By Jeanine B. Downie, M.D. Photo by YouBeauty
It’s shorts and sleeveless
season! And that means about 40 percent of us will notice hard little
bumps scattered on our arms, shoulders, backs, butts or thighs that
typically don’t come with other symptoms aside from occasional
itchiness.
If you’ve tried to treat these
stubborn growths in the past, you know that traditional cleansers and
scrubs have no clearing effect.
The annoying yet harmless
condition is known as keratosis pilaris. A variant of eczema, the bumps
tend to plague people who have a family history of atopic dermatitis—or
dry skin marked by scaly patches.
Dry
weather aggravates keratosis pilaris, so you may see more bumps during
the winter months, but heat and humidity can also trigger the condition.
It’s more of a bother in the summer when we’re wearing skin-baring
styles, and the last thing you want is chicken skin at the beach.
The problem starts when extra
skin cells cluster around hair follicles, causing a knob to form and
elevate. The hair can then get trapped underneath the cells, sometimes
turning into a brown or red dot that you can see in the center of the
bump. Unfortunately, there’s no cure or way to entirely stop the process
yet.
But here’s the good news:
Occasionally, keratosis pilaris can get better as you get older. And if
you don’t outgrow it, certain strategies can help you keep things under
control and your skin looking much better.
What Doesn’t Work:
Picking. Now, we
all know you’re not supposed to pick skin, but some people think that
picking these non-acne bumps is harmless. Not so! Picking is out of the
question and can lead to unsightly scarring that’s far worse than the
bump you started out with, so resist the urge.
Scrubbing. Rub
all you want, but you’ll only end up with bumps that are now irritated
and red. The problem is not the top surface of skin, but the building up
of cells underneath the surface, so no amount of superficial
exfoliation will clear the issue.
What Works:
Chemical exfoliators. Both glycolic acid and lactic acid can help a little bit, especially in the form of a wash. I recommend Vivité Exfoliating Cleanser with 15 percent glycolic acid.
Retinoids. I
give patients topical retinoids to help improve the condition by going
deep below the surface of skin to exfoliate cells. You can tolerate a
higher percentage ingredient on your body than on your face, and I
recommend SkinMedica Retinol Complex 1.0 as a top over-the-counter option.
Moisturization. To
instantly make bumps look and feel better, use a deeply hydrating
moisturizer. This will definitely help soften the feel and look of
bumps, though keep in mind that it won’t help prevent the condition from
forming if you’re genetically prone.
Gentle cleansing. Harsh
soaps can dry out skin and exacerbate the rough texture of bumps. I
recommend using a hydrating soap free of detergent such as Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash or Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash. And be sure to moisturize bump-prone areas within a minute of stepping out of the shower.
Sunscreen. Again,
while sunscreen won’t prevent the condition from forming, it can make a
significant difference in preventing bumps from worsening and looking
more obvious. The sun’s damaging rays are known to aggravate keratosis
pilaris. Wear sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day to encourage
smoother skin.
Remember, these bumps are
extremely common, so don’t feel so self-conscious about them. By
incorporating these simple habits that are good for your overall health
too, you can feel more confident putting on that tank top or sundress
this summer with the best accessory there is: glowing skin!
No comments:
Post a Comment