Keratosis pilaris causes bumps on the skin that are commonly described as goosebumps, “strawberry skin” or “chicken skin” due to their small, rough and scaly appearance, according to experts. These bumps come from dead skin cells building up and clogging hair follicles, which creates a roughness on the surface of the skin. They can appear as red, white or skin-colored bumps, and they’re typically found on the upper arms, thighs and buttocks of both adults and children (often worsening around puberty), dermatologists told us.
KP occurs when “there’s an abnormal, higher production of keratin within the hair follicle — it accumulates and forms those bumps,” says Dr. Naveed Sami, a board-certified dermatologist and professor of medicine at the UCF College of Medicine. KP bumps aren’t usually painful or itchy, and concerns surrounding keratosis pilaris are usually aesthetic, he says.
There isn’t necessarily a cause of keratosis pilaris. Instead, it’s mostly hereditary and more likely to occur among people who are prone to eczema, dermatologists say. “It’s usually present when people are younger, and sometimes it naturally goes away,” says Dr. Michele Farber, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group.
For many people, keratosis pilaris can flare up with hormonal fluctuations, like around the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy or puberty, says Dr. Lindsey Bordone, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University Medical Center. Symptoms also typically flare up during the wintertime when the humidity is low and the skin is the driest, says Sami.
If you struggle with keratosis pilaris, maintaining a well-balanced skin care routine using products with exfoliating ingredients and moisturizing regularly can help, according to dermatologists. You should also keep the following factors in mind when picking moisturizing creams, lotions and body washes to tame your bumpy skin:
Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
Listed below are products recommended by dermatologists to treat KP symptoms. NBC Select editors have also tried many of the below treatments for KP bumps and dry, itchy skin.
Our experts collectively recommend Cerave's SA Lotion as solid pick for helping to reduce keratosis pilaris symptoms. Cameron often recommends this cream to his patients because of its exfoliating and moisturizing benefits. It’s also a great over-the-counter salicylic acid and lactic acid treatment that’s readily available, according to Sami.
“I like this product because it has lactic acid and salicylic acid to smooth; niacinamide to decrease inflammation and help the skin barrier; and glycerin and ceramides to hydrate and seal in moisture,” says Dr. Robyn Gmyrek, a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City. The formula is noncomedogenic and can gently smooth the look and feel of the skin’s texture, according to CeraVe.
Urea cream is a great option to treat and prevent dry, rough and scaly skin, according to our experts. “If somebody wants to be a little bit more aggressive with their treatment, then they can add urea to their regimen,” says Sami. This Ebanel cream has 40% urea — the highest potency, though a lower concentration works just as well, according to Sami — and 2% salicylic acid that exfoliates while also moisturizing, softening and smoothing out the skin, according to our experts. The cream is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and can reduce redness and inflammation with ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil and green tea leaf extract, according to the brand.
This moisturizing lotion from AmLactin has 12% lactic acid to gently exfoliate the skin. “It has the benefit of having both an exfoliating component and serving as a daily moisturizer,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City. It can reduce the spiky texture associated with keratosis pilaris by encouraging skin cell turnover, which replaces existing skin cells and helps keep the skin smooth, says Bordone. The lotion has a non-greasy, fragrance-free formula, and it’s suitable to use as a face moisturizer, hand lotion or body lotion, according to the brand. AmLactin recommends applying this lotion twice daily, or as directed by your dermatologist.
This daily cream, a recommendation from Cameron, is formulated with salicylic acid, lactic acid and gluconolactone (a type of poly hydroxy acid, a gentler category of chemical exfoliants) to gently remove dead skin cells and smooth rough skin. It has moisturizing ingredients like shea butter to keep the skin hydrated, too, according to the brand. Gold Bond recommends you use this fragrance-free, hypoallergenic cream as you need or as directed by your dermatologist.
The Eucerin Roughness Relief Cream helps minimize the appearance of bumps and smooths out texture thanks to a combination of urea, ceramides and sunflower seed oil, according to Cameron. The fragrance-free cream is suitable for daily use on sensitive skin, and it helps lock-in moisture for up to 48 hours, according to the brand.
If you prefer a physical exfoliant to scrub away dead skin cells, this First Aid Beauty option has 10% alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid, which help improve the skin’s texture and smooth away bumps and roughness, says Farber. First Aid Beauty recommends gently massaging the product on wet skin and using one to two times per week, as tolerated.
You can moisturize your skin with a non-exfoliating cream like this CeraVe option to help reduce symptoms of dryness and itchiness in cooler climates, Sami says. This is a mild, fragrance-free moisturizer that contains ceramides to keep the skin hydrated for up to 24 hours and is suitable for all skin types, according to the brand.
This lotion has a blend of chemical exfoliants like AHAs, BHAs and urea, as well as soothing ingredients like niacinamide that improve symptoms of keratosis pilaris and psoriasis, according to the brand. It’s free of essential oils and fragrances, and has a 4.7-star average rating from over 200 reviews on Sephora.
Though it may naturally go away as you get older, keratosis pilaris isn’t a curable skin condition, experts say. Still, you can reduce the appearance of bumps and smooth out the skin’s texture with the right treatments.
“We consider [keratosis pilaris] to be manageable as opposed to curable,” says Garshick. “Because some people are genetically predisposed to it, they may be more likely to always experience it at a baseline level.”
A balance of exfoliation and moisture is the best way to reduce symptoms of keratosis pilaris, according to Garshick. The most effective treatment is using keratolytics — also known as chemical exfoliators — that remove the build up of dead skin cells. There are a few main types of keratolytic agents to consider:
These ingredients are usually found in cleansers, body washes and daily moisturizers, says Garshick. Since most of these exfoliants also include hydrating ingredients, they're also easier to use in your daily routine. “When you’re using other ingredients that moisturize and hydrate [the skin], you’re protecting it from becoming damaged or irritated,” says Garshick.
To keep symptoms at bay, consistency is key: You can apply exfoliating keratosis pilaris treatments once or twice per day, as long as your skin tolerates, and pair it with a gentle moisturizer, according to our experts. If you have very sensitive skin, you can limit your exfoliation to one or two times per week. But once you step out of that routine, keratosis pilaris symptoms usually come back, says Bordone.
Gentle physical exfoliants can also be helpful in removing dead skin, but make sure to not overdo it: You should limit your physical exfoliation to once or twice per week, says Garshick. Also, avoid using harsh scrubs with beads, which can actually exacerbate the issue, according to our experts.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I'm an updates editor at NBC Select who has written several skin care stories, including treatments for cystic acne, rosacea and dark under-eye circles. For this article, I spoke to six dermatologists about how to treat keratosis pilaris and highlighted their recommendations for the best products to consider.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
