KERATOSIS PILARIS

PREVENT: Keratosis pilaris is a harmless but sometimes annoying condition in which the skin feels rough and bumpy – as if covered in permanent goose pimples. Sometimes called ‘chicken skin’, it is caused by too much keratin building up in hair follicles and is often most noticeable on the upper arms. They can sometimes appear as tiny red spots. It can’t be prevented as it is genetic, affecting one in three people in the UK, with women, children and eczema sufferers particularly prone. But the condition often disappears spontaneously in adulthood.

TREAT: Using soap-free cleansers – such as aqueous cream – to wash may improve the skin’s rough feel and bumpy appearance, followed by moisturising. However, overthe-counter creams containing salicylic acid, urea, lactic acid or the more expensive Vitamin A derivative retinol offer the most effective reduction in bumps. Exfoliating may also help, as this can reduce the keratin build-up, but this should be done gently to avoid damaging the skin. Choose a loofah over a pumice stone, or for specialoccasion silky-soft skin, consider special ‘retexturising pads’ saturated in glycolic acid. Tepid, rather than hot, baths are also recommended.

DON’TDO BOTHER:

Microdermabrasion, an expensive spa treatment, and chemical peels requiring specialist application have not been proven to offer relief.