Help with Keratosis pilaris?

My friend has this, also known as 'chicken skin' and such. She's very conscious about it and will always wear jackets and such to cover it up, even when she has an average and healthy looking body.


Is there anything she can do to reduce the sight of it (without paying so much?) seeing as it can't be cured? And how many people do you know with this harmless condition? Do you mind it on others? Does it disgust you? (I don't care about it, i'd just like an open view.)





Thankyou

Help with Keratosis pilaris?
Self-care


Although self-help measures won't cure keratosis pilaris, they may help improve the appearance of your skin. You may find these measures beneficial:


* Be gentle when washing your skin. Vigorous scrubbing or removal of the plugs may only irritate your skin and aggravate the condition.


* After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on the skin.


* Apply the moisturizing lotion or lubricating cream while your skin is still moist from bathing. Choose a moisturizer that contains urea or propylene glycol, chemicals that soften dry, rough skin.


* Apply an over-the-counter product that contains lactic acid twice daily. Lactic acid helps remove extra keratin from the surface of the skin.


* Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air inside your home. Low humidity dries out your skin.


Please see the web pages for more details on Keratosis pilaris.
Reply:Treatment of keratosis pilaris is not necessary, and unfortunately often has disappointing results. With persistence, most people can get very satisfactory improvement. Initial treatment should be intensive moisturizing. Try a cream such as Acid mantle, Vaseline or Complex 15 after bathing, and re-apply the cream again several times daily.





If this does not help, change to a medicated cream containing urea (Carmol, Vanomide, U-Kera, Ultra Mide, Nutraplus) or alpha-hydroxy acids (Aqua Glycolic, Lacticare) applied twice daily - it may be too irritating to use more often. More aggressive home treatment can be done if ones skin can tolerate it. The plugged pores can be removed by taking long, hot soaking tub baths and then rubbing the areas with a coarse washcloth, stiff brush, or 'Buf-Puf'.





Prescription medicines that may help include antibiotics (Erythromycin, Bactrim) if the spots are very red and Tazorac Cream. Tazorac, a relative of vitamin A, may cause irritation in some people.