Keratosis pilaris

In kera­to­sis pila­ris num­e­rous small, rough bumps form around the hair fol­lic­les, giving the skin a sand­pa­per-like feel. The pre­dis­po­si­ti­on is very com­mon and main­ly affects child­ren and young adults. It is harm­less and often impro­ves with age.

Cau­ses

The cau­se is a dis­or­der of kera­ti­ni­sa­ti­on: excess kera­tin coll­ects at the ope­ning of the hair fol­lic­les and plugs them. The pre­dis­po­si­ti­on is her­edi­ta­ry and occurs more fre­quent­ly tog­e­ther with dry skin and ato­pic der­ma­ti­tis. Cold, dry air inten­si­fies the pic­tu­re in winter.

Sym­ptoms

Visi­ble are pin­head-sized, skin-colou­red to slight­ly red­den­ed bumps, usual­ly on the outer upper arms, thighs, buttocks and some­ti­mes the cheeks. The skin looks dull and feels rough. Itching is rare and usual­ly mild.

Tre­at­ment

The­re is no cure in the strict sen­se, but the skin can be made noti­ce­ab­ly smoot­her. Emol­li­ent care and pre­pa­ra­ti­ons con­tai­ning urea, lac­tic acid or sali­cy­lic acid to dis­sol­ve the kera­tin have pro­ven effec­ti­ve. Gent­le exfo­li­a­ti­on and, in stub­born cases, reti­no­id pre­pa­ra­ti­ons com­ple­ment the rou­ti­ne; aggres­si­ve scrub­bing, by con­trast, wor­sens the redness.