Use gentle exfoliants to remove dead skin cells trapped along with keratin. You can try gentle acids like topicals or peels that have lactic, salicylic or glycolic acid. If exfoliation doesn't work, a dermatologist may suggest stronger prescription creams to help dissolve them.
The keratin protein is highly disulphide cross-linked and rich in hydrophobic amino acids, being therefore recalcitrant to dissolution in aqueous media at mild temperatures without chemical support.
such as papain, bromelain, and pancreatin are also used in exfoliating products. These ingredients are designed to dissolve keratin proteins on the surface of the skin to make is softer, smoother, and help maintain the hydration level of the epidermis.
Salicylic acid and vitamin C are both effective products on their own but, when combined, they can be even more beneficial. Whether you're looking to brighten your skin, reduce the likelihood of blemishes or just help slow down the skin's natural aging process, these ingredients may be just what you're looking for.
Nazarian recommends exfoliating with topical medications, such as glycolic acid, retinoids, and salicylic acid, to break down the plugs and dissolve them. Eventually, your pores will refill, so like a game of Whac-a-Mole, those sebaceous filaments will pop right back up, requiring you to be consistent in your routine.
Usually you can spot a blackhead easy enough, sebum plugs are a little trickier but if you grab a magnifying glass you can see them no problem. You will notice that although they may look like little black dots from a distance, they are actually more of a white or yellow color.
Keratosis pilaris develops when keratin forms a scaly plug that blocks the opening of the hair follicle. Usually plugs form in many hair follicles, causing patches of rough, bumpy skin.
Support the hydration of your hair with a warm coconut oil hair mask. I recommend sitting under a hair steamer for 15 minutes to allow the coconut oil to infuse into your hair. Since coconut oil is slightly alkaline, it helps open the cuticles to loosen the keratin layers so that they can melt away.
Salicylic acid to break up the keratin, causing the thick skin to soften and be shed, thus reducing the thickness of the skin. Urea-based agents to increase the content of water in the skin and soften the area. This can help to break up the keratin, although to a lesser extent than salicylic acid.
Common Causes
It's hypothesized that keratin may create a plug within the pilosebaceous unit, or what is commonly called the pore or hair follicle. This plug of keratin leads to irritation of the follicle. The follicle then becomes inflamed and leads to the development of a painful lump called a nodule.
A sebum plug occurs when excess sebum forms in a follicle and becomes hardened, causing forms of acne and breakouts. To clear out this follicle there are a few options, including gently exfoliating the skin and developing a consistent skincare routine.
“Hyaluronic acid plays well with most ingredients, while caution must be taken when using retinol in combination with alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids, benzoyl peroxide, and some types of vitamin C.” Linkner echoes the tip about avoiding vitamin C.
Hyaluronic acid is a skin hydrator, not an exfoliant like salicylic acid. You can definitely use both. In fact, applying hyaluronic acid with your salicylic acid is a very good idea. Salicylic acid can be a little drying to the skin because it's job is to absord excess oil.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Together? Not all powerful skincare ingredients can be mixed, but hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are two that become even stronger when paired with one another. These ingredients can provide both immediate and lasting results when used together in anti-aging formulations.
Try medicated creams.
Apply an over-the-counter cream that contains urea, lactic acid, alpha hydroxy acid or salicylic acid. These creams help loosen and remove dead skin cells. They also moisturize and soften dry skin.
For keratosis pilaris on the face, several of the dermatologists we spoke to highly recommended adding a retinoid to your routine. Retinoids speed cell turnover and exfoliate the top layer of your skin.
She may recommend an oral antifungal, such as terbinafine or itraconazole, too. If your nails are crusted with keratin debris, she scrapes it away with specialized tools. If your infection is severe, she may recommend toenail surgery to temporarily remove the infected nail and treat the nail bed topically.
The body may produce extra keratin as a result of inflammation, as a protective response to pressure, or as a result of a genetic condition. Most forms of hyperkeratosis are treatable with preventive measures and medication.
Hair that feels brittle or sheds more than is normal for you can also be signs that your tresses have been exposed to too much keratin. Hair that has been damaged from dye, bleach, heat styling, and other chemicals is prone to frizz, breakage, and split ends, which can make it hard to spot the difference.
Chlorine is especially damaging to the hair and will disintegrate the keratin layer quickly. Additionally, salt water isn't the best for the treatment and will shorten the time you have with your frizz-free locks. You don't want all that money at the salon to go to waste!
Because clarifying shampoos work at high pH to open the cuticles and deep cleanse. When your hair cuticles are open, alkaline water dissolves the keratin and allows them to escape from the shafts, therefore fading your keratin treatment fast.