Keratosis Pilaris: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Keratosis pilaris is a very common skin condition which causes rough skin with raised red bumps. It is caused by “keratin” – the protein that makes your hair, nails, and the outer layer of your skin – building up in the pores of your skin, instead of shedding as normal.

Keratosis pilaris is very common. Between five and eight in ten of all teenagers have keratosis pilaris but it is also common in babies and younger children. It tends to settle down after your teenage years; about four in ten adults have keratosis pilaris.

People with all skin types get keratosis pilaris but it seems to be more common in girls and women than in boys and men.

If you have another skin condition, such as eczema or dry skin, you are more likely to get keratosis pilaris. You are also more likely to have keratosis pilaris if other people in your family have it as well.

Keratosis pilaris cannot be caught from someone else. No one knows why it develops or what makes some people get keratosis pilaris and others not.

Keratosis pilaris is often described as being like “chicken skin” or “goosebumps”. There are lots of tiny bumps over the surface of the skin which feels rough if you run your hand over it. In white or pale skin, these usually look red but in darker skin they can look dark brown or black.

It is most common on the upper arms but it can also occur on:

• Face and neck.

• Legs, especially thighs.

• Back.

• Chest.

• Buttocks.

• Forearms.

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There are no tests for keratosis pilaris. You don’t need to see a doctor but, if you do, then they will diagnose keratosis pilaris by looking at it.

Keratosis pilaris is not harmful. It does not need to be treated. It often gets better in warmer weather and worse in colder weather.

However, some people find that keratosis pilaris makes them feel self-conscious and they want to try and reduce the appearance of it. Although keratosis pilaris can’t be cured, there are some treatments which can help.

Some things that can help the appearance of keratosis pilaris include:

• Using emollients or moisturisers regularly to try and soften the skin (but avoid scented products).

• Using creams that contain urea, salicylic acid, or lactic acid to try and flatten the bumps.

• Using exfoliating pads or mittens.

• Having lukewarm showers and avoiding hot baths.

• Using a humidifier in winter to stop your skin drying out.

• Laser treatment has been shown to be beneficial but is not available on the NHS.

Treatments that have not been shown to help include:

Scratching or picking at your skin can make keratosis pilaris worse.

When the treatments above work, it usually takes around six to eight weeks for the skin to start improving. However, even without treatments, it usually gets better with time and is usually much better after the age of 30.