Keratosis pilaris, or KP, is a genetic follicular disease that is very common and has symptoms of rough bumps on the skin and hence colloqually referred to as “chicken skin.” Generally it will appear on the outer sides of the body in addition to the upper arms, but can also occur on thighs and buttocks or any body part except the palms or the soles of feet.
It is believed that KP affects an estimated forty to fifty percent of the adult population and roughly 50 to 80% of all teenagers. It is more common in women than in men. Varying in degree, cases of KP can range from moderate to severe. Moderate KP bumps are scattered and with no or very little irritation. Severe KP will include large skin areas that have almost no smooth texture. The affected area is always covered by bumps and in the majority of the cases it is very irritated.
Keratosis pilaris is particularly common in teenagers on the upper arms. On babies it is mostly shows up on the cheeks and neck. Keratosis pilaris is unsightly but completely harmless. It is usually worse during the winter months or other times of low humidity when skin dries out, and may worsen during pregnancy or after childbirth. The condition is exacerbated here with a greater pronunciation in color and texture.
When the natural protein in the skin keratin is overproduced, it accumulates around the hair follicles. This process is called hyperkeratinization. This leads to the proliferation of tiny hard bumps on the skin that are a cosmetic nuisance. They are rarely itchy or sore.
Keratosis Pilaris Treatment
As the hair follicles become plugged with hair and with dead cells from the outermost layer of skin, the skin loses its ability to renew itself. The excessive adherence of this material leads to the formation of these scaly plugs. Effective treatment requires that the dead cells are able to shed off for the introduction of fresh and healthy cells into the follicle. What is necessary is a skin care treatment that will unplog the blocked follicles in order for the skin to resume its natural regeneration process.
