7 Best Keratosis Pilaris Treatments 2022

If the skin on your arms, thighs, face or butt if often scaly, dry and bumpy, there’s a good chance you have a harmless but annoying skin condition called keratosis pilaris, or KP. “Often referred to as chicken skin, KP does indeed have that pebbly, slightly gritty texture to touch,” explains Mona A. Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Gohara explains that KP is mostly due to genetics — thanks, Mom and Dad! But you’re in good company: It’s estimated that 40% of adults have KP. The condition is even more common in adolescents, with up to 80% experiencing skin bumps — many simply outgrow it by the time they hit adulthood.

Those little bumps, which are also said to resemble goosebumps, are caused by the buildup of the protein keratin, which plugs up the hair follicles, creating the little spikes of skin — it tends to be worse in people with dry skin. “Keratosis pilaris is commonly seen in people who have eczema or other conditions that make their skin prone to dryness,” says dermatologist Geeta Yadav, MD, of Skin Science Dermatology in Toronto. “The skin can feel rough or scaly in the affected areas, and the bumps are usually skin-colored.” She adds that the condition can get worse in the winter, since cold weather and low humidity dry out the skin.

While the bumps don’t hurt or itch, and they don’t require any treatment, they can definitely be annoying when you want your skin to look its smoothest in shorts or a tank top. The best way to treat KP is with topical creams designed to break down the keratin spikes, says Dr. Gohara, who recommends products that include alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, or urea. Here are 7 products that the experts — and online reviewers — say really work.