Avoid harsh, drying soaps. Gently remove dead skin with a washcloth or loofah. Vigorous scrubbing or removal of hair follicle plugs may irritate the skin and worsen the condition. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot the skin with a towel so that some moisture remains.
Dry skin tends to make keratosis pilaris worse.
Take short showers and baths: To prevent drying your skin, take a short (20 minutes or less) bath or shower and use warm rather than hot water. Also, limit bathing to once a day. Use a mild cleanser: Bar soap can dry your skin.
Keratosis Pilaris should never be scrubbed with either scrubbing gloves, peeling creams or abrasive mechanics - those treatments will only irritate your skin further and result in a worsening of your skin condition.
Avoid harsh, drying soaps. Gently remove dead skin with a washcloth or loofah. Vigorous scrubbing or removal of hair follicle plugs may irritate the skin and worsen the condition. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot the skin with a towel so that some moisture remains.
Keratosis pilaris is harmless, so it doesn't need to be treated. You and your child should not pick or squeeze the bumps. This can cause scarring. Your child may notice more bumps or redness after starting treatment.
While there is no cure, KP treatment often helps and includes moisturizing regularly, gently exfoliating, and using creams with ingredients such as urea or alpha-hydroxy acids. A person can speak with a dermatologist for prescription or laser treatments for more stubborn cases.
Water: Dry skin can make keratosis pilaris worse. Drinking enough water and other fluids can help keep your skin hydrated and minimize the appearance of keratosis pilaris.
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.
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.
Dermatologists may also suggest a two-step combination of a light source and topical photosensitizer for temporary treatment of keratosis. Light sources such as sunlight, red light, blue light devices activate a chemical in the photosensitizer that temporarily treats keratosis.
Pustules are a type of pimple that contains yellowish pus. They are larger than whiteheads and blackheads. Home remedies and over-the-counter creams may help treat pustules. Pustules appear either as red bumps with white centers or as white bumps that are hard and often tender to the touch.
The exact cause of keratosis pilaris is not known, but heredity often plays a role. Also, people with atopic dermatitis and seasonal allergies are more likely to have keratosis pilaris. However, keratosis pilaris does not seem to be a hypersensitivity or immune system disorder.
2 The CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser is a gentle exfoliating cleanser that is suitable for skin prone to keratosis pilaris on the face and body. Containing salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid , and 3 essential ceramides, the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser helps to maintain moisture and strengthen the skin's barrier.
Use mild soaps like Cetaphil® bar soap, Dove® soap, or Lever 2000 antibacterial soap. Usually keratosis pilaris clears up as the person gets older.
A: Exfoliating 2-3 times per week is generally recommended for treating keratosis pilaris. This frequency helps remove dead skin cells and keratin buildup without over-exfoliating, which can irritate the skin.
Keratosis pilaris tends to be worse in the dry winter months. It can also be worsened by clothing that is too tight or too thick and causes friction with the affected areas. Self-care tips to improve the appearance of keratosis pilaris include: Moisturize your skin daily with a non-fragranced, cream-based moisturizer.
Over the counter moisturizers that contain lanolin, vaseline (petroleum jelly), or glycerin would be ideal. These ingredients trap moisture and soften the skin. Use these moisturizers on the affected skin many times a day.
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.
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.
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.
What are the symptoms of keratosis pilaris? Some people find keratosis pilaris unattractive. The skin feels rough, dry and appears as though it has permanent goose bumps.
Natural Tip: Coconut oil. Coconut oil is naturally rich in lauric acid. Lauric acid helps in breaking up the access build of keratin. Keratin, as you know, is the major cause of KP as it clogs the hair follicles –leading to the formation of the rough and small bumps.