13 Recommendations for Keratosis Pilaris in Nigeria (Chicken Skin)
If Keratosis Pilaris, those goosebump-like patches on your skin, has made you self-conscious and insecure about your appearance, now is the time to change your story!
What is Keratosis Pilaris?
Keratosis Pilaris, also called “KP or Chicken Skin,” is a very common, harmless skin condition where dry, rough patches and tiny bumps appear on the skin – often on the upper arms. However, they can appear wherever hair follicles are on the body, including: the thighs, back, chest, butt and forearms. They can also show up on your face, but that’s less common.
These tiny bumps are actually excess keratin, a hair protein, and dead skin cells clogging hair follicles. Depending on the natural color of one’s skin, the bumps may appear skin-toned, red, white, brown, dark brown or black. The condition is known to aggravate in winter seasons, when the skin dries out. May also worsen during pregnancy due to hormonal changes for women, and during puberty for teenagers. These bumps are not contagious, and don’t usually cause any discomfort or itching, but it may make a person feel self-conscious or insecure about their appearance. Gear up for this informative read.
Who Can Be Affected By Keratosis Pilaris?
Although it’s typically more common in babies, children and teenagers, people at any age and stage are also prone to this condition. A person is also more likely to have Chicken Skin if:
- They have dry skin, fair/light skin, skin conditions like eczema or common ichthyosis, asthma, diabetes, down-syndrome, obesity, amongst others.
- Someone in their family has it. As a result, healthcare providers and medical researchers believe that certain genetic traits may cause it.
Because of the prevalence of this skin condition, about 50% – 80% of children & teens, and 40% of adults will develop KP somewhere within their lifetime.
Causes and Treatments
Chicken Skin results from the buildup of keratin in the pores, – a protein that makes up the hair, nails and skin’s outer layer. It gets clogged in the pores instead of flaking off, blocking the opening of growing hair follicles and leading to the formation of small bumps. These bumps are often mistaken for clusters of small pimples. The precise cause of keratin buildup is yet unknown, but doctors contemplate that it may be associated with atopic dermatitis, vitamin A deficiency or genetic diseases.
There’s no known cure as yet for this genetic skin condition. In most cases, symptoms of Keratosis Pilaris often improve and usually fade out naturally by age 30. Until then, if the bumps on your skin or that of your loved ones and children bother you, there are some self-care treatments with moisturizers, creams and gentle skincare with which you can effectively manage the condition and generally alleviate its look. Treatments your healthcare provider may recommend can include:
Cleanse and Exfoliate
It is advised to thoroughly clean the affected area once or twice daily. While you shower, use a loofah or washcloth and an exfoliating gel. Scrub in small, circular motions to gently exfoliate the area without irritating the skin and aggravating symptoms.
Moisturizing Lotions & Medicated Creams
Dry skin can make keratosis pilaris worse. Moisturising several times every day, especially after showering, keeps skin hydrated, soothes itchy, dry skin and improves the skin’s appearance. A variety of medicated creams which are available over the counter, may also help to relieve symptoms. The creams should contain ingredients, such as retinoids (vitamin A), urea, AHAs, lactic acid, glycolic acid or salicylic acid, that help to break down the excess keratin and remove dead skin, and are the best choices for rough, bumpy skin.
15 Product Recommendation For Treating Keratosis Pilaris
An array of carefully selected, effective medicated creams and shower gels, scrubs, facial leave-ons and moisturising lotions have been recommended to help get rid of your KP.
- AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion 12% Lactic Acid
- AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Body Lotion 15% Lactic Acid
- CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream for Dry, Rough & Bumpy Skin
- Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS 10% Urea Lotion
- Advanced Clinicals Retinol Cream
- Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA
- Carbon Theory Charcoal and Tea Tree Oil Exfoliating Body Bar
- CeraVe SA Body Wash for Rough & Bumpy Skin
- Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash
- CeraVe SA Cleanser
- The Inkey List Lactic Acid
- The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% and 10% + HA Serum
- Soap & Glory Body Scrubs and Exfoliating Scrub Gloves
AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion 12% Lactic Acid
We really can’t talk about KP without mentioning this trailblazing staple. Spiked with 12% lactic acid and recommended by multiple dermatologists, this potent formula exfoliates and promotes cell turnover without causing irritation.
“Since it’s a treatment and moisturizer packaged in one convenient formula, it can be used on a more regular basis compared to more concentrated formulas” Jenny Liu says. It is super effective. You just need to stick with it to keep KP at bay.
AmLactin Rapid Relief Restoring Body Lotion 15% Lactic Acid
Formulated with a more potent 15% lactic acid, plus three ceramides, this exfoliant lotion gently exfoliates and deeply hydrates, while locking in moisture for visibly soft skin. It instantly transforms your skin’s appearance to reveal youthful-looking skin. AmLactin Rapid Relief Lotion deeply relieves symptoms of Chicken Skin. Use for instant, rapid results.
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream for Dry, Rough & Bumpy Skin
CeraVe’s SA lotion, which contains a blend of both lactic and salicylic acids is an effective way to smoothen out skin. This formula packed with niacinamide is incredibly gentle and locks in hydration with hyaluronic acid, while also maintaining your skin’s barrier with critical ceramides. The roughest patches don’t stand a chance against CeraVe’s SA moisturizer!
Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS 10% Urea Lotion
Eucerin 10% Urea Lotion contains a unique combination of ingredients – Urea, Ceramide and Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs) – which bind moisture in and prevent moisture loss, giving very dry, rough KP skin the daily care it needs. This formula has been proven to deliver immediate relief and intense moisturisation, leaving skin feeling smooth and supple again.
Advanced Clinicals Retinol Cream
Retinoids speed up your cell turnover and help your skin shed faster, making it harder for keratin plugs to form in the first place. This retinol cream helps to neutralize redness and helps prevent more KP from forming. It’s super strong, so start slow and increase usage with tolerance.
Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA
This 2% BHA Body Treatment, which was designed specifically for KP-prone skin contains 2% salicylic acid to help soften keratin plugs over time, and it is balanced out with soothing and hydrating ingredients like vitamin E, chamomile, green tea, and willow herb. The formula is fragrance-free and safe for all skin types and makes bumps less noticeable within days of use.
Carbon Theory Charcoal and Tea Tree Oil Exfoliating Body Bar
Carbon Theory’s Exfoliating Body Bar has been proven to remove dead skin cells and clear breakouts on the shoulders, back and body. It is made with organic activated charcoal which gently draws out bacteria, toxins and excess oil, organic tea tree oil which helps reduce inflammation, and shea butter to keep skin nourished and hydrated without clogging the pores.
CeraVe SA Body Wash for Rough & Bumpy Skin
Products like this that contain one or more AHAs or BHAs, in addition to hydrating ingredients, are very helpful for smoothing bumps and minimizing skin’s dryness. Made with salicylic acid, Dr Clay explains that this body wash “exfoliates and also hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid, and helps the skin barrier because it also contains three different ceramides.” This body wash is a favorite among its users, with over 12,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.
Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash
Another body-wash that works well for KP is one that’s renowned for its acne-fighting power. The five-time Best of Beauty-winning Neutrogena Body Clear Pink Grapefruit Body Wash, and a variant Body Clear Oil-Free Body Acne Wash are great for ridding KP because their 2% salicylic acid helps penetrate hair follicles to exfoliate and prevent build up without over-drying skin.
CeraVe SA Cleanser, which has the same benefit of exfoliating and hydrating all at once is perfect for KP anywhere on the face area. Packed with salicylic acid, this formila also treats breakouts and clogged pores, while ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide protect and hydrate skin and keep it from drying out. Technically, you could use this cleanser on your body, too!
The Inkey List’s Lactic Acid should be a top pick for those who desire a gentle formula that can help treat KP and smoothen facial skin with continued use. If you require a stronger treatment, Dr. Liu (who works with The Inkey List) recommends alternating with the brand’s Glycolic Acid Toner a few times per week. The Glycolic Toner features the same 10% concentration as the lactic acid, but glycolic acid molecules are even smaller than those of lactic acid, thus they can penetrate more deeply.
The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% and 10% + HA Serum
The Ordinary’s super-affordable lactic acid serum is a great facial leave-on formula for KP. We suggest applying it every other night as tolerated and then increasing to nightly use. Since this product may cause some dryness, layer generously with a hydrating lotion after each use.
KP on the face is rare, but in the case of its occurrence, using the gentlest of acids is advised, never scrub, and always moisturise. The Ordinary 5% lactic acid variant is very gentle and keeps skin hydrated. Be patient and consistent with your treatment routines to see results.
Soap & Glory Body Scrubs and Exfoliating Scrub Gloves
Soap & Glory Body Scrubs are considered the holy grail in getting rid of KP. Use about two to three times per week and along with an exfoliating loofah or wash cloth. After shower, generously follow up with a KP treatment moisuriser and watch your skin smoothen out in a couple of weeks.
Wow! Congratulations?, you now know how to care for your KP skin. Warding off dryness is key in improving the look and appearance of your skin. Therefore, there is need for you to always moisturise with rich moisturising lotions and stay hydrated by taking lots of fluids, especially water. If you are consistent with your treatment plan, you should start seeing improvement within four to eight weeks. Keep in mind that these KP treatments are temporary, and pending its complete disappearance in adult life, you will need to continue treatments to see continued improvements.
KP is harmless, but who says you have to live with those rough bumps???
Get your glow? and confidence levels back up! Don’t let that KP skin stop you from living your living your best life and rocking the clothes you’ve always loved to. Rather than hide KP, why not treat it?
Look out to also help a loved one with KP and be sure they’ll thank you. As always, Shop and Glow at MySkincaremall.
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