Keratosis Pilaris, Chicken Skin - Treating Dry Bumpy Skin | Special Tips for Black Skin | Ask Doctor
Summary
TLDRIn this informative video, Dr. Semi discusses keratosis pilaris, a common chronic dry skin condition affecting hair follicles. She explains the buildup of dead skin cells, its appearance on various skin tones, and its higher prevalence in women and children. The video offers practical advice on managing the condition through self-care, skincare, and professional treatments, emphasizing the importance of moisturizing and gentle exfoliation. Dr. Semi also addresses common mistakes that can worsen the condition and provides reassurance that, although chronic, keratosis pilaris can improve with age and proper care.
Takeaways
- 😷 Keratosis pilaris is a common chronic dry skin condition affecting hair follicles with a buildup of dead skin cells.
- 📍 It is characterized by small, rough bumps on areas such as the upper arms, thighs, cheeks, buttocks, and back.
- 👀 The condition's appearance varies with skin tone; it can look red in fair skin and as just bumps in skin of color.
- 👩⚕️ It is more common in women, children, and adolescents, and often improves with age.
- 🌡️ Keratosis pilaris tends to improve in summer and worsen in winter, possibly due to environmental factors like central heating.
- 🧬 The condition is not fully understood but is believed to have a genetic component and is not contagious.
- 🛁 Self-care includes taking lukewarm showers to avoid stripping the skin of natural oils and waxes.
- 🧼 Avoid using soap, which can dry out the skin and exacerbate the condition; opt for gentle cleansers instead.
- 💧 Moisturizing while skin is still damp can help lock in hydration and improve the symptoms of keratosis pilaris.
- 🧪 Chemical exfoliation with products containing alpha hydroxy acids like lactic acid can gently exfoliate and hydrate the skin.
- 🏥 Professional treatments such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser therapy can be considered for more severe cases.
Q & A
What is keratosis pilaris?
-Keratosis pilaris is a common chronic dry skin condition that affects the hair follicles. It is characterized by a buildup of dead skin cells around the hair follicle due to improper shedding, leading to blocked pores and the appearance of small, raised bumps or mounds on the skin.
How does keratosis pilaris manifest on the skin?
-Keratosis pilaris causes dry, bumpy skin that feels like a mixture of dead skin cells mixed with oil. It often appears as 'permanent goosebumps' and can be found on areas such as the outer surfaces of the upper arms, outer thighs, cheeks, buttocks, and back.
What does keratosis pilaris look like on different skin tones?
-On the fairest skin tones, keratosis pilaris can appear as red spots around hair follicles or with a red background. In skin of color, such as black or Asian skin, the redness is not visible, and only the bumps are seen, which can vary in color from skin-colored to light brown, dark brown, or black.
Is keratosis pilaris more common in certain groups of people?
-Yes, keratosis pilaris tends to affect women more than men and is more common in children and adolescents. It is also more prevalent in people who suffer from eczema, dry skin, or have a history of atopy (a tendency to have allergies and suffer from conditions like hay fever).
Does keratosis pilaris have any seasonal variations?
-Keratosis pilaris seems to improve in the summer and worsen in the winter. This could be due to the central heating in winter, which increases transepidermal water loss and can aggravate the condition.
How can keratosis pilaris affect a person's life?
-Although harmless, keratosis pilaris can cause emotional distress or despair. It can lead to self-consciousness, affect fashion choices, and impact self-esteem and overall life due to concerns about the skin condition and what others may think.
Is keratosis pilaris hereditary?
-Yes, genetics play a part in keratosis pilaris. If someone in your family has it, you are more likely to have it as well. It is thought to be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning there is a 50% chance of inheriting it if one parent has the condition.
Is keratosis pilaris contagious?
-No, keratosis pilaris is not contagious. It cannot be transmitted by rubbing against someone else's arm or by rubbing your arm on a different part of your body.
What are some self-care tips for managing keratosis pilaris?
-Self-care for keratosis pilaris includes taking lukewarm showers instead of hot ones to avoid stripping the skin of natural oils, and exfoliating either physically with a brush, washcloth, or pumice stone, or chemically with a moisturizer containing alpha hydroxy acid like lactic acid.
What are some common mistakes that can worsen keratosis pilaris?
-Common mistakes include taking hot showers, which can dry out the skin, and using soap to wash, which can strip the skin of its natural oils and lead to transepidermal water loss, aggravating the condition.
What professional treatments are available for keratosis pilaris?
-Professional treatments for keratosis pilaris can include microdermabrasion, chemical peels with beta hydroxy acids, and laser treatments such as pulsed dye laser for redness associated with the condition. It's important to choose a professional experienced with darker skin tones to avoid pigmentation issues.
How can moisturizing help with keratosis pilaris?
-Moisturizing helps with keratosis pilaris by hydrating the skin and trapping water within the stratum corneum, the topmost layer of the skin. It is recommended to moisturize while the skin is still damp to lock in hydration and improve the condition.
What role do vitamin A derivative creams play in treating keratosis pilaris?
-Vitamin A derivative creams, also known as retinoids, can improve keratosis pilaris by speeding up and normalizing the skin cell turnover and promoting exfoliation. However, they should be used with caution, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Outlines
🔍 Understanding Keratosis Pilaris
In the first paragraph, the video discusses keratosis pilaris, a common chronic dry skin condition affecting hair follicles. It explains that the condition is characterized by a buildup of dead skin cells around the hair follicles due to improper shedding, leading to visible bumps on areas like the upper arms, thighs, and cheeks. The video also touches on the fact that the condition is more common in women, children, and adolescents, and is often associated with a history of allergies or eczema. It tends to improve in summer and worsen in winter due to environmental factors. The video emphasizes that while harmless, keratosis pilaris can impact self-esteem and lifestyle choices. The condition is not contagious and is likely inherited genetically, with a 50% chance if one parent has it.
🛁 Self-Care and Skin Care for Keratosis Pilaris
The second paragraph focuses on self-care and skin care strategies for managing keratosis pilaris. It advises against hot showers as they strip the skin of natural oils, exacerbating the condition. The video suggests lukewarm showers and exfoliation, either physically with a brush or chemically with products containing alpha hydroxy acids like lactic acid. Moisturizing while the skin is still damp is recommended to lock in hydration. The use of moisturizers with salicylic acid or retinoids is also discussed as beneficial for the condition. Professional treatments such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser therapy are mentioned as options for those seeking more aggressive treatment, with a cautionary note on the need for experienced practitioners, especially for individuals with darker skin tones to avoid hyperpigmentation.
🚫 Common Mistakes in Managing Keratosis Pilaris
The third paragraph highlights common mistakes that can worsen keratosis pilaris. It warns against using soap, which can strip the skin of its natural oils and barrier, leading to dryness and exacerbating the condition. Instead, a gentle cleanser or oil-based cleanser is recommended to maintain skin moisture. The video concludes by reassuring viewers that keratosis pilaris, although a chronic condition, can be managed with various treatments and that it is more common than people might think, affecting a significant percentage of children and adolescents. It encourages sharing the video with those who might benefit from the information and invites viewers to subscribe for more content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Keratosis Pilaris
💡Dry Skin
💡Exfoliation
💡Moisturizing
💡Retinoids
💡Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)
💡Hyperpigmentation
💡Genetics
💡Eczema
💡Cosmetic Treatments
Highlights
Keratosis pilaris is a common chronic dry skin condition affecting hair follicles.
It occurs due to a buildup of dead skin cells that don't shed properly, leading to blocked pores and raised lumps.
The condition typically appears on visible areas such as upper arms, thighs, cheeks, buttocks, and back.
Keratosis pilaris can make the skin feel dry and bumpy with a texture likened to permanent goosebumps.
In fair skin, it may appear as red spots; in skin of color, it presents as colorless or brownish bumps.
The condition is more common in women, children, adolescents, and those with a history of allergies or eczema.
Keratosis pilaris tends to improve in summer and worsen in winter due to environmental factors.
It is a harmless condition, but it can impact self-esteem and daily life choices.
Genetics play a role in keratosis pilaris, often inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.
The condition is not contagious and cannot be transferred to others or different body parts.
Diagnosis is based on appearance, sometimes requiring a biopsy to rule out similar-looking conditions.
Self-care for keratosis pilaris includes taking lukewarm showers to avoid stripping skin's natural oils.
Exfoliation, either physical or chemical, can help manage the condition by removing dead skin cells.
Moisturizing while the skin is still damp is an effective method to lock in hydration.
Use of alpha hydroxy acid like lactic acid in moisturizers can gently exfoliate and hydrate the skin.
For skin of color, chemical exfoliation is preferred over physical methods to avoid hyperpigmentation.
Clinic treatments such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser therapy can be considered for severe cases.
Common mistakes that worsen the condition include using hot showers and harsh soaps.
Opt for gentle cleansers or oil-based ones to maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier.
Keratosis pilaris is a widespread condition that often resolves as individuals age.
Transcripts
today's video I want to talk to you
about keratosis pilaris you will learn
what it is how do you get it how do you
treat it and also what are the common
mistakes that people with keratosis
pilaris make that can actually make the
condition worse
so I've experienced that before in skin
of color so such as black skin or Asian
ski can I transfer it to different parts
of my body and the answer they work by
speeding up and normalizing the way so
for skin of color
I really prefer and recommend hello
ladies I'm doctor semi former surgeon
current GP and cosmetic doctor welcome
to a channel where we discuss all things
skin and women's health keratosis
pilaris is a common chronic dry skin
condition and it affects the hair
follicles in this condition there is a
buildup of dead skin cells because the
skin cells just don't shed properly
around the hair follicle which means
that they hang around for longer and
they block the pores and causes these
little mounds or raised lumps these
bumps tend to be on areas of the skin
where other people can see so on the
outer surfaces of the upper arms on the
outer thighs sometimes on the cheeks it
can also be on the buttocks and on the
back to touch the skin will feel dry and
it also feels bumpy you're feeling a
mixture of dead skin cells mixed with
oil or see them it looks like a
permanent goosebumps it's also known as
chicken skin which is a term that I
really really hate because who must be
compared to a plucked chicken no.1 the
way that it looks depends on the type of
skin tone that you're looking at so in
fairest skin tones it can look like red
spots where the hair follicles are or it
can look like in polar sports and then
you can have a red kind of background to
it in skin of color so such as black
skin or Asian skin you won't see any
business you will just see the bumps
which can vary in color they can be skin
colored they can be light brown or they
can be darker brown or black
and if there is irritation associated
with it because it can sometimes be
itchy because it's dry these bulbs can
become hyper pigmented so you can
actually have an area that looks like
black spots it's a really common
condition and it tends to affect women
more than men and it also tends to be
more common in children and in
adolescent as we get older it gradually
gets better by itself and can burn
itself out it also tends to be more
common in people that suffer from eczema
or just dry skin in general and also in
people that have a history of a2p this
is the way in medicine that we describe
people who have a tendency to have
allergies and suffer from things like
hay fever the condition seems to get
better in the summer and then worse in
the winter and this could just be due to
the fact that in the winter we've got
the central heating on in our
environment and that encourages water to
be evaporated from the skin such as
known as trans epidermal water loss and
this can then aggravate the condition
now although this condition is harmless
and treatments for it are seen as
cosmetic it can actually cause a lot of
emotion or despair because women will
often want to hide their arms it can
affect your fashion choices it can
affect your self-esteem and just
generally your life because you're
thinking about this skin condition and
worrying about what other people think
of it and also investing a lot of time
and effort in hiding it as with a lot of
chronic conditions we don't know the
exact cause but we know that genetics
plays the part so if somebody in your
family has it then you are more likely
to have it and we think that it's
inherited in an autosomal dominant way
which means if one or other of your
parents had it then there is a 50%
chance that you would have it I can hear
some of you now saying yeah but I don't
know anybody in my family that has it
and I have it that can happen as well
because you know life doesn't present as
the medical textbooks describe it to us
so that is possible as well the other
question that I get from patients about
this is is it contagious you know if
I rub up on somebody's arm can they
catch it or what if I rub my arm on a
different part of my body
can I transfer it to different parts of
my body and the answer it is no you
can't you can't it's not contagious as
doctors how do we diagnose keratosis
pilaris there isn't really a special
test you diagnose it from the appearance
in some cases a biopsy is required
because there are other skin conditions
that can look like camtasia's pilaris
there are different I want to move on
now to treatment how can we manage this
condition and although there's no cure
it can be managed so I like to think of
this in three different parts so self
care skin care and then clinica firstly
self care what can you do for yourself
to improve this condition have luke warm
showers so if you're somebody like me
who absolutely wants to be roasted when
they're in the shower this will make the
keratosis pilaris
worse and the reason is because having a
hot shower really strips and melts away
some of the natural oils that are on the
skin and some of the natural waxes which
means that the skin is dry so I've
experienced that before but I've had a
really hot shower at the time it feels
amazing and you step out of the shower
and you dry yourself and you just feel
parched you're really really dry so
that's the reason why you get that so
anything that's gonna dry your skin out
more or strip away the oils is going to
make it worse because this condition is
to do with an abnormality of the way
that the skin cells are exfoliating so
they're not coming to the surface and
falling off properly they're hanging
around for a lot longer exfoliating also
can help to make this condition better
you can exfoliate in two ways you can go
to the physical route or the chemical
route so with the physical route you're
using something to literally buff away
the dead skin cells so that could be for
example a brush or washcloth or a pumice
stone this is one thing that I want to
add about physical exfoliation and if
you watch some of my previous videos you
have heard me say this before if you are
a woman of color physical exfoliation it
can irritate the skin enough to cause
high
of pigmentation so it's possible that
you could find the in areas where you've
been rubbing to get the skin cells off
that this area can actually become more
noticeable because then it becomes
pigmented so for skin of color
I really prefer and recommend a chemical
exfoliation and all this could mean is
using a moisturizer that contains an
alpha hydroxy acid such as lattic acid
for example which will gently exfoliate
the skin cells but lactic acid is also
hydrating and it will really help with
the symptoms of keratosis pilaris skin
care on this theme of dry skin
conditions they respond really well too
yes you got it
moisturizing moisturizing can really
help with this condition a really good
tip for this is to moisturize your skin
when it's still damp so when you step
out of the shower you will have water on
the surface of your skin but your
stratum corneum which is the topmost
layer of your skin will also be hydrated
it will have water within it so the
trick is to track that water in your
stratum corneum or a moisturizing whilst
your skin is damp be the hydroxy acid
love oil and remember that we're trying
to clear out the follicle so any acid
that loves oil will be drawn inside the
follicle it will be able to kind of whip
out the inside of that follicle almost
like a whirlwind and clear it from the
dead skin cells and from the sebum so
for example CeraVe does a really good
moisturizer that contains of 3% of
salicylic acid and I would actually use
this help with keratosis pilaris
metalloids which are vitamin a
derivative creams can also improve
keratosis pilaris they work by speeding
up and normalizing the weight of the
skin cells turnover and exfoliate I
would only really recommend this if you
have small patches of skin effectives
such as just the outer arms and be
careful because you shouldn't be using
it in pregnancy or breastfeeding and
finally professional care I'm not saying
that you need to have professional care
to treat keratosis pilaris because you
might find that with the self-care that
I've described and the skin care routine
you're able to control the condition and
that you're happy with the results but
for some people they might just want to
go that one step further so in clinic
options can include procedures such as
microdermabrasion it would be a little
bit more wary for us black women using
this particular form of physical
exfoliation because of the risk of
getting hyperpigmentation another option
is to have a chemical peel which can be
quite helpful especially if it contains
a beta hydroxy acids such as fancy lip
acid there are also laser treatments
available there's something called a
pulsed dye laser which is a vascular
laser this can be helpful for women who
have that background redness associated
with the keratosis pilaris if you are
going to go down the laser route please
make sure that you choose someone who is
experienced and knowledgeable with using
laser especially if you are offered
darker skin tone so that's black skin
Asian skin Hispanic middle-eastern skin
because we form pigmentation if our skin
is irritated so we have to be really
careful when we're using lasers and I
just want to finish by talking about
some common mistakes that people with
keratosis pilaris make that can
inadvertently make the condition worse
so I've talked about the first one
already which was having a hot shower
the other one is using a soap to wash
now soap is a detergent and it can't
discriminate between oil that's you've
picked up just from your day to day
tivities and from the environment and
that's coming from your skin and also
the natural and protective oils that
make up your natural skin barrier so
that means it will leave your skin
really dry and not having that
protective layer of oil on the surface
of the skin means it's much easier for
water to evaporate from the surface of
the skin and this is called trans
epidermal water loss so using a soap can
actually aggravate keratosis pilaris
instead I would say should opt for a
gentle cleanser one that's not going to
strip your skin of its natural oils or a
cleanser that is oil-based so that
you're actually adding moisture back
into the skin if you have this condition
you are not alone don't diss
there is chronic but there are still
lots of things that you can do to
improve the appearance it's more common
than you think I've seen figures that up
to thirty to forty percent of children
have it and most adolescents also have
it and it's awesome conditioner that
tends to burn itself out and tends to
get better as we get older I really hope
that you found that video useful if you
know somebody in the suffers from
keratosis pilaris
or somebody that you think would find
this video valuable please share it and
if you've enjoyed the video give it a
thumbs up subscribe for more content
like this see you in the next video
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