KERATOSIS PILARIS (KP) is a common skin disorder seen in many people of all ages. It is a benign condition that presents as numerous small, rough, red, or tan bumps primarily around hair follicles on the upper arms, legs, buttocks, and sometimes cheeks.
KP creates a ‘goose bumps’, ‘gooseflesh’, or ‘chicken skin’ appearance on the skin. A majority of people with KP may be unaware that the skin condition has a designated medical term or that it is treatable. In general, KP is often cosmetically displeasing but medically completely harmless. KP is frequently noted in otherwise healthy people.
Known causes
The exact cause of KP is unknown.
There seems to be a problem with overproduction of the keratin part of the skin called hyperkeratinization. KP is thought to be partly inherited (genetic) in origin. About 50% to 70% of patients with KP have a known genetic predisposition and a high rate of affected family members. The underlying cause may be related to hypersensitivity reactions and overall dryness of the skin. KP is also closely related to ichthyosis vulgaris, dry skin, allergies, seasonal allergies, rhinitis, asthma, eczema, and atopic dermatitis.
The bumps in KP seem to arise from the excessive accumulation of keratin (very small, dry skin particles) at the opening of individual hair follicles. The skin as examined under the microscope demonstrates mild thickening, hyperkeratosis, and plugging of the hair follicle.
The upper skin layers may have some dilation of the small superficial blood vessels, thereby giving the skin a red or flushed appearance.
Prevention
There is no specific preventive measures but avoid using harsh soaps or cleansers and don’t scrub harshly and try to scrape off the skin. Use only a mild loofah.
Treatment
Many treatment options and skin-care recipes are available for controlling the symptoms of KP. Many patients have very good temporary improvement following a regular skin-care programme of lubrication.
As a general rule of thumb, treatment needs to be continuous.
Include Vitamin E and the essential fatty acids, such as omega-3, omega-6, omega-9 & GLA, in your diet, as these help regulate abnormal proliferation of the outer skin layers. Since there is no available cure or universally effective treatment for KP, the list of potential lotions and creams is long. General measures to prevent excessive skin dryness, such as using mild soapless cleansers, are recommended. Best results may be achieved with combination therapy using topical products and physical treatments like gentle exfoliation, professional manual extraction of whiteheads, facials and chemical peels.
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