Small hard bumps on your skin may occur if you have a condition known as keratosis pilaris. Keratosis pilaris is a harmless condition that does not get worse and may disappear with age. Karatosis pilaris bumps may look like "goose bumps". The bumps are coarse and similar to sand paper. You may get these bumps on your buttocks, thighs or face and the condition may seem worse in colder or dryer environments
Symptoms
Keratosis pilaris causes a fine, bumpy texture on your skin. This texture may occur on the outer parts of your upper arms and thighs. Keratosis pilaris bumps are skin-toned and approximately the size of grains of sand. Each bump may develop a slight pink hue around the outer edges.
Causes
Keratosis pilaris occurs when keratin builds up at hair follicles on your skin. Keratin is a hard protein that protects your skin from harmful substances and infection. Keratin forms a scaly plug that blocks the opening of the hair follicle. Conditions such as ichthyosis vulgaris or atopic dermatitis are associated with keratin accumulation and dry skin may worsen keratosis pilaris.
Moisturize
You cannot prevent keratosis pilaris but you can help minimize the severity by keeping your skin moist and healthy. Use thick moisturizers to seal moisture in your skin such as Eucerin and Cetaphil.Take short baths and use warm water. Long hot baths or showers remove oils from your skin, so limit your bath or shower time to about 15 minutes. Try not to use harsh soaps that dry your skin. Avoid deodorant and antibacterial soaps and detergents. Gently pat or blot your sin dry after bathing but do not rub it. Try to leave some moisture on your skin.
Treatment
Treatment for keratosis pilaris emphasizes softening keratin deposits in your skin. Topical exfoliants may include medicated creams that contain alpha hydroxy, lactic or salicylic acid that help moisturize your skin while loosening and removing dead skin cells. Topical corticosterioids such as hydrocortisone may help reduce cell overturn in your skin to reduce the build up of keratin. Topical retinoids that contain vitamin A also work by promoting cell overturn but prevent plugging up of your hair follicles.
Lifestyle Recommendations
You can help reduce the severity or incidence of keratosis pilaris with lifestyle practices that keep your skin healthy. Treat your skin gently. Do not rub your skin vigorously or pick at the bumps. Use daily over-the-counter moisturizers that contain lactic acid. Lactic acid helps remove extra keratin from the surface of your skin. Consider using a humidifier to keep moisture in the air.
