Treatment FAQ

what is the best treatment for keratosis pilaris

by Mr. Brian Sauer DDS Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Apply an over-the-counter cream that contains urea, lactic acid, alpha hydroxy acid or salicylic acid. These creams help loosen and remove dead skin cells. They also moisturize and soften dry skin. Put on this product before moisturizer.Jan 30, 2021

Medication

How to use Aloe Vera as Seborrheic Keratosis Home Treatment?

  • Slit a fresh Aloe Vera leaf and slice out the gel
  • Add a teaspoon of rose water to the gel with slight stirring to make a paste
  • Smear your skin and scalp with the paste
  • Keep it on for about 30-35 minutes
  • Rinse your skin with lukewarm water
  • Do this twice daily

Therapy

There are some important differences, however:

  • Seborrheic keratoses often appear in numbers, while melanoma is usually single.
  • Seborrheic keratoses tend to have texture, while melanoma tends to be smooth.
  • Seborrheic keratoses are well-defined, while melanoma can have a ragged or blurry border.
  • Seborrheic keratoses are uniform, while melanoma may be asymmetrical or have more than one color.

More items...

Self-care

Is there an over the counter treatment for actinic keratosis? Topical imiquimod cream stimulates a local immune response in the skin, leading to destruction of the actinic keratosis cells. It can be applied at home and is typically used two to three times a week for up to 16 weeks, making this a longer course of treatment compared to topical fluorouracil.

Nutrition

Keratolytics are often found in wart, callous and corn removal products as well as some dandruff shampoos and skin care products aimed at treating acne. They are often sold over-the-counter or without a prescription. Compound W. Compound W is a wart removal product that contains the topical keratolytic agent salicylic acid.

How to cure seborrheic keratosis naturally?

Is there a cure for seborrheic keratosis?

Is there an over the counter treatment for actinic keratosis?

What does over the counter medicines are keratolytics found in?

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How do you permanently treat keratosis pilaris?

Treatment cannot cure keratosis pilaris, so you'll need to treat your skin to keep the bumps under control. Your maintenance plan may be as simple as using the medicine twice a week instead of every day. Another option may be to switch to a non-prescription moisturizing cream.

What is the best medicine for keratosis pilaris?

The 12 Very Best Keratosis-Pilaris TreatmentsCeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin. ... AmLactin Ultra Smoothing Intensely Hydrating Cream. ... Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA. ... DERMAdoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Formulated Body Scrub. ... First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub With 10% AHA.More items...•

What will dermatologist prescribe for keratosis pilaris?

Your doctor or dermatologist may prescribe a steroid cream after a diagnosis, or you can attempt to self-treat with topical retinoids or sprays and body lotions with retinol, glycolic acid, vitamin A and other solutions.

Can keratosis pilaris go away?

There is no cure for keratosis pilaris. But the symptoms can be managed. KP can improve with age and without treatment. Treatment may improve the appearance of the bumps.

How can I get rid of my keratosis at home?

How to treat keratosis pilaris at homeKeep baths and showers short. ... Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. ... Gently exfoliate skin with keratosis pilaris once a week. ... Moisturize your skin. ... Avoid shaving or waxing skin with keratosis pilaris.

What is the main cause of keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris develops when keratin forms a scaly plug that blocks the opening of the hair follicle. Usually plugs form in many hair follicles, causing patches of rough, bumpy skin. Keratosis pilaris is caused by the buildup of keratin — a hard protein that protects skin from harmful substances and infection.

Is there a pill for keratosis pilaris?

Severe cases of keratosis pilaris have been treated orally with isotretinoin pills for several months. Isotretinoin is generally a very potent oral medication reserved for severe, resistant, or scarring cases of acne.

Is Cetaphil good for keratosis pilaris?

If your skin becomes too dry or irritated from treatment, you may decrease the frequency of application and use a gentle cleanser only (CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser or Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser) followed by a good moisturizer, such as Cerave Moisturizing Cream or Aveeno Eczema Cream.

Is Vaseline good for keratosis pilaris?

Treatment for keratosis pilaris Usually no treatment is necessary for keratosis pilaris. Treatment may include: Using petroleum jelly with water, cold cream, urea cream, or salicylic acid (removes the top layer of skin) to flatten the pimples.

Is keratosis pilaris caused by diet?

Despite what you might see on the internet, your diet does not cause keratosis pilaris. While doctors point to several reasons why someone might develop this skin condition, your diet is typically not one of them. Some of the more common triggers for developing keratosis pilaris include: your family's genes.

Is coconut oil good for keratosis pilaris?

Coconut Oil is known to be a very effective natural remedy in treating Keratosis Pilaris, thanks to the Lauric Acid found in the oil. Lauric Acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that is able to fight bacterial infections and/or viruses.

Does Sun Help keratosis pilaris?

During the winter, increasing the humidity in your home and at work during dry winter months can also help. Sun exposure (with sunscreen) may also quiet KP, which is why for some, it can be less of a cosmetic nuisance in the summer. (Note: Indoor tanning is NEVER advised.)

What is the best cream to remove dead skin cells?

They also moisturize and soften dry skin. Depending on their strengths, these creams (topical exfoliants) are available over-the-counter or with a prescription.

Why are there creams for hair follicles?

Creams to prevent plugged follicles. Creams derived from vitamin A (topical retinoids) work by promoting cell turnover and preventing plugged hair follicles.

What to use for dry skin after bath?

While the skin is still moist from bathing, apply a moisturizer that contains lanolin, petroleum jelly or glycerin. These ingredients soothe dry skin and help trap moisture. Thicker moisturizers work best, such as Eucerin and Cetaphil. Reapply the product to the affected skin several times a day. Use a humidifier.

How to remove oil from skin?

Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from the skin. Limit bath or shower time to about 10 minutes or less. Use warm, not hot, water. Be gentle to the skin. Avoid harsh, drying soaps. Gently remove dead skin (exfoliate) with a washcloth or loofah.

How to get rid of a rash on your arm?

When using a product new to you, test it on one area of affected skin first, such as an arm, to see whether the product works for you and doesn't cause a reaction. Use warm water and limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from the skin.

Does keratosis pilaris clear up on its own?

Keratosis pilaris usually clears up on its own gradually. In the meantime, you might use any of the various products available to help improve the appearance of the skin. If moisturizing and other self-care measures don't help, your doctor may prescribe medicated creams.

Can keratosis pilaris last for years?

Using medicated cream regularly may improve the appearance of the skin. But if you stop, the condition returns. And even with treatment, keratosis pilaris might last for years.

What is the best treatment for keratosis pilaris?

Most moisturizing creams used to treat keratosis pilaris contain one of the following ingredients: Urea.

How long does it take for keratosis pilaris to clear?

When treating keratosis pilaris, it helps to keep the following in mind: Clearing takes time. If you fail to see improvement after following your treatment plan for 4 to 6 weeks, tell your dermatologist. Some patients need to try a few treatments before they find one that works.

What is the best way to remove dead skin?

Your dermatologist may recommend that you gently remove dead skin with a loofah or at-home microdermabrasion kit. Your dermatologist may also prescribe a medicine that will remove dead skin cells. Medicine that can help often contains one of the following ingredients: Alpha hydroxyl acid. Glycolic acid.

How to use exfoliant?

For best results when using a medicine to exfoliate your skin: 1 Use the amount your dermatologist recommends 2 Apply it only as often as your dermatologist recommends 3 Stop using the medicine for a few days if your skin becomes dry or irritated

Does laser treatment help with brown spots?

Another type of laser may improve your skin’s texture and reduce discoloration, including the brown spots that may appear when the bumps clear . To get the best results from the laser treatments, your dermatologist may add a few microdermabrasion sessions to your treatment plan.

Does laser help keratosis pilaris?

Lasers may work when moisturizer and medicine fail: A laser or light treatment may be used to treat keratosis pilaris. Your dermatologist may recommend one type of laser to reduce the swelling and redness.

What is the best body wash for keratosis pilaris?

If you want to tackle your keratosis pilaris while in the shower, a glycolic-salicylic blend body wash is a great bet when it comes to exfoliating and clearing skin while also banishing bumps.

How to treat dry bumps on head to toe?

Start with the exfoliating body wash and then finish with the exfoliating body lotion. In other words, a head to toe solution.

What are keratolytic agents?

Never heard of keratolytic agents? Here's the deal. They are basically ingredients (including sulfur, lactic acid, urea, and more) that help to break up the stuff that holds the keratin cells together so they can more easily be cleared up.

What is the condition where you get tiny white bumps on your face?

"Keratosis pilaris is a common, yet harmless, skin condition that presents as tiny white or red bumps on top of dry, rough skin," says Sunheel Chilukuri, MD, dermatologist and director of cosmetic surgery at Refresh Dermatology in Houston, TX.

What are some good foods to keep your skin healthy?

Foods rich in omega-3s are essential for keeping skin moisturized and healthy. These include walnuts, flaxseeds, salmon, tuna, sardines, and soybeans. Leafy greens are also always good to get in for overall skin health and function, says Craig Austin, MD, a New York City dermatologist.

Does retinol help with chicken skin?

Retinol is a go-to treatment for acne, but Dr. Austin says that the vitamin A derivative’s exfoliating powers also allows fresh skin cells to come up faster, so your chicken skin bumps flatten out.

Can you shower with keratosis pilaris?

In some cases, keratosis pilaris is exacerbated by wearing fragranced body products like lotions, creams, perfume sprays, soaps, and body washes, and by showering with hot water, says Craig Austin, MD, a dermatologist in NYC.

What is the best body scrub for keratosis pilaris?

Niacinamide, amino sulfonic acid, and urea team up to exfoliate and hydrate skin—not to mention, it's lightweight. AHAs, willow bark extract, and more skin-loving ingredients work to exfoliate skin. This gentle body scrub offers both physical and chemical exfoliation which is great for treating keratosis pilaris.

What is the best lotion for keratosis?

The 8 Best Lotions for Keratosis Pilaris, According to Dermatologists. written by. Melanie Rud. Author's Instagram. Melanie Rud is a beauty editor and expert with over a decade of experience in the industry writing for various national and regional publications. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines. Melanie Rud.

What causes bumps around hair follicles?

Greenfield explains that keratosis pilaris is a condition where dead skin—particularly keratin, a protein that's found in the skin—builds up around hair follicles instead of being naturally exfoliated away. “This causes small, rough bumps to appear around the hair follicles,” she says.

Why does keratin build up on skin?

It’s not quite clear why this buildup of keratin occurs, but it’s thought to be associated with genetic diseases or skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis. Dry skin also tends to intensify the symptoms of keratosis pilaris.

Does exfoliating lotion help with KP?

Exfoliating lotions that contain alpha-hydroxy acids are choice for helping to combat KP, says Arch; this particular formula touts a 12% concentration of lactic acid, one of the gentlest yet most effective AHAs out there. Plus, because it’s fragrance-free, it’s less likely to irritate skin that might already be red or inflamed from KP.

Is Perrigo Ammonium Lactate lotion good for your skin?

Lactic acid (and other AHAs, at that) are also great for smoothing out the skin, and the Perrigo Ammonium Lactate Lotion is an effective yet super gentle option. It's also fragrance-free, so you can count on it to not further irritate inflamed skin.

Does urea help with KP?

“Along with urea, this formula also contains amino sulfonic acid, which helps stimulate the skin's natural ability to exfoliate and shed dead skin cells,” says Arch of another one of her picks. The addition of niacinamide is also noteworthy since it both helps strengthen the skin barrier and combats any redness and inflammation that often occur with KP. Thanks to a super light gel texture, it’s great for summer or for anyone who doesn’t love the feel of thicker lotions or creams.

What is the best lotion for keratosis pil?

Hydrating Lotion. It sounds simple: Use an ultra-moisturizing body lotion to get rid of pesky dry and flaky skin. But there are so many options out there. Now Eucerin, known for its range of lightweight to rich moisturizers that target skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, makes a formula for keratosis pilaris.

What is a KP massage?

Here's a KP treatment that's worthy of a soothing body massage: Skinceuticals Body Retexturing Treatment. "This is a gel retexturing treatment with moisturizing ingredients including urea and glycerin, but also with the anti-inflammatory calming ingredient niacinamide to soothe and repair inflammation," explains Dr. Levin.

Does KP Bump Eraser work?

Well, look to First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser to wipe away those imperfections, obviously not instantly, but with consistent use. "An effective KP treatment option uses exfoliating ingredients such as glycolic and lactic acid— [both found in] this FAB Body Scrub—but without being too irritating or drying.

Can you use sunscreen with acid?

Regardless of what you end up trying, though, make sure you use in conjunction with sunscreen, as all acids make your skin sensitive to the light, which can cause intense burning and skin damage. But other than that, please, for the love of your sanity, get slathering.

Does glycolic acid help with keratosis?

SHOP NOW. In case you haven't noticed: The use of exfoliating acids is a major key in smoothing keratosis pilaris. "Glycolic acid is one of the most effective and reliable exfoliating ingredients to gently break up dead skin cells and loosen the impacted keratin in the hair follicles," says Dr. Levin.

What acid is used for keratosis pilaris?

Specifically, New Jersey-based board-certified dermatologist Shari Sperling says alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids are the way to go. "When treating keratosis pilaris, it is important to look for products with lactic, salicylic, or glycolic acid to help smooth skin," she says. Read More.

What is the best moisturizer for rough skin?

Skinfix Resurface+ AHA Renewing Cream snagged the 2019 Allure Best of Beauty Award for best exfoliating body moisturizer because its blend of naturally derived alpha-hydroxy acids helps soften rough skin — as does its incredibly moisturizing shea butter and glycerin.

Does KP scrub exfoliate?

"Because people with KP have a genetic tendency towards allergies and skin sensitivity, it is important to be mindful of products with fragrances, which can be irritating," Prather says. First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub offers both chemical (lactic and glycolic acid) exfoliation and physical exfoliation in a fragrance-free formula that promises to go easy on sensitive skin.

Can you use glycolic acid on your arms?

Even if you've avoided glycolic acid for your face-care regimen, you may not want to rule out a 10-percent glycolic-acid formula like Lancer's The Method: Body Nourish cream for KP on your arms or legs. "Glycolic is a great AHA that can be sometimes strong for the face but does well for the body," says Bhanusali.

Does body wash help with keratosis pilaris?

It's not just exfoliating lotions and scrubs that help smooth the look and feel of keratosis pilaris — body wash can make a difference, too. "I really like the two-step approach in the KP Kit by Glytone that pairs a glycolic acid-based body cleanser and body lotion with vitamin E for extra hydration," Prather says.

How much lactic acid is in keratosis pilaris?

The formula is filled with 12 percent lactic acid that helps dissolve your keratin plugs while also moisturizing your skin.

How many people have keratosis pilaris?

Even though 40 percent of adults have keratosis pilaris to some degree—so you are very much not alone—I would wager only 1 percent of adults have it has severely as I’ve had it since birth. And as I've gotten older, it's only gotten worse, which means if a treatment exists, I can assure you I’ve tried it by now.

Can you use KP at home?

That's not to say you can't manage it, though— the most effective at-home KP treatments are a combo of chemical exfoliants to dissolve the bumps and rich moisturizers to soften skin —but these treatments are only effective as long as you use them. “As soon as you stop, your bumps will come right back,” says Dr. Thomas.

Does retinol help with keratosis pilaris?

Retinol isn’t as effective for keratosis pilaris as AHAs are, but this cream definitely helped neutralize my redness once I started swapping it in for my AmLactin one night a week. Lactic Acid for Keratosis Pilaris on the Face. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA 2%. Courtesy Image.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Preparing For Your Appointment

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Aakash Gupta
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Keratosis pilaris is harmless and does not require any treatment. It often resolves on its own. Treatments, if any, may be aimed at reducing skin dryness.
Medication

Topical exfoliants: Creams to remove dead skin cells, moisturize and soften dry skin.

Lactic acid . Salicylic acid


Vitamin A containing creams: To prevent plugging or clogging of follicles.

Tretinoin . Tazarotene

Therapy

Laser therapy:To treat severe redness and inflammation.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Use warm water to bath
  • Avoid harsh soaps
  • Keep the skin moist
  • Avoid wearing tight fitting clothes
  • Do not scratch the affected area

Nutrition

There is no proven data about what may help keratosis but a healthy diet helps maintain the overall skin health.

Foods to eat:

  • Foods rich in Vitamin A: Kale, spinach, beef liver, carrot
  • Essential fatty acids present in fish oils

Foods to avoid:

  • NA

Specialist to consult

Dermatologist
Specializes in the study of the skin and its disorders.

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