Keratosis Pilaris Treatment Options
If you have KP, chances are you’re still looking for a keratosis pilaris treatment that works for you. Recent studies have shown that nearly forty percent of the adult population (and up to sixty percent of adolescents) today have some form of keratosis pilaris. The funny thing is, that upon asking your close friends and relatives, often times many (or even none) of them even know what it is!
What is it?
Keratosis pilaris is a harmless and benign skin condition that (in most cases) creates rough feeling skin on the affected area accompanied by red goosebump like “bumps”. These are caused by the body overproducing keratin, which accumulates around the hair follicles on the skin, causing the red bumps on the skin. KP is in no way contagious, and is commonly referred to as “chicken skin”, which is why it is not properly diagnosed in so many cases.
In case you’re wondering if you might have KP, we’ve included a section of keratosis pilaris pictures, so that our visitors can see not only what KP really looks like, but also be better able to tell the difference between KP and other skin disorders that it is most commonly mistaken for, such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Because it’s so often confused with these conditions, many people never even seek keratosis pilaris treatment and instead make their KP worse with acne medications.
Why do I have Keratosis Pilaris?
KP is a genetic skin condition, if you have it, it’s most likely that either your parents or grandparents have had it (although it has been known to skip a generation or two in some rare cases). Many people who have KP come from families that were never diagnosed, and never sought any keratosis pilaris treatment at all. KP is also most common in children, adolescents and women, with more chances of worsening symptoms during times of great hormonal change (such as puberty and pregnancy).
With so many people having KP, it’s no surprise then that lot of people are looking for an effective and long lasting keratosis pilaris treatment. Regardless of what road of treatment you decide to pursue, there are a few general tips that can help your keratois pilaris treatment by treating your skin properly, and more importantly, not aggravating your skin and causing more KP outbreaks.
Some basic keratosis pilaris treatment guidelines:
The following are a few general guidelines on how to care for your skin, especially while pursuing any keratosis pilaris treatment. The first few apply to everyone, while the last two are only for people who’s doctor has agreed that either gluten or dairy products are aggravating your own personal keratosis pilaris.
Exfoliation Daily exfoliation seems to be an effective keratosis pilaris treatment for lessening KP outbreaks, if used regularly. Studies Have shown that regular exfoliation has helped many people with KP to not only lessen the frequency of their outbreaks, but also to reduce the intensity of them as well. Take care not to over exfoliate, you should only exfoliate every other day, or at most, once a day. Lots of people prefer an “exfoliation brush” which is a gentle way to exfoliate your skin without going overboard and actually aggravating it.
Moisturize One of your biggest enemies if you have KP is dry skin. You should seek to avoid any products that might dry then skin, and be vigilant when it comes to moisturizing your skin on a regular basis. Another important factor in any keratosis pilaris treatment is to always keep your skin as clean as possible, while not over-washing (which could dry the skin). So, always shower and wash all of your skin at least once a day, and avoid any harsh soaps or soaps that dry the skin. Use a soap like Dove that’s both mild and actually contains natural moisturizers in it. Also look for all natural (if possible) skin moisturizers and apply them once a day, preferably just after showering.
Stay Warm Both cold weather and cold air are known to aggravate KP and cause keratosis pilaris outbreaks more often on your skin. So, in cold weather always wear long sleeves, and it hot temperatures let your skin breathe and try not to get to sweaty (especially on the areas of your skin that are prone to frequent KP outbreaks). During the generally colder months, don’t be afraid to crank the thermostat up a few notches, your skin will thank you for it.
A Gluten or Dairy Free Diet A popular keratosis pilaris treatment that’s currently being talked about a lot on the internet is going either gluten free or dairy free in the hopes that it will either lessen your KP symptoms and outbreaks or clear them up altogether. While this potential treatment is getting a lot of hype online, and a few people swear by it, there is still no documented proof that either of these diets will improve your KP in any way.
Most likely, the only people that will see their keratosis pilaris improving from either of these diets are people that have both KP and either an undiagnosed food allergy or celiac disease. People who have both keratosis pilaris and celiac disease will quite commonly see their outbreaks become more frequent as well as more severe if they are regularly consuming foods made with gluten (breads, pastas and other foods that are primarily made from wheat).
The same is often true for people who have KP and either a dairy allergy or are lactose intolerant. If you suspect that you have any of the above mentioned food related conditions as well as keratosis pilaris, you should talk to your doctor first to see if a special diet would be an appropriate keratosis pilaris treatment for you.
Recently, an all natural treatment for keratosis pilaris has been getting a lot of national media attention. Many people are attributing their being KP free to this new system, which uses commonly available ingredients that can be bought at any grocery store. You can learn more about it here.
