Keratosis Pilaris: All You Need To Know About Your 'Chicken Skin'

Do you suffer from rough, bumpy skin on your upper arms, thighs, buttocks or all three? You may have a skin condition called keratosis pilaris (commonly known as ‘chicken skin’).

The reason I ask is because I myself have (and hate!) it too. In fact, research has shown that up to 50 per cent of the population suffer from ‘KP’, so I thought it was well worth investigating it a bit further.

I spoke to Dr Li-Chuen Wong, a consultant dermatologist at Sydney Skin, about what causes the unsightly condition, as well the best treatment. Here’s what you need to know:

It’s harmless

According to Dr Wong, keratosis pilaris is very common and has a 50 per cent chance of being passed on to a patient’s children. If you have dry skin, you're even more likely to have keratosis pilaris. The condition is usually worse in the winter months, when there's less moisture in the air, and then may clear up in the summer. But although it can be butt-ugly looking (and on a bad day, seriously restrict your wardrobe choices), keratosis pilaris is a benign condition and won’t affect your overall health.

It doesn’t just affect your arms

In my case, keratosis pilaris affects just my upper arms, however, it can also be present on the cheeks, anterior thighs, buttocks and the back of the thighs. But what exactly causes the bumps? According to Dr Wong, a buildup of keratin, or dead skin cells, which form a "plug that blocks the opening of the hair follicles". Unfortunately, doctors don't know what triggers the buildup – but we do know that it differs to acne, which is caused by bacteria. Although keratoris pilaris can form whiteheads that look similar to acne, the bumps are usually harder and tougher (unless they become infected).

Keratosis pilaris

It varies in appearance

While the condition is characterised by rough, bumpy skin, it can vary quite a bit in appearance. “An underlying redness may be seen, worsened after exercise or overheating,” reveals Dr Wong. Keratosis pilaris usually doesn’t cause any other symptoms, though occasionally it may be itchy – particularly if your skin is very dry.

It’s difficult to treat

Unfortunately for sufferers of keratosis pilaris, it’s a notoriously difficult condition to treat. Dr Wong recommends a twice-daily application of exfoliating creams containing salicylic acid or lactic acid to help slough away excess dead skin cells and break down the dead and dry surface layer of the skin. Try Paula's Choice Resist Weightless Body Treatment or LANATE Body Topical Cream ($25.39, chemistwarehouse.com.au).

Loofahs and hand mitts such as Bump eRaiser Exfoliating Mitt may also be useful in decreasing the roughness. Frustratingly though, if these treatments are stopped, the keratotic papules will often soon reappear. If mere exfoliation doesn’t seem to be working, Dr Wong says vascular laser sessions “may also help with the underlying redness, though complete response to treatment is rare.”

You should still moisturise

While at times I’ve been tempted to skip the moisturiser for fear of exacerbating the condition, Dr Wong stresses that moisturising with a nourishing lotion such as Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisturising Lotion or DermaVeen Everyday Moisturising Lotion will help with reducing the rough sensation. In my personal experience, rubbing the affected area with cold-pressed coconut oil in the shower has also helped to reduce the bumpiness.

Do you suffer from keratosis pilaris? How has it affected you and what treatments have you tried?

139 Member Comments

Miss19 15 Nov 2018 3:42 PM

Thankfully I dont have this

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ashlee. 29 Apr 2018 3:35 AM

I have this on the backs of my arms and all over my legs :( I was doing really well with the Lanate Body Cream, until I started using fake tan over summer and had a break from Lanate. Now I’m back to step 1!

ashlee. 10 Jul 2019 1:13 AM

Whoops, looks like it has been a year since I neglected this routine! I have just purchased Paula's Choice Resist Weightless Body Treatment, so I'm hoping that will do the trick for me. Dry brushing seems to help a bit too!

Popsicle 8 Feb 2018 9:38 AM

Great article bh! I get this condition too, mainly on my upper arms and calves. I started using st ives mandarin facial scrub on the affected areas every second day and its really effective, smells great and a good price point too $9.95.

AP1992 24 Apr 2017 1:32 PM

I think Hilary duff said it best exfoliation

Meedee 11 Jan 2017 8:43 AM

I had this for many years on my upper arms. It didnt bother me that much and i just figured it was normal. I would always moisturise and exfoliate, etc and one day i noticed that I no longer had this problem. I have no idea how or what i used that solved the problem but its now gone which is amazing as I had it since I was in my teens. Im now in my early 50's.

13words 17 May 2018 11:01 AM

Lucky thing!!

makeupcat 11 Jan 2017 1:09 AM

I have it but it's very mild. I just try to use moisturisers with the most simple and least ingredients. Mainly Australian-made products because I find them really gentle on the skin.

Jenniqua 9 Jan 2017 2:46 PM

I think I get a little bit of this on my upper arms, as sometimes I get the hard white bumps. Mine doesn't seem to be too serious though.

Beautybabe140194 9 Jan 2017 1:51 PM

Luckily I do not have this but I have other skin conditions like eczema so I can get rough itchy patches in my skin.

Lois389 9 Jan 2017 2:45 AM

I was so self conscious of this as a teenager! I always had it on my thighs and arms. I used to exfoliate so often and it didn't improve. Currently not noticeable and I'm assuming it's because it's summer.

Trish_D 8 Jan 2017 9:56 PM

Very thankful I don't have this problem.

jatz 8 Jan 2017 9:08 PM

I have had this in the past but never knew it was. Thanks BH - an interesting article.

Yohanna 8 Jan 2017 4:10 PM

I exfoliate well, focus on high carb (raw fruit) diet to clean up the skin/blood and hydrate well, and use only natural based skincare afterwards on. I do try to keep my showers as short as possible and dry the city water off well immediately. This helps to bring my skin back to glowy and soft, no bumps.

Yohanna 8 Jan 2017 4:05 PM

I looked at the pics how this condition looks like, and seems I have this in very mild form from time to time. It appears when I shower too long and often in city water (my skin sensitive on high amount of chlorine and other chemicals in it), use wrong skin products and eat too much of high fat/protein food.

emilykp 8 Jan 2017 3:41 PM

Ahhh I've had this my whole life it's so annoying I never knew what it was so I didn't know how to get rid of it!

Ellyloves 8 Jan 2017 3:16 PM

How interesting! I've never heard about this before today.

thelifeoflaura 8 Jan 2017 8:43 AM

I don't think I have this, it is interesting to read about though. I'd never heard of it before

josella432 7 Jan 2017 11:37 PM

I don't think I have this. I'm lucky.

13words 17 May 2018 11:02 AM

Very lucky!!

Sparkle 77 7 Jan 2017 9:34 PM

I found this article to be really enlightening because I always just presumed a good exfoliation and moisturiser would eliminate this problem, but I was wrong.

CherryBlossom 7 Jan 2017 8:23 PM

I have this in the back of my arms, and near my elbows, using a good body scrub and applying lotion has reduced it a bit. If I don't use the body scrub, it comes back almost the same day :(

Chicklet 7 Jan 2017 7:43 PM

I'm lucky not to have experienced this.

13words 17 May 2018 11:03 AM

You certainly are!

bebeautiful34 7 Jan 2017 7:34 PM

I totally have this, it's a lot more pronounced than in the photo shown, and I used to never wear sleeveless tops, or wear boleros or shrugs or wraps (I have quite a collection of boleros!). Exfoliating, moisturising, special creams from the dermatologist all failed miserably. But then, as I got older I started to not care so much about it and just wore whatever I liked, and miraculously it improved ever-so-slightly. It's still very noticeable, but now that I've stopped picking at it, it's not all blotchy and red anymore.

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