Keratosis pilaris

What is keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is a very common skin rash that affects at least one in five children around the world. The rash consists of many small rough bumps in the hair follicles that look like “goose flesh”. Usually, the bumps are skin colour, but they can sometimes have a blotchy appearance or a white top that make them look like “white heads”.

Areas of the body affected by keratosis pilaris

How does keratosis pilaris affect the body?

Keratosis pilaris is harmless. It usually appears on the upper arms and thighs, but it sometimes affects other parts of the body such as the buttocks and cheeks.

Most people are not bothered by keratosis pilaris, but some might be bothered by the skin’s appearance. Most of the time, the skin only becomes irritated if it is very dry and becomes itchy or if your child picks at the bumps. Keratosis pilaris resolves with time or improves during summer, but, in some people, it remains the same for many years.

Rarely, keratosis pilaris can be a sign of an underlying genetic disease.

Keratosis pilaris

What causes keratosis pilaris?

Keratin is a protein that makes up a big part of our skin. Keratosis pilaris occurs when there is too much keratin in the hair follicles. The excess keratin forms hard plugs, which in turn create the skin bumps.

Keratosis pilaris is a genetic condition. This means that it can be inherited from one or both parents. It is a very common skin condition in children and young adults, especially during the winter. It often improves in adulthood.

How is keratosis pilaris diagnosed?

A health-care provider can diagnose keratosis pilaris simply by looking at your child’s skin and asking about their medical history.

How is keratosis pilaris treated?

Keratosis pilaris does not need to be treated unless it causes a lot of trouble. Unfortunately, no treatment can completely resolve keratosis pilaris, but moisturizers and special creams with urea and lactic acid may improve how it looks. These creams can sometimes irritate the skin, however, and are not recommended for small children.

Laser treatment has been used to treat severe cases of keratosis pilaris, but its main success has been in reducing the redness of the skin, not the bumpiness.

Gentle skin care is recommended. Exfoliating or rubbing the area is not encouraged because it can lead to irritation and make the skin turn red.

When to see a health-care provider for keratosis pilaris

See your child’s health-care provider if your child’s keratosis pilaris is itchy or if it affects many parts of their body (including their eyebrows, knees or elbows, for example). Many times, keratosis pilaris can be seen in children with eczema, so if your child’s skin is getting very itchy, their health-care provider can check to make sure no other treatment recommendations are needed.