Keratosis Pilaris, Chicken Skin - Treating Dry Bumpy Skin | Special Tips for Black Skin | Ask Doctor

Summary

In 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

00:00

🔍 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.

05:01

🛁 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.

10:01

🚫 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.

Keywords

💡Keratosis Pilaris

Keratosis pilaris is a common chronic skin condition characterized by the buildup of dead skin cells around hair follicles. This leads to the formation of small, rough bumps on the skin, often resembling 'goosebumps'. The condition is non-contagious and is more prevalent in women and children, with a tendency to improve with age. It is related to the video's theme as it is the central topic being discussed, with various aspects such as its appearance, causes, and treatment options being explored throughout the script.

💡Dry Skin

Dry skin is a condition where the skin lacks moisture and can feel rough or tight. In the context of the video, dry skin is a significant factor in keratosis pilaris, as the improper shedding of skin cells contributes to the condition. The script mentions that dry skin can exacerbate keratosis pilaris, and保湿, such as using moisturizers, is a recommended treatment to help manage the symptoms.

💡Exfoliation

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. In the video, it is suggested as a method to improve keratosis pilaris by helping to clear the blocked hair follicles. There are two types mentioned: physical exfoliation, which involves physically buffing away dead skin cells, and chemical exfoliation, which uses substances like alpha hydroxy acids to dissolve the dead skin. The script highlights the importance of choosing the right exfoliation method, especially for skin of color to avoid hyperpigmentation.

💡Moisturizing

Moisturizing refers to the application of a substance that helps to hydrate and soften the skin. In the video, moisturizing is presented as an essential part of managing keratosis pilaris due to the dry skin nature of the condition. The script recommends moisturizing while the skin is still damp to lock in hydration and suggests products containing ingredients like salicylic acid that can help clear follicles.

💡Retinoids

Retinoids are a class of compounds that are derived from vitamin A and are used in skincare for their ability to speed up skin cell turnover and reduce the appearance of fine lines and acne. In the context of the video, retinoids are suggested as a potential treatment for keratosis pilaris due to their exfoliating properties. However, the script also cautions against their use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

💡Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL)

Transepidermal water loss refers to the evaporation of water from the outer layers of the skin. The script explains that dry skin conditions like keratosis pilaris can be aggravated by TEWL, as the skin's natural barrier is compromised, allowing more water to escape. This concept is used to illustrate why certain practices, such as hot showers or using soap, can worsen the condition.

💡Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a condition where patches of skin become darker than the surrounding skin due to an excess of melanin. In the video, it is mentioned as a potential side effect of physical exfoliation for individuals with skin of color, as it can lead to irritation and darkening of the skin. The script advises caution with treatments that may cause irritation to avoid this issue.

💡Genetics

Genetics refers to the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics. The video script discusses the role of genetics in keratosis pilaris, suggesting that if a family member has the condition, an individual is more likely to develop it as well. It is mentioned that the condition may be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning that a 50% chance of having the condition exists if one parent has it.

💡Eczema

Eczema is a group of conditions that cause the skin to become red, itchy, and inflamed. In the video, eczema is mentioned as a related condition that may predispose individuals to keratosis pilaris. The script suggests that people who suffer from eczema or dry skin in general are more likely to experience keratosis pilaris, indicating a connection between these skin conditions.

💡Cosmetic Treatments

Cosmetic treatments refer to procedures or applications intended to enhance the appearance of the skin without necessarily addressing a medical condition. The script discusses various cosmetic treatments for keratosis pilaris, such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser treatments. These treatments are presented as options for individuals who wish to improve the cosmetic appearance of their skin affected by keratosis pilaris.

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

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