A sebum plug can look like a tiny bump under the surface of the skin or it may stick out through the skin like a grain of sand. When a sebum plug forms, bacteria that normally lives harmlessly on the surface of your skin can start to grow within the follicle. Inflammation follows, causing a breakout.
Symptoms of keratosis pilaris
Keratosis pilaris may make your skin look like you have “goose bumps.” The bumps are often the color of your skin. They may also look white, red, pinkish-purple on fair skin, or brownish-black on dark skin. They can feel rough and dry like sandpaper. They may itch, but they don't hurt.
Sometimes this protein can clump together with dead skin cells and block or surround the hair follicle. While there's no one specific known cause, keratin plugs are thought to form due to irritation, genetics, and in association with underlying skin conditions, such as eczema.
What should I do? Keratosis pilaris (sometimes called "chicken skin") is a common skin condition. It happens when a protein called keratin plugs the hair follicles, causing white or reddish bumps on the skin.
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.
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.
Treatment for keratosis pilaris
Usually no treatment is necessary for keratosis pilaris. Treatment may include: Using petroleum jelly with water, cold cream, urea cream, or salicylic acid (removes the top layer of skin) to flatten the pimples.
Daily exfoliation can help improve the appearance of the skin. Dermatologists recommend gently removing dead skin with a loofah or pumice stone, which you can purchase online. Apply hydrating lotion. Lotions with alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs) like lactic acids can hydrate dry skin and encourage cell turnover.
“Chicken skin is fairly easy to treat with the correct knowledge,” says Eilidh. Rather than harsh scrubs, try lightly massaging your skin with a washcloth of gentle exfoliating mitt instead. Or try a chemical exfoliator like glycolic acid, lactic acid or salicylic acid.
Follicular hyperkeratosis: Also known as inverted follicular hyperkeratosis, this condition presents as a single bump, often on the face, of middle-aged or older adults. These growths are benign (noncancerous), but they often look like cancerous lesions.
A sebum plug can look like a tiny bump under the surface of the skin or it may stick out through the skin like a grain of sand. When a sebum plug forms, bacteria that normally lives harmlessly on the surface of your skin can start to grow within the follicle.
Plantar hyperkeratosis typically occurs when areas of the sole are put under too much pressure (for example, if ill-fitting shoes rub and pinch your feet). Excessive pressure triggers excessive keratin production, which results in the excessive thickening of the skin.
Morgellons disease (MD) is a rare condition that involves fibers appearing underneath the skin or emerging from slow-healing skin sores. People with MD often report feeling stinging, crawling, or burning sensations on their skin. These symptoms can be painful and long lasting, affecting quality of life.
Stress rashes often appear as raised red bumps called hives. They can affect any part of the body, but often a stress rash is on the face, neck, chest or arms. Hives may range from tiny dots to large welts and may form in clusters. They may be itchy or cause a burning or tingling sensation.
The scabies rash looks like blisters or pimples: pink, raised bumps with a clear top filled with fluid. Sometimes they appear in a row. Scabies can also cause gray lines on your skin along with red bumps. Your skin may have red and scaly patches.
Shaving or plucking underarm hair too often may cause dark underarms, so moisturizing can be helpful to reduce underarm irritation.
Clogged Pores and Dead Skin Cells Are Building Up
Exfoliating your armpits twice a week can help improve skin texture. It may sound icky, but it happens. Dead skin cells, dirt, sweat, and product can build up on your underarms, making the skin look bumpy and rough. All this debris can accumulate on your pits every day.
It is one of the simplest ways to use baking soda to whiten underarms. The combination will whiten the skin while making it soft and supple. How to use: Take 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda and enough rose water to make a smooth paste. Apply the paste on your underarms and massage for 5-6 minutes in circular motion.
"Turkey neck, sometimes called turkey gobble neck, is basically loose neck skin and muscles," says Dr. Larry Pollack, a board-certified plastic surgeon affiliated with Sharp Memorial Hospital. "It can be hereditary, but is most often due to aging, UV damage or weight loss."
There is no cure for keratosis pilaris. But the symptoms can be managed. KP can improve with age and without treatment. Treatment may improve the appearance of the bumps.
Since keratosis pilaris is caused by plugged hair follicles, exfoliating can help clear things up. Dry brushing, gentle scrubs and exfoliating body brushes like the Clarisonic, can all help smooth skin. You can also go the chemical route.
Severe cases of keratosis pilaris have been treated orally with isotretinoin pills for several months. Isotretinoin is generally a very potent oral medication reserved for severe, resistant, or scarring cases of acne.
Seborrheic keratoses are usually brown, black or light tan. The growths (lesions) look waxy or scaly and slightly raised. They appear gradually, usually on the face, neck, chest or back.
Keratosis pilaris (KP) may be associated with phrynoderma (vitamin A deficiency). Interestingly, a significant association has also been found between acquired ichthyosis and keratosis pilaris as common cutaneous manifestations in persons with type 1 diabetes.