If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably already familiar with keratosis pilaris, more commonly known as “chicken skin”. You’re already familiar with the red bumps on your thighs or upper arms. What you probably don’t know are the causes of chicken skin, or how to treat it.
An article on the Dr. Oz website talks about the origins of keratosis pilaris:
“Keratosis pilaris is hereditary, inherited as an autosomal dominant gene. This is similar to the brown versus blue eye color phenomenon. All it takes is a single gene from either parent to find oneself with less than perfectly smooth skin. But not everyone can point a finger at who’s to blame since only 30 to 50% of KP patients have a positive family history.
Skin bumps are not caused by external factors, such as diet and allergic reactions — chicken skin occurs because it is hereditary. The Dr. Oz article continues to say that not only is keratosis pilaris embarrassing, most people simply live with it because they don't know what to do about it!
“Most people with KP are unaware that not only is there a designated medical term for the condition, but that treatment exists.”
If you have KP, then be reassured that it is harmless and that there are ways to make the red bumps go away. The bumps are caused by inflammation in the hair follicles, which look like brown or red dots on the skin. These tiny bumps can be itchy, but more likely, their only harm comes from the self esteem issues they can cause.
There are a variety of options to treat KP, and our KP Elements Keratosis Pilaris Cream incorporates nearly all of them. Alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic or lactic acid are great treatments for KP. They help your skin to turn over faster, and work to soften and clear away the hard, rough bumps. Vitamins A and E promote soft, smooth skin, and help your body reduce the inflammation that causes redness.
While there is no true cure for Keratosis Pilaris, there are treatment options available. Those tiny red bumps may seem harmless, but they can be damaging to you or your child's self esteem.
Now that you know that there’s a name for those red bumps on your skin, you can start treating! Give our keratosis pilaris cream a try, and soon you’ll be going sleeveless with confidence!
