However, retinoids are also notoriously irritating. In order to ensure they don’t make any inflammation worse, Dr. Shah suggests using a retinol product specifically made for the body. These options typically have a lower concentration than formulas for your face, he says. A couple to try: Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion ($18, Target) and Nécessaire The Body Retinol ($55, Sephora). No matter your lotion of choice, use it daily if your skin can tolerate it, otherwise scale back to two or three times per week, he recommends.
Over-the-counter cortisone creams
Dr. Madfes recommends keeping this one in your back pocket as a fast fix when a KP flare pops up at an inopportune time, like before a big event. It won’t help with the bumps, but it will tamp down inflammation and improve the overall appearance of your skin by making it look less discolored, she says. Still, she’s quick to note that OTC cortisone creams (which usually come in a 1% concentration, FYI) don’t target the root causes of KP like the options above do. In other words, slathering one on day in and day out isn’t going to get rid of your KP. But if you’re desperate to temporarily make your skin look better for a few days or so, it’s worth a try.
Three KP “treatments” that won’t work
Physical exfoliation alone
Unlike the chemical options above, physical exfoliants like scrubs just, yep, physically remove dead skin. But, on their own, they’re not the best option for KP. “You really need some type of chemical exfoliation to first loosen the dead cells before you try to slough them away,” notes Dr. Madfes. You can’t just “scrub” the bumps off, adds Dr. Shah. “People go to town with scrubs or exfoliating gloves and exfoliate their skin into oblivion,” he says. This aggressive approach may make your skin a little smoother, but it’s also irritating and can make any existing inflammation worse, he adds.
All that being said, it’s possible to safely incorporate physical exfoliants into your bump-banishing routine, with a few caveats. If you’re going to use a scrub, pick a gentle one that also contains a chemical exfoliant, Dr. Shah says. He likes the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub ($30, Sephora) which combines pumice beads alongside glycolic and lactic acids. Use it a few times per week, always following with a gentle moisturizer, as part of your KP maintenance protocol.
Dr. Madfes says you can also pair a body wash that contains an alpha-hydroxy acid with a good old-fashioned washcloth for physical exfoliation. One to try: Naturim The Smoother Glycolic Acid Body Wash ($16, Amazon). If you go with this combo, you’ll want to do it a few times per week too, she adds.
Benzoyl peroxide
According to Dr. Madfes, KP is often mistaken for acne, and as such, people reach for benzoyl peroxide to get rid of it. And while BP is a tried-and-true acne treatment, it’s not going to do much for “chicken skin.” “Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial ingredient, and keratosis pilaris is not a bacterial issue,” she explains.
Diet changes
Lots of people on social media claim that eating less gluten helped with their keratosis pilaris, but there’s no correlation between the two, says Dr. Shah, who adds that there are no dietary interventions that will help KP. He hypothesizes that what these folks may actually have is dermatitis herpetiformis, a skin condition caused by a gluten intolerance that manifests as red or blistery-looking bumps. (The big difference: These bumps are itchy and even painful, whereas KP is not.)
The annoying truth: Keratosis pilaris can be a huge hassle. But, while you can’t cure it or get rid of it completely, the derm-backed tips and tricks above can go a long way toward keeping the condition under control and improving the look (and feel) of your skin. And when it comes to KP, that’s really all you can ask for.
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