The red bumps on arms and thighs, that is.
Sometimes referred to as “chicken skin”, the little red bumps on the backs of arms and thighs are a common skin issue amongst, well, everyone. Either you, or someone you know, has them. What are they? How do they get there? What can i do to get rid of them? Well, let me introduce you to….
Keratosis Pilaris.
KP occurs when keratin (a protein found in hair, skin and nails) builds up and blocks the opening of your hair follicles. In most cases, this happens to many follicles, forming a rough and bumpy patch of skin.
There are many areas of the body that can be affected by KP, but most commonly the upper arms and thighs are the victims.
Characteristics of KP:
-Rough and dry skin
-Skin-colored, white, pinkish-red or brownish-black depending on skin tone.
-Sometimes itchy
-Become worse in winter, or low-humidity environments.
How do you get them?
The number one cause of KP shares a common culprit with many other skin issues, dry skin. Hormones and genetics can also play a role in KP, so you may have some difficulty eliminating them totally, but there are ways to help diminish them and prevent flare-ups.
When your skin is dry, it can overproduce keratin. Your body does this in an attempt to moisturize and protect itself (I mean hey, it’s just trying to help), but this can causes a traffic jam in your follicles leading to KP.
Things you can do to keep your skin moisturized and keep KP at bay:
-MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE (best results when applied about every two hours)
-Apply moisturizer after the shower, when your skin is still damp, and keep a small amount of moisturizer with you at all times.
-Avoid wearing tight clothing, to prevent chafing. Irritating the already irritated skin is a combo for doom.
-Don’t over-exfoliate. This can lead to irritation, stimulating more bumps. GENTLY exfoliate, NEVER scrub.
-Be smart about shaving. Use a moisturizing shave cream, don’t dry shave (are you a glutton for punishment?!) and replace your razor very frequently.
-Save shaving for last, allowing time for your pores to open and soften the hair.
-Use a mild body wash, and don’t spend a lot of time in the shower. The hot water leads to dry skin.
-Don’t Scratch. Nothing good ever comes from scraping your skin with your nails. Ever.
There are a number of products that you can use for KP, as well as treatments available for the more stubborn cases. To talk to a professional regarding your KP, and find out what products and options you have available, you can reach out to us at Amerejuve. Visit our website to book an appointment or browse our selection of products to learn more!
Don’t let KP keep you from being the most confident, beautiful you. Talk to us today!