Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a skin disorder that's usually described as 'chicken skin' or 'goose bumps'. KP can appear just about anywhere on your body but upper arms, back, buttocks and thighs are the most common areas where you can find this condition. This condition is distinguished by small skin bumps that are hard to the touch. Keratosis pilaris is a benign skin condition but most people affected by this ailment want to find something that will eliminate the problem. Unfortunately they aren't many treatments available, but there are some remedies you can try to get rid of KP.

A buildup of keratin is what causes keratosis pilaris. Keratin is a hard protein that shields our skin from dangerous substances and harmful bacteria. The keratin in your skin starts forming a scaly plug that blocks the opening of the hair follicle. This process is also known as hyperkeratinization. The hyperkeratinization of hair follicles causes the skin to have a rough texture, which is the main reason why people seek treatment.

How To Treat KP

There are unfortunately no cures for keratosis pilaris, only treatments. The following are some really effective tips to deal with KP:

Exfoliating is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make your skin smooth and bump-free. Use a loofah or a rough cloth to gently exfoliate your skin while showering. Scrub gently as over-scrubbing can make the condition worse. If you want to enhance the results of exfoliating, purchase a microdermabrasion cream or a gentle scrub that contains natural ingredients. The combination of using an abrading tool in addition to the natural ingredients will help make your skin smoother. Use warm water to treat KP. Hot water will inflame and irritate KP and cold water will prevent pores from opening and unclogging.

Moisturizing is another really effective way of preventing keratosis pilaris, especially if you use natural products that contain a natural form of salicylic acid and snail secretion. Willow bark extract can effectively unclog hard keratin plugs while snail secretion acts by deeply moisturizing and regenerating the skin. This combination of ingredients also prevents the production of excess keratin which will in essence prevent the formation of skin bumps.