If you see a chicken skin look on your arms or legs, you should know that you are not alone. It is called Keratosis Pilaris or Chicken Skin in medical language and is actually a common skin condition. This skin problem, which can be seen in 50% -80% of adolescents, affects approximately 40% of adults. It looks like small, hard raised bumps that can be mistaken for small pimples on the skin. However, it is a completely different matter of skin.
Although keratosis pilaris is harmless, it can be embarrassing and even socially damaging. Most medications and over-the-counter treatments will not work, but there are natural skin care remedies that will help you minimize this appearance and make your skin look clearer.
What is Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)?
Keratosis Pilaris is the formation of hard spots on the skin surface due to the attachment of hair follicles. Many people liken it to chicken skin, so the name “Chicken Skin”, which is said to patients in clinics or hospitals and makes it more understandable, can also be used. These blisters on the skin are technically called “follicular keratotic papules”. It is likely to occur wherever there may be hair on our body.
Keratosis Pilaris is not actually a harmful disease that directly affects our health. However, they create an ugly image. It can cause psychological damage, which is the most common among adolescents. There is no cure for this condition. However, if you are wondering how to get rid of Keratosis Pilaris, you can manage this with natural keratosis pilaris treatments. These treatments include daily moisturizing, gentle exfoliation, and light, non-irritating body soaps.
Keratosis Pilaris signs and symptoms
The blisters are usually white. However, sometimes they appear red in color or may develop a reddish-pink color around the bumps. The number of bubbles in an area is variable because a person can develop 10, 50 or even 100 small bubbles in one area.
According to a study published in a medical journal called the International Journal of Trichology, Keratosis Pilaris stated that it is most visible on the surfaces of the upper arms, and this rate is approximately 92%. Other most common areas are the hips and thighs. In places where this type is not seen, it is not really a problem, but some people may have the appearance of Chicken Skin on their faces and can often be confused with acne.
Although keratosis Pilaris is generally harmless, your skin may feel itchy, rough, and dry. It usually gets worse in cold weather. Dry skin can actually highlight the blisters and appear more pronounced.
Studies show that keratosis pilaris symptoms are common in adolescence; the skin condition can have a psychosocial effect. In fact, it has been associated with developmental problems of body image, sexuality, and socialization. Data collected by researchers in Thailand show that 40% of people with keratosis pilaris have significant effects on self-image and affect their quality of life.
Keratosis Pilaris Causes and Risk Factors
The exact cause of keratosis Pilars is still not determined. Researchers are trying to come up with different findings and ideas about them. One of these ideas is that they believe that the formation of keratin in our skin occurs by blocking the hair openings. Keratin is a fibrous structural protein found in the hair and epithelial cells that make up the outermost layer of your skin. It is an essential building block of your skin, which is necessary to regenerate your skin.
Dead skin cells, usually containing keratin, exfoliate from the skin. But for some people, keratin builds up in the hair follicles, causing clogged pores. This causes small, coarse blisters associated with keratosis pilaris. There may also be one or more curled hairs inside the inserted hair follicles.
In fact, some scientists believe that the keratosis pilaris actually originates from the thick hairs’ or outer layers of the skin that form large coils beneath the superficial ‘epidermis’. Studies analyzing this theory suggest that the circular hair shaft breaks down follicle cells, resulting in inflammation and abnormal keratin release.
Since dead and dry skin causes keratosis pilaris, the effects may be more pronounced and worsened by drying of the skin in winter or in low humidity weather. In a survey conducted at the adlıAmersham General Hospital in England, 80% of Keratosis Pilaris patients report that these effects change seasonally. Approximately half of the patients reported that the symptoms were minimized in the summer months, and 47% of the patients reported that the symptoms worsen in the winter.
Studies have suggested that keratosis pilaris is genetic and may be associated with genetic skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema. In a 2015 study of 50 patients, 67% of them had a family history of keratosis pilaris.
Age is another major risk factor for this skin condition. It is common in childhood and reaches its peak prevalence in adolescence and disappears in adulthood. In a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, 35 percent of participants found that symptoms of keratosis pilaris improved with age. The average age of recovery is 16.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3681106/
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/bumps-and-growths/keratosis-pilaris
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4354723/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8011494
Author: Yunus Yeşilmen
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