Keratosis pilaris or chicken skin is a condition that is mostly recognized by the appearance of red bumps on arms or other parts of the body. It has been proven that this condition isn’t something you catch through contact neither is it airborne but hereditary. Does this mean that there is nothing you can do about your condition?
Actually, there are a few things you can avoid doing that will at least minimize the redness of the bumps. For example:
- Don’t bath with hot water
- Don’t scrub the affected area
- Don’t expose yourself to extreme heat
Heat and scrubbing will only aggravate the condition. Instead you should try to keep the portion in cooler environments and do what you can to reduce exposure to the sun. There are also some medical treatments that many have found to be useful:
Glytone Keratosis Pilaris Kit. This is an exfoliating body wash that will help your skin get rid of excess keratin which will help reduce the condition from spreading.- Dr. Brandt Pore Effect. This is usually used twice a day and helps stimulate cellular turnover.
- Tretinoin. This is vitamin A in an acid form. This tries and thins the skin by making it grow faster which results in the production of less keratin. With less keratin, the pores are less likely to clog.
- ZIRH Body Bar. This is an exfoliating soap that smoothes skin and rids it of dead skin.
Before any of the mentioned treatments are tried, you should first consult your dermatologist. Some people have quite sensitive skin and using a product with chemicals may only make matters worse.
Having red bumps on arms isn’t the end of the world. In fact, around 80% adolescents are said to suffer from the condition. Know your options and take care of your skin as best you can.