Facebook Pixel

Chicken Skin (Keratosis Pilaris): Why You Just Can't Get Rid of It

By
 
Rate This

An estimated 40- 50 percent of women have Keratosis Pilaris (KP), affectionately known as Chicken Skin. I was unfamiliar with the term until yesterday when I read an article that mentioned the ailment. It makes perfect sense when I think about it, or when I look at my arms—rough, bumpy patches of skin that do, in fact, resemble that of a chicken.

I have always noticed people with KP on their arms and noticed it on my own, but I never knew what it was called, what caused it, or how common it really is. KP occurs when excess keratin (a protein that makes up hair, skin, and nails) accumulates in hair follicles on the body. It can be found most commonly on the arms and thighs but can also occur on the back, torso, buttocks, and in some cases, the face.

KP is an inherited skin condition (sorry, if you have it, you're probably stuck with it). If a parent is affected there is a 1 in 2 chance that the offspring will also be affected. It is more prevalent in childhood and dissipates with age but it is not uncommon for adults to show symptoms. KP causes the skin to become dry and sometimes itchy and is usually worse in the winter because skin becomes much drier in the winter months. KP cannot be transmitted from one person to another by touch; it is not contagious or infectious. The bumps associated with KP are spiky, rough, and can look like goose bumps that do not go away.

Although there is no cure for KP, many dermatologists believe that keeping skin moisturized will help. Of course, there are a lot of products on the market that claim to help reduce the appearance of Chicken Skin. Skin creams or ointments containing lactic acid or salicylic acid, which are readily available at drugstores, have been shown to have better results than those containing no acids.

The bottom line: if you are looking to improve the appearance of your KP, there is no need to buy expensive moisturizing creams from department or specialty stores. Find a cheaper moisturizer at a drugstore (Wal Mart, Target, CVS, etc…) that contains salicylic or lactic acid and use it to keep the skin affected by KP moisturized. It may not completely get rid of it, but at least you will improve the appearance without spending an arm and a chicken leg!

Add a Comment29 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Im really sad that I have it on my legs. I cant even wear a skirt because my legs look gross. Im really depressed about this. Is there surgery on removing this ?

June 14, 2010 - 9:02pm

This Comment

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

oh this simply sucks.i had it on both of my hands and legs.And this makes me feel less confident to wear short pants and skirts,as i feared people might look and talked behind me that my skin is yucks!!!

February 11, 2010 - 7:59am

This Comment

Alison Beaver
Empowered
(reply to Anonymous)

Have you tried any of the suggested treatment options mentioned above? One of the topical treatments can be found at any local pharmacy/drug store.

Why do you feel that people would be talking behind your back? Have you had bad experiences in the past, or is this just a fear that you have...that it could happen?

Just to make sure...you have been diagnosed with KP, and not another skin condition, such as eczema? KP does not usually show up on hands (anything is possible, perhaps?), and is typically found on upper arms.

February 14, 2010 - 1:22pm

This Comment

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

i have had keratosis Pilaris for about 8yrs now..am turning 17 in a few day and its really frustrating dealing with it...is there a chance it will go away?

August 29, 2009 - 5:35pm

This Comment

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

There is a really cute, fun site that offers a plethora of information and tips on managing KP. It's called www.littleredbumps.com ....I was told to go on and actually found that there are really helpful tips. Hope it helps!

July 22, 2009 - 2:34pm

This Comment

alysiak
(reply to Anonymous)

Yes, that's a site sponsored by AmLactin. It is cute!

July 22, 2009 - 4:38pm

This Comment

Shannon Koehle

I have KP and as another person has stated, AmLactin works really well. You don't even have to get it on the website. You can get it anywhere, like CVS, Walgreens, and the like.

Really though, any good moisturizer will help the appearance. It might not dissipate completely, but I found it fades dramatically and I have pale skin, so like others, mine appears pinkish.

July 20, 2009 - 4:50pm

This Comment

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have suffered from KP for years. I found this new website the other day called littleredbumps.com that gives great advice on managing the dry skin associated with KP. I used the lotion they recommend as well and it worked wonders for my KP. It's called AmLactin and you can get it off the website and I'm pretty sure it's sold in pharmacies too.

Hope that helps!

July 20, 2009 - 1:54pm

This Comment

Alison Vavra

well ill try and whip up a miracle cure.... :)

July 10, 2009 - 7:55am

This Comment

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

good article. we want the next article to be about how to get rid of celulite

July 10, 2009 - 7:36am

This Comment

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment
Alison Vavra
View Profile Send Message

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.