about 60 seconds before rinsing off. I personally love First Aid’s KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub because of the transparent, clean ingredients.
DermaDoctor KP Duty Body Scrub ($50)
DermaDoctor’s body scrub is a dual-action exfoliator that works both physically and chemically to leave your skin feeling smooth and silky (yes, even us suffering from chronic KP). This scrub is composed of a mix of glycolic, lactic, and azelaic acids and calming botanicals which helps buff away dry patches. However, if you have ultra-sensitive skin, I recommend using Bump Eraser instead.
Image Courtesy: Cosmopolitan
Anyone suffering from keratosis pilaris should be head over heels for keratolytic. KP is made of built-up keratin and keratolytic agents work to dissolve the bonds in keratin plugs. This helps them shed faster and reduces the appearance of bumps. DermaHarmony’s acid bar soap is made with 10% sulfur and 3% salicylic acid (both keratolytic agents with redness-reducing properties), making it a KP knockout. Gently rub the soap over your wet skin, wait five seconds, then rinse off as this bar is very strong and can be drying.
Although managing keratosis pilaris can be quite tedious and frustrating, your soon-to-be glowing skin will thank you. Remember to moisturize frequently, exfoliate occasionally, commit to the process and maybe one day you’ll be showing off your smooth skin on a Jergen’s commercial.
Strike Out,
Writer: Ellie Rill
Editor: Alyson Brinkley
Graphics: Isabel Ionata
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