If you have bumpy skin on your arms that doesn’t seem to go away, it could be keratosis pilaris. We asked an expert for advice on the best body products to treat it.
Have you ever experienced rough, bumpy skin on the back of your upper arms? If they’re not painful or quite like body acne, it could be something else entirely: keratosis pilaris.
To get all the answers on what exactly keratosis pilaris is and how to treat it, we tapped Dr. Aegean H. Chan, MD, FAAD, a dual board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist based in California, for expert advice.
“It’s not poor hygiene or contagious. It’s simply a genetic tendency toward how your skin forms and sheds keratin. It occurs most frequently on the backs of the upper arms, but can also occur elsewhere on the body, like on the thighs, and rarely, on the cheeks,” Dr. Chan said.
Thankfully, you can easily treat keratosis pilaris at home with products (like liquid exfoliants and body lotions) designed to prevent plugged follicles and remove dead skin cells to leave your skin looking and feeling smooth.
Ahead, Dr. Chan offers expert-approved products for treating keratosis pilaris and everything you need to know about what triggers it, how to prevent flare-ups and more.
“Keratosis pilaris, or KP, is an extremely common and completely benign skin condition where keratin, the protein that makes up our skin and hair, builds up inside the hair follicle,” Dr. Chan explained.
She added, “Instead of shedding normally, that keratin forms a tiny plug, which creates the small rough bumps people often describe as ‘chicken skin.’ ”
What Triggers Keratosis Pilaris?
Dr. Chan shared, “Keratosis pilaris is fundamentally a disorder of follicular keratinization. Under normal conditions, keratinocytes in the hair follicle mature, compact, and desquamate in an orderly fashion. In KP, that process is dysregulated. There is retention hyperkeratosis at the level of the follicular infundibulum, meaning keratinocytes are not shedding appropriately and instead accumulate within the follicular opening.”
“This creates a compact keratin plug that obstructs the follicle. The trapped keratin and hair shaft can then provoke mild perifollicular inflammation, which is why many patients see surrounding erythema,” she explained.
How to Prevent Keratosis Pilaris Flare-Ups
“You can’t prevent keratosis pilaris entirely because it’s largely genetic, but you can absolutely reduce flare-ups and make it much less noticeable. KP behaves more like a chronic texture tendency than an acute condition. The key is consistent maintenance, not aggressive treatment,” Dr. Chan said.
Best Skincare Routine for Keratosis Pilaris
Dr. Chan suggested “consistent use of a thick moisturizer” to reduce barrier dysfunction, with “gentle chemical exfoliants” to increase skin turnover and reduce bumpiness, and topical retinoids which can “help to regulate keratinocyte turnover and reduce the follicular plugging.”
CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin
Made with essential ceramides and salicylic acid, this lotion gently exfoliates and softens to smooth rough skin. It’s lightweight but nourishing, and won’t leave your skin feeling greasy.
Made with essential ceramides and salicylic acid, this lotion gently exfoliates and softens to smooth rough skin. It’s lightweight but nourishing, and won’t leave your skin feeling greasy.
AmLactin Daily Nourish Therapeutic Body Lotion
This body moisturizer exfoliates while moisturizing thanks to lactic acid and glycerin, and encourages natural skin turnover for transformative results.
This body moisturizer exfoliates while moisturizing thanks to lactic acid and glycerin, and encourages natural skin turnover for transformative results.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
This isn’t just for your face! This liquid exfoliant, made with 2% BHA, boosts cell turnover to noticeably clear congestion, improve clarity and smooth texture.
This isn’t just for your face! This liquid exfoliant, made with 2% BHA, boosts cell turnover to noticeably clear congestion, improve clarity and smooth texture.
“There are some great retinol body lotions, as well as body products with AHAs. Urea is also a great ingredient that is hydrating, as well as gently exfoliating,” she said.
