How I Treat My Keratosis Pilaris
How I treat my Keratosis Pilaris with regular exfoliation.
Since I was a teenager I’ve had bumpy, red dots on my upper arms. While they’ve never been painful, they would sometimes itch. I’d scratch and pick at them. Sometimes I would pick so much they would bleed a little. I was just trying to get rid of them somehow. I thought they were pimples or some type of acne. And I hated the way my arms looked. I often avoided wearing clothing that exposed my arms because of it. It wasn’t until my mom took me to a physician that I learned what those little red bumps were. I have Keratosis Pilaris, often referred to as KP.
KP bringing you down? Try our Exfoliating Body Mitt for smoother skin!
If you have KP, good news, we’re not alone! Many people have Keratosis Pilaris. Approximately, 50-70% of adolescents and 40% of adults have the condition. If you’re like me, you may have had this skin condition since you were a kid. Some people outgrow it, many do not. If it remains with you as you become an adult, it’s probably going to be with you for most of your life.
What is Keratosis Pilaris?
Sometimes called “chicken skin, Keratosis Pilaris is a common skin condition that causes patches of rough-feeling bumps to appear on the skin. They sometimes appear red or brown in color. They are commonly found on the upper arms, thighs, or buttocks. Some even have it on their face in the cheek area.
So why do we get those little red bumps? You may be surprised to learn that they are actually clogged hair follicles caused by dead skin cells. Dead skin cells get trapped in your hair follicles causing your skin to become irritated. The red bumps you get are your body's way of telling you it’s not happy about it! And just because you have it, doesn't mean you don’t wash regularly or exfoliate enough. It simply means that, because you have KP, your body doesn’t eliminate those dead skin cells like it should.
Suffer from KP on your cheeks? Try our Exfoliating Face Mitt for smoother skin!
What treatment is available for KP sufferers?
Unfortunately, it's not a skin condition that is curable simply by applying or taking medications. While it is not harmful to you, the red bumps can be annoying, particularly if you are sensitive about showing the areas of your body where you have KP. But not to fear! It can easily be managed with a good skin care routine. One of the recommended treatments for Keratosis Pilaris is regular exfoliation. This not only helps remove the dead skin cells that are clogging your hair follicles, but it smooths your skin, making the red bumps less noticeable.
Looking for deeper exfoliation? Try our Ultra Mitt for smoother skin!
Once I started exfoliating regularly with the MicrodermaMitt Exfoliating Body Mitt, I immediately noticed a difference. My skin felt much smoother, the bumpy texture I had felt only a few minutes before on my arms was gone! While I still saw the redness where the bumps were, they weren’t as noticeable. And over time, I feel like they’ve even faded a bit. I’m once again wearing shorter sleeves and just feel more comfortable with how my skin looks and feels.
I exfoliate religiously twice a week. Sometimes I see tons of skin roll off my MicrodermaMitt, sometimes not so much. This just means I’m doing a good job keeping my skin well exfoliated. Not only does this routine help keep my KP in control, but I’ve also noticed the general health of my whole body skin improve! Exfoliation has so many amazing benefits I’ve experienced first hand.
Like I mentioned before, my KP will never be completely gone, and I do still suffer from them more in the winter than the summer, but when I notice a flare-up, I simply get out my MicrodermaMitt and give them a good scrub!