There could be a genetic factor, meaning your genes could affect your chances of developing this condition. If you have a skin condition like eczema, you're more likely to get keratosis pilaris. Eczema is a common chronic skin condition that causes your skin to have discolored, itchy patches that come and go over time.
Keratosis Pilaris is caused by dead skin cells blocking your hair follicles ( pores) in your skin. It's not contagious and not caused by bacteria. Typically tend to appear during the winter months, when the air is dry and may improve during the warmer summer months when the humidity is higher.
Seborrheic keratoses usually grow slowly and may develop their texture gradually over time. If many seborrheic keratoses erupt suddenly together, it might raise some concern. This unusual occurrence has sometimes been considered a sign of internal cancer.
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.
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.
UV rays from the sun and from tanning beds cause almost all actinic keratoses. Damage to the skin from UV rays builds up over time. This means that even short-term exposure to sun on a regular basis can build up over a lifetime and increase the risk of actinic keratoses.
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.
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.
The keratin blocks the opening of hair follicles, causing patches of rough, bumpy skin. It's not clear why keratin builds up in people with keratosis pilaris. It might happen along with a genetic disease or skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis. Dry skin tends to make keratosis pilaris worse.
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.”
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.
What is the best treatment for seborrheic keratosis at home? Some topical products that treat seborrheic keratosis are available without a prescription, including 0.1% tazarotene cream and alpha hydroxy acid products. A person who wishes to treat their condition at home should speak with a doctor for a recommendation.
Hormones, however, may cause another flare-up around puberty. When keratosis pilaris develops in the teenage years, it often clears by one's mid-20s. Keratosis pilaris can also continue into one's adult years. Women are a bit more likely to have keratosis pilaris.
When the epidermis is exposed to repetitive injury, it usually elicits an increased proliferative rate of the keratinocytes and accelerates their maturation. Keratinocytes also tend to produce more keratin, thus increasing the stratum corneum's thickness.
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.
You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly, and replace the bandage as needed. Avoid using an antibiotic ointment unless your doctor recommends it.
Some cases of seb keratosis can be reduced with anti-inflammatory creams. A simple hack is to treat smaller keratosis with over-the-counter wart kill.
Keratosis Pilaris And Diet
Aside from an association with low vitamin A or low essential fatty acids, there are few studies showing a correlation between diet and keratosis pilaris.
Psoriasis can start as small red bumps, too. But unlike psoriasis, keratosis pilaris isn't considered a disease. It's more of an annoyance. It's not clear why some people get this keratin buildup, but it's a condition that's tied to your genes.
With keratosis pilaris, there is a build-up of keratin in the skin. This is a hard protein that is perfectly normal within the skin. But too much can block the hair follicles, leading to keratosis pilaris. We do know that it tends to be worse when the weather is drier and there is less humidity.
Experts don't completely understand what causes a seborrheic keratosis. This type of skin growth does tend to run in families, so there is likely an inherited tendency. If you've had one seborrheic keratosis, you're at risk of developing others. A seborrheic keratosis isn't contagious or cancerous.
Bowen's disease is a very early form of skin cancer. The cancer is on the top layer of your skin. It has not spread to the layers under the skin. Bowen's disease is also called 'squamous cell carcinoma in situ'. Squamous cells are the flat cells that make up the top of the skin.
Can you scrape or pick off an actinic keratosis? You should never attempt to scrape off or pick at an individual actinic keratosis. Not only can you damage your skin but removal of the lesion will prevent your doctor from evaluating whether it is possibly cancerous or not.