Dealing with those tiny, rough bumps on your skin? That’s keratosis pilaris (KP).
KP is a super common skin condition. It happens when keratin (a protein meant to protect your skin) builds up and clogs your hair follicles. This causes those rough patches of skin, which often show up on your arms, thighs, cheeks, or buttocks1. Because of how the bumps look, KP is often called chicken skin or goosebump skin.
How Keratosis Pilaris can affect your body image
Although KP is harmless, it can be a source of insecurity and it can take a toll on how you see your body…
Because KP often develops during adolescence, a time when body image is particularly sensitive, people with KP can experience heightened self-consciousness.
I know many people feel embarrassed or even ashamed of their skin, even though the condition is common and not related to hygiene.
KP may even make you avoid situations where you would have to show your skin, like swimming or sports, which may further isolate you and exacerbate your feelings of low self-esteem.
Personally, I’ve been dealing with KP on the back of my thighs basically since my teenage years, and I used to be super insecure about it. I’d always worry about how visible it was. Like many people with KP, I found myself feeling self-conscious about my skin, which affected my confidence.
Are you in the same boat? What has been helping me (just like with acne and skin picking) is just reminding myself that skin’s texture doesn’t define your worth.
Small steps with skincare can help, but so can self-acceptance!
Can you get rid of Keratosis Pilaris permanently?
Probably all people who struggle with KP are looking for this answer. Unfortunately, we still don’t have absolute cure to KP that would help you to get rid of those rough bumps once and for all.
While there’s no permanent cure, there are some ways to make Keratosis Pilaris less visible.
According to studies, creams and serums with salicylic acid, azelaic acid, lactic acid and urea can help smooth out those bumps and make them less visible3.
Some studies show that very high concentration of glycolic acid can be also effective for improving skin roughness related to KP, as well as fading follicular hyperpigmentation4.
Current research suggests that laser treatment seems to be the most effective solution tho5.
My solution to Keratosis Pilaris: Body care that works for KP
I’d like to share with you a few tips and products that have been helping me to decrease symptoms of Keratosis Pilaris.
Keep in mind that there is no systematic studies on effectiveness of this specific products for KP, I’m only sharing my experience and what’s been working for MY skin.
1. Dry brushing
It helps exfoliate and improve circulation — plus, it’s super refreshing!
I have the dry brush from Dr. Barbara Sturm, but there’s also plenty of cheaper alternatives which you can get in your beauty store or drugstore.
Dry brushing can have way more benefits for the skin, apart from removing dead skin cells and making KP less noticeable and I can feel it way less under my fingertips.
Although there’s not a lot of research on dry brushing yet, from experiences that people share online it seems to be really helpful for improving overall skin condition. If you’d like to learn more about it, and find out if dry brushing is worth the hype, check out my article here.
2. Creams with AHA & BHA acids
There’s vast choice and you can even find specific body moisturizers with acids (for example from Naturium), but personally I’ve been using AHA, BHA, PHA cream from Some By Mi. Yes, I use this cream not only for spot treating my pimples, but also for KP!
This trio of acids gently exfoliates and smooths my skin without irritation. And on legs I don’t mind it’s fairly strong mint scent..
Sometimes I add the toner to my anti-KP routine too. I tried using serum as well, it contains alcohol and has quite oily texture so it doesn’t really fit my skin on face, sadly on legs it doesn’t absorb AT ALL either, so I ditched it.
3. Peeling solutions
I haven’t tried it yet, but Medicube recently released a Body Peeling Shot that contains altogether 32% of acids (AHA, BHA, PHA and LHA). That’s a really powerful shot.
According to reviews online it’s a great help for body acne, especially bacne, and reducing KP.
If you decide to try it, remember to only leave it on your skin for 1 minute and then rinse it. Keep in mind that because of its really high concentration of acids, it can be quite irritating for skin.
Remember to take a good care of your skin after AHA BHA peel (here are some of my tips).
4. Serums with azelaic acid
Azelaic acid is a real gem when it comes to treating acne and hyperpigmentation. According to scientists it can be also helpful for dealing with KP.
15%-20% is max. concentration that you can get OTC and there are a few brands to choose from that offer this high percentage of Azelaic acid, both Korean and western brands.
Personally I tried azelaic acid 15% from French brand – SVR Laboratoire. It was quite effective at fading some of my scars on legs and making them more smooth, with KP being less visible.
PRO TIP: From my experience, skin on legs and arms tolerates higher % of acids way better than skin of face, but it doesn’t mean you should go straight to the highest concentration you can find in the store. Start slowly, give your skin time to get used to acids, and always patch test before!
Check out my short reel about Keratosis Pilaris on my Instagram:
Wyświetl ten post na Instagramie
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here.
Resources:
- https://journals.lww.com
- https://cdn.mdedge.com/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/
- https://softservices.com
