Although harmless and super common, keratosis pilaris (KP) can be annoying. It shows itself as tiny red bumps or dry patches—often on the upper arms, thighs, cheeks (face and bum unfortunately). Here we’ll go into the cause of KP and what can be done to treat it. TLDR: there's hope!
What is keratosis pilaris, aka 'strawberry legs'?
The small bumps associated with KP are actually a buildup of the protein keratin. Keratin helps keep our skin strong and healthy, but sometimes it gets a bit overzealous. The excess keratin clogs up hair follicles (your pores) and causes those rough, bumpy patches to appear. The world of dermatology isn’t quite sure why some people develop KP and others don’t; it’s mostly down to genetics. It’s important to remember that it’s super common and completely normal.
How do you get rid of keratosis pilaris?
While KP may never completely go away, you can treat it! Since KP is essentially a clogged hair follicle, anything that will exfoliate that follicle and help lift excess protein and dead skin from the pore can reduce the appearance of KP.
Some things you can do to treat keratosis pilaris
- Exfoliation with a gentle scrubber helps remove the buildup of protein that causes those chicken-skin-like bumps.
- Stick to simple, fragrance-free skincare that won’t irritate and keeps skin hydrated—a key factor in preventing the buildup of keratin. Look for barrier-building and moisturising ingredients like Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E) and jojoba oil.
- Ease up on those atomic showers. Hot water can really dry you out.
- Try a humidifier! Dry air can make KP worse.
- Wear loose clothing. There’s some evidence that the friction from tight-fitting clothes can worsen KP.
Boie’s Face and Body Scrubbers are excellent options if you're looking for the best exfoliator for keratosis pilaris that’s still gentle and hypoallergenic. It’s also a good idea to try topical exfoliants like products with lactic acid and salicylic acid.
We get tons of reviews about our Scrubbers helping people with keratosis pilaris. Check out a couple below!
Fan mail 💌
Smooths KP skin
I have KP bumps on my arms, I have for as long as I can remember; the gentle daily exfoliation of the silicone “washcloth” has my skin smooth and soft. I will be buying more!
-DeAnne T.
LOVE
This thing is amazing! I originally got it just to be more sustainable and hygienic, but I was pleasantly surprised that it has promptly almost completely eliminated my keratosis pilaris (which loofahs would just irritate). AND it's easy to use with bar soaps! My skin and I highly recommend this scrubber.
-Rachel