What is keratosis pilaris and how to get rid of it

You’re right in the middle of getting ready to go to work, when something catches your eye in the bedroom mirror. The tops of your arms are looking a little red and have a mottled appearance. You run your hand over the skin and notice that it feels dry and that there seems to be a few raised bumps. You remember that this happened in your teens, but you really thought it had gone forever. As it eventually went away by itself, you never got to the bottom of what it was back then but now you start to wonder. What is this strange red rash that is plaguing your skin?

What is keratosis pilaris?

Known colloquially as ‘chicken skin’ due to its resemblance to goosebumps, keratosis pilaris is a harmless, non-contagious skin condition that occurs when follicles and pores become blocked with a build-up of the hair protein keratin. The build-up prevents the hairs emerging from the follicles and small bumps form where the hair should be.

Keratosis pilaris is characterised by:

• Dry skin
• Irritation
• Redness
• Small skin-coloured bumps

Our Exfoliating body bar does a great job of unclogging pores and clearing away dry skin, thereby improving the appearance of keratosis pilaris.

Why do I get keratosis pilaris?

While there is no known cause for keratosis pilaris, it is more prevalent in people with fair skin. It is also more common in teenagers and pregnant women, which suggests that hormonal factors may be at play. Other potential risk factors for keratosis pilaris include:

• Eczema
• Conditions like ichthyosis
• Obesity
• Allergies such as hayfever

Keratosis pilaris often occurs on the arms, thighs and buttocks. It doesn’t usually cause any pain or discomfort but if the skin does become inflamed or intensely itchy, a pharmacist should be your first port of call.

How can I get rid of my keratosis pilaris?

While most cases of chicken skin clear up in time, there are some things you can do to improve its appearance. These include:

• Moisturise well. Dry skin is the ideal environment for clogged pores and chicken skin.
• Avoid hot showers and baths. These are known to dry out the skin, so stick to cool water.
• Don’t use harsh soaps. Use our gentle, soothing body bars instead!
• Try not to scratch or pick the skin. This can make it irritated.
• Use our Exfoliating body bar. It gently clears away dead skin cells and unclogs the pores from keratin build-up.

Keratosis pilaris is known to be resistant to treatments and some of these can be expensive and difficult to obtain. Therefore, unless your chicken skin is causing you severe distress, specialist treatments aren’t always worth the hassle.

Banish your chicken skin with Beauty Kin

Well moisturised skin and effective exfoliation are key to keeping keratosis pilaris at bay. Our Exfoliating body bar is ideal for restoring a healthy glow to dry, irritated skin.

It uses the natural emollient, squalane to hydrate the skin and lactic acid to gently exfoliate. We chose to include lactic acid in the Exfoliating body barbecause it’s less likely to irritate the skin than other AHAs, making it perfect for soothing conditions like keratosis pilaris.

Ground olive stone is a sustainable, natural exfoliator that gently unclogs the pores and softly but effectively scrubs the skin.

The bar leaves a wonderful, fresh scent of grapefruit behind, leaving your newly exfoliated skin smelling clean and healthy!

Keratosis pilaris can be annoying and unsightly but there is plenty you can do to improve how it looks and prevent it from flaring up in the future. Say goodbye to the chicken and say hello to clear, glowing skin!