Keratosis pilaris may have a link to vitamin A deficiency. Taking vitamin A supplements or using moisturizers or creams with small amounts of vitamin A may help treat keratosis pilaris.
Keratosis Pilaris Causes
It's usually worse in the winter months when there's less moisture in the air and then may clear up in the summer. It often affects people with certain skin conditions, including eczema (also called atopic dermatitis). Some evidence suggests it's linked to a vitamin A deficiency.
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. Keratosis pilaris is caused by the buildup of keratin — a hard protein that protects skin from harmful substances and infection.
Although diet is not a cause of keratosis pilaris, intake of foods contributing to inflammation, may lead to or worsen the symptoms, so it is advisable to avoid foods causing inflammation. Those with keratosis pilaris should avoid the consumption of dairy products, soy, peanuts, trans fats, sugar and processed foods.
It is thought to be caused by a genetic mutation in a protein called filaggrin, which causes the skin to produce too much keratin, the most abundant protein in our skin, hair, and nails. Excess keratin plugs the hair follicles on the skin, which is what causes the characteristic bumps seen in keratosis pilaris.
Keratosis pilaris.
Two gut health issues— vitamin A deficiency and malabsorption of nutrients—are two possible causes of this skin condition.
The ingredients urea, alpha hydroxy acids, salicylic acid and glycolic acid can sometimes improve the look of keratosis pilaris. Medicated vitamin A creams, such as Retin-A®, can help decrease the buildup of keratin that causes keratosis pilaris.
Keratosis pilaris
Because vitamin C plays an important role in your body's collagen production, you may begin to experience rough, bumpy skin if your vitamin levels are low. This skin condition, known as keratosis pilaris, may take some time to develop, but it's typically resolved with a vitamin C supplement.
Keratosis pilaris usually clears up on its own with time. In the meantime, you might use one of the many products available to help improve how the skin looks. If moisturizing and other self-care measures don't help, your health care provider may prescribe medicated creams.
If you're prone to keratosis pilaris, certain circumstances can make it worse. “The bumps often appear in cold weather, when skin is especially dry,” said Dr. McNamara. “Lack of hydration can exacerbate keratosis pilaris, and some people find that stress can also cause it to flare up.”
Doctors aren't sure what causes seborrheic keratosis, but there is very likely a genetic component—certain genetic mutations have been linked to the condition. Sun exposure and changes in estrogen levels have also been linked to seborrheic keratosis.
Freezing a growth with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) can be an effective way to remove a seborrheic keratosis. It doesn't always work on raised, thicker growths. This method carries the risk of permanent loss of pigment, especially on Black or brown skin.
Actinic keratoses can be removed by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. Your health care provider applies the substance to the affected skin, which causes blistering or peeling. As your skin heals, the damaged cells slough off, allowing new skin to appear. Cryotherapy is the most common treatment.
Role of vitamin D in seborrhoeic keratosis. The ligand-dependent actions of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) have been shown to promote keratinocyte differentiation and regulate formation of the epidermal barrier.
Skin lesions associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. Cutaneous lesions that do not respond to conventional therapy can be an indication of vitamin B12 deficiency. Malabsorption is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Causes of keratosis pilaris
Keratosis pilaris happens when your hair follicles become blocked with a build-up of keratin, a substance found in skin, hair and nails. Nobody knows exactly why keratin builds up, but the condition is thought to run in families. So if your parents have it, you may get it too.
Although there is no specific diet to treat keratosis pilaris, adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats, may be beneficial. An anti-inflammatory diet is closely aligned with a Mediterranean diet.
We strongly advise against using apple cider vinegar to treat actinic keratoses. While apple cider vinegar has been touted for various health benefits, there's no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in treating this precancerous condition.
Because you cannot cure keratosis pilaris, you'll need to follow a maintenance plan. This often involves treating your skin a few times a week. You'll also need to take some precautions to prevent flare-ups.
In 19 studies, the authors' concluding statement recommended the use of topical zinc oxide for use as a skin protectant and in wound healing, in addition to the treatment of actinic keratosis.
One reasonable regimen is 500 to 1000 mg orally once a day for 1 to 2 weeks, until signs disappear, followed by a nutritious diet supplying 1 to 2 times thedaily recommended intake. In scurvy, therapeutic doses of ascorbic acid restore the functions of vitamin C in a few days.
An acquired increase in the incidence of KP-like lesions is observed in obesity, diabetes, pregnancy, menopause, and malnutrition, particularly in association with vitamin A deficiency.
Abstract. Phrynoderma is a distinctive form of follicular hyperkeratosis associated with nutritional deficiency. Although originally thought to represent vitamin A deficiency, several studies have demonstrated multiple etiologies.
The causal factor in keratosis pilaris is the liver, which needs to be detoxified. Reduce your fat intake and try Ultimate Liver Cleanse by Nature's Secret, which contains milk thistle, dandelion and many other herbs, plus lecithin - a fat emulsifier that helps to get rid of the fats in the liver.