There is a no cure for keratosis pilaris. However, there are a variety of ways to treat keratosis pilaris. Some treatments include, topical lotions, exfoliating scrubs, sun-bathing and taking vitamins. The cost of treatments can be expensive and up to $100 per month just for topical lotions. This article will go over cost effective treatments for the price sensitive consumer.
Exfoliate - Make sure you exfoliate every other day with an abrasive loofah or scrub. I prefer to use the KP Heavy Duty body scrub from Derma Doctor, but you can go the cheaper route and use Cetaphil and a loofah. The key point is to exfoliate and get rid of the keratin build-up. The rough, bumpy skin that is caused by Keratosis Pilaris is due to an excessive amount of keratin that clogs the hair follicle. Exfoliating helps reduce and unclog the keratin buildup in your pores. Some people have very delicate skin that can not handle the abrasive nature of loofahs. If so, make sure to lightly exfoliate with a less abrasive scrub or loofah, but most importantly, you MUST exfoliate. Without exfoliating, your skin will always stay bumpy.
Use a topical lotion - After exfoliating and drying off, apply a topical lotion. For keratosis pilaris treatment, I would recommend a topical lotion that has a main ingredient which includes either lactic acid, retin-a or urea. Again, I use Derma Doctor KP Duty Repair Lotion, however its quite expensive (about $80 for the set). If you want to go a cheaper route, you can use AmLactin. AmLactin can be found in your local drug store. I bought my bottle of AmLactin at Wal-Greens for around $11. The only problem I had with AmLactin is that it stings when you apply it to skin that has cuts or scratches (it contains lactic acid). The benefits of using AmLactin is that it made the skin on my arms MUCH smoother. If you want to go even cheaper than AmLactin, you can use Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion. Eucerin also helped my skin become smooth.
Reminder, do NOT use scented soaps or lotions. Scented soaps and lotions can aggravate your Keratosis Pilaris and cause additional KP buildup. I also recommend cleansing with Cetaphil because the soap is hypo-allergenic and non-scented.
Sun bathing is a cheap alternative when treating keratosis pilaris. However, do not perform excessive sun tanning as your risk of skin cancer is higher when staying out in the sun too long. If you do sun bathe, remember to use a high SPF sunscreen and limit the duration in which you stay out in the sun. I've had good results reducing the red spots on my arms and legs by sun bathing.
Drink a lot of water. This one is a no brainer, hydrate your skin by drinking lots of water. Carry a water bottle with you at all times and make sure you drink at least 8 cups of water a day. Dry skin can increase the keratosis pilaris on your skin.
To wrap-up, make sure to follow these simple steps: Exfoliate 2. Moisturize 3. Use a gentle skin cleanser 4. Drink lots of water 5. Get some sun. Follow these steps and your skin will thank you. Keratosis pilaris can be treated if you put some effort into making your skin beautiful.
Exfoliate - Make sure you exfoliate every other day with an abrasive loofah or scrub. I prefer to use the KP Heavy Duty body scrub from Derma Doctor, but you can go the cheaper route and use Cetaphil and a loofah. The key point is to exfoliate and get rid of the keratin build-up. The rough, bumpy skin that is caused by Keratosis Pilaris is due to an excessive amount of keratin that clogs the hair follicle. Exfoliating helps reduce and unclog the keratin buildup in your pores. Some people have very delicate skin that can not handle the abrasive nature of loofahs. If so, make sure to lightly exfoliate with a less abrasive scrub or loofah, but most importantly, you MUST exfoliate. Without exfoliating, your skin will always stay bumpy.
Use a topical lotion - After exfoliating and drying off, apply a topical lotion. For keratosis pilaris treatment, I would recommend a topical lotion that has a main ingredient which includes either lactic acid, retin-a or urea. Again, I use Derma Doctor KP Duty Repair Lotion, however its quite expensive (about $80 for the set). If you want to go a cheaper route, you can use AmLactin. AmLactin can be found in your local drug store. I bought my bottle of AmLactin at Wal-Greens for around $11. The only problem I had with AmLactin is that it stings when you apply it to skin that has cuts or scratches (it contains lactic acid). The benefits of using AmLactin is that it made the skin on my arms MUCH smoother. If you want to go even cheaper than AmLactin, you can use Eucerin Intensive Repair Lotion. Eucerin also helped my skin become smooth.
Reminder, do NOT use scented soaps or lotions. Scented soaps and lotions can aggravate your Keratosis Pilaris and cause additional KP buildup. I also recommend cleansing with Cetaphil because the soap is hypo-allergenic and non-scented.
Sun bathing is a cheap alternative when treating keratosis pilaris. However, do not perform excessive sun tanning as your risk of skin cancer is higher when staying out in the sun too long. If you do sun bathe, remember to use a high SPF sunscreen and limit the duration in which you stay out in the sun. I've had good results reducing the red spots on my arms and legs by sun bathing.
Drink a lot of water. This one is a no brainer, hydrate your skin by drinking lots of water. Carry a water bottle with you at all times and make sure you drink at least 8 cups of water a day. Dry skin can increase the keratosis pilaris on your skin.
To wrap-up, make sure to follow these simple steps: Exfoliate 2. Moisturize 3. Use a gentle skin cleanser 4. Drink lots of water 5. Get some sun. Follow these steps and your skin will thank you. Keratosis pilaris can be treated if you put some effort into making your skin beautiful.
About the Author:
Treating Keratosis Pilaris is a life long task but beautiful skin is worth the effort.
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