Our quest for clear skin doesn’t stop at our faces. Bumps and breakouts can happen at almost every pore that’s present on our bodies, so we’re always on the lookout for the best solutions to banish them.
However, some of these spots may not look like your usual pimples. If you’ve noticed areas of little rough bumps that are skin-coloured or slightly red, you may be dealing with keratosis pilaris, or KP for short.
To find out exactly what it is as well as how to prevent and treat this pesky skin issue, keep reading.
In This Article
- What is keratosis pilaris?
- What causes keratosis pilaris & how to treat it
- Products to banish keratosis pilaris: Body washes & scrubs
- Products to banish keratosis pilaris: Lotions & leave-on treatments
What is keratosis pilaris?
CreditArmin Rimoldi/Pexels
Keratosis pilaris is a buildup of dead skin cells and keratin, a hair protein, in the pores. These clog up and block the opening of your hair follicles, which causes small bumps and rough patches on areas of your body, such as your arms, thighs, cheeks, and more. These tiny red or white bumps are very common and completely harmless.
It’s also often called “chicken skin”, which should give you a pretty good (though slightly unpleasant) idea of what it looks like. Keratosis pilaris is often confused with a bunch of other skin conditions, so make sure you know what sets it apart.
If you’ve experienced these bumps since your childhood or teenage years, they don’t constantly itch, and are pretty consistent year-round, then it definitely points to keratosis pilaris. Still unsure if you have it? You can have the bumps on your skin evaluated by a dermatologist.
Those who are certain that they have keratosis pilaris, know that picking and scratching at these bumps can often worsen its condition. You may be left with a slew of scars too, which makes treating them a whole lot tougher. It’s best to leave them alone and use a topical product.
What causes keratosis pilaris & how to treat it
The root cause is largely genetics, especially for those with fairer skin – although the bad news is that there’s no real cure. The good news? There are plenty of treatments that can help you manage keratosis pilaris. Plus, it can start to disappear for most people in their mid-30s, which is something to look forward to.
Experts and dermatologists agree that the best way to treat KP is to exfoliate and moisturise. If you prefer mechanical exfoliation, you can opt for a loofah or body scrub to buff away rough patches.
For a gentler approach, you can try chemical exfoliators, such as body washes or treatments that contain lactic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, or salicylic acid to unclog pores and break up dead skin cells.
However, it’s important to be mindful of over-exfoliating. You should always limit yourself to once or twice a week. Otherwise, you may cause inflammation, red patches, or even more breakouts.
In-office laser treatments can also significantly reduce the redness and/or bumpy texture on your body. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) laser treatments can target and constrict red vessels in the skin, while a laser hair removal helps with roughness.
Since it’s theorised that trapped hair coiled in the follicle can contribute to KP bumps, destroying the hair completely should solve the issue.
Related read: 25 best body lotions that those with dry skin have to check out
Products to banish keratosis pilaris: Body washes & scrubs
Neutrogena Body Clear Pink Grapefruit Body Wash budget-friendly!
An affordable, daily body wash to try is Neutrogena’s Body Clear Pink Grapefruit Body Wash. It’s one that’s well-known for its acne-fighting power. It’s a fan-favourite thanks to its 2% salicylic acid, which reaches deep within the pores to clear congestion.
Neutrogena Body Clear Pink Grapefruit Body Wash retails for S$12.99. Click on the links below for the most updated prices.
iHerb
Lazada
Shopee
Products to banish keratosis pilaris: Lotions & leave-on treatments
