What Does It Mean If You Have Bumps On Your Skin That Look Like Goosebumps?

Facts
- Keratosis pilaris (KP) facts
- What is keratosis pilaris?
- Who gets keratosis pilaris?
Symptoms
- What are keratosis pilaris symptoms and signs?
- What weather mimic keratosis pilaris?
Body
- Does keratosis pilaris affect the entire torso?
Causes
- What causes keratosis pilaris?
Treatment
- What types of doctors treat keratosis pilaris?
- What is the treatment for keratosis pilaris?
Diagnosis
- How do doctors diagnose keratosis pilaris?
Diet
- Does diet have anything to exercise with keratosis pilaris?
Cure
- Is keratosis pilaris curable?
Contagious
- Is keratosis pilaris contagious?
Abode Remedies
- Are there home remedies for keratosis pilaris?
Complications
- What are possible complications of keratosis pilaris?
Prognosis
- What is the prognosis of patients with keratosis pilaris?
Eye
- Keratosis Pilaris (KP) Eye
Comments
- Patient Comments: Keratosis Pilaris - Cause
- Patient Comments: Keratosis Pilaris - Feel
- Patient Comments: Keratosis Pilaris - Treatment
- Patient Comments: Keratosis Pilaris - Afflicted Areas
More
- Observe a local Dermatologist in your town

Keratosis pilaris (KP) facts

Picture of Keratosis Pilaris Atrophicans

Keratosis pilaris is a very common, beneficial pare disorder that affects adolescents and adults.
Keratosis pilaris causes numerous small, rough, tan or red trivial bumps around pilus follicles on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, and cheeks.
Keratosis pilaris creates the advent of gooseflesh, goose bumps, or craven peel.
Keratosis pilaris may appear in patients with dry out peel conditions and atopic dermatitis.
Keratosis pilaris is non curable but spontaneously improves over fourth dimension.
People can inherit keratosis pilaris and is associated with a wide variety of other rare skin diseases.
Keratosis pilaris generally requires ongoing maintenance therapy.

What is keratosis pilaris?

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Keratosis pilaris is a very mutual skin disorder that affects people of all ages. Keratosis pilaris is a benign condition characterized past numerous pocket-sized, rough, red, or tan bumps primarily effectually pilus follicles on the upper arms, legs, buttocks, and sometimes cheeks. Keratosis pilaris creates a "goose bumps," "gooseflesh," or "craven skin" appearance. Keratosis pilaris may exist cosmetically displeasing, simply it is medically entirely harmless. Keratosis pilaris is common in otherwise healthy people.

Keratosis pilaris looks like goose bumps on the skin.

Keratosis Pilaris Signs

Bumps on the Pare

People often depict localized swollen areas on, or under, the skin as lumps or bumps. While bumps on, or under, the peel may result from weather that give rise to a pare rash, many other conditions tin result in solitary raised lumps on the skin.

What are keratosis pilaris symptoms and signs?

Typically, keratosis pilaris patients present with a scattered, patchy rash composed of very small scarlet or tan bumps. Anywhere from 10 to hundreds of very pocket-sized slightly crude bumps produce a fine sandpaper-similar texture. Some of the bumps may be slightly ruddy or have an accompanying calorie-free-red halo indicating inflammation.

What does keratosis pilaris look like?

What does keratosis pilaris await similar?

Sometimes, a small, coiled hair gets trapped below the rough crash-land. Patients may mutter of a crude texture and an irregular cosmetic appearance of the skin. The cheeks may appear pink, red, flushed, and studded with very pocket-sized (pinpoint) bumps.

Picture of keratosis pilaris

Keratosis pilaris may cause bumps on the backs of the upper artillery, every bit seen hither.

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Who gets keratosis pilaris?

Anyone can accept keratosis pilaris. Although it is commonly a pare condition of children and adolescents, many adults also have keratosis pilaris. Females seem to get keratosis pilaris more oftentimes than males. The historic period of onset is often within the first x years of life and may worsen during puberty. However, keratosis pilaris may brainstorm at any age. In that location seems to exist a genetic aspect to keratosis pilaris. It has been commonly been seen in twins. Keratosis pilaris as well appears in patients with atopic dermatitis and patients with very dry out skin and with a variety of rather rare dermatologic syndromes. Recently, medical professionals have observed that certain drugs produce a pare change indistinguishable from keratosis pilaris aside from the fact that information technology volition resolve when the drug is stopped. These drugs include cyclosporin, B-raf inhibitors (for example, dabrafenib), and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (for example, nilotinib).

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Does keratosis pilaris affect the entire body?

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It is rare to accept keratosis pilaris all over the body. The lesions in keratosis pilaris most characteristically involve the back of the upper arms. Other common locations include the dorsum, thighs, buttocks and occasionally the face up. It does not affect the optics, oral fissure, palms, or soles.

What causes keratosis pilaris?

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The exact cause of keratosis pilaris is unknown. There seems to exist a trouble with overproduction of the keratin role of the skin producing hyperkeratinization. Others believe that there may be some defect in pilus formation, producing defective sebaceous glands, which might partially explain its physical association with pilus follicles. A bulk of patients with keratosis pilaris has a known genetic predisposition and affected family members. Keratosis pilaris can be nowadays with ichthyosis vulgaris, dry pare, seasonal inhalant allergies (hay fever), rhinitis, asthma, eczema, and atopic dermatitis.

The bumps in keratosis pilaris seem to ascend from the excessive accumulation of keratin from the superficial layer of pare at individual hair follicles. The skin as examined under the microscope demonstrates balmy thickening and perforation of the hair follicle. The upper skin layers may have some dilation of the modest superficial claret vessels, thereby giving the skin a red or flushed appearance.

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Keratosis Pilaris Run across a pic of keratosis pilaris and other vascular, lymphatic and systemic conditions See Images

What types of doctors treat keratosis pilaris?

Most family physicians and pediatricians are able to diagnose and treat this condition. Occasionally, a dermatologist referral may be necessary.

How do doctors diagnose keratosis pilaris?

The diagnosis of keratosis pilaris is very straightforward and based on a typical skin advent in areas similar the upper arms. A family history of keratosis pilaris is likewise very helpful since there is a strong genetic component to the status. A dr.'s clinical exam confirms the diagnosis. In late-onset keratosis pilaris occurring in adulthood, one needs to consider a drug as a possible cause.

Are there any lab tests to help diagnose keratosis pilaris?

Since the appearance of keratosis pilaris is recognizable, specific laboratory tests are not needed for the diagnosis. Skin biopsy (surgically taking a pocket-size piece of skin using local numbing medicine) may be useful in singular or widespread cases.

What does keratosis pilaris expect like under the microscope?

Histopathology or pathology are terms for microscopic examination of the torso tissue under high magnification past a pathologist or dermatopathologist. Histopathology of keratosis pilaris shows pocket-size thickening of the outer layer of skin (hyperkeratosis of the stratum corneum), increase in the granular cells of the epidermis (hypergranulosis), and plugging of individual hair follicles. The upper dermis (layer of the peel below the epidermis) may have some microscopic inflammation called mild superficial perivascular lymphocytic inflammatory changes.

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Does diet have anything to do with keratosis pilaris?

Diet does non affect keratosis pilaris. Vitamin A deficiency may cause symptoms similar to keratosis pilaris, but information technology'south not known to cause keratosis pilaris.

Is keratosis pilaris curable?

There is no available cure, phenomenon pill, or universally constructive treatment for keratosis pilaris. Information technology sometimes clears completely by itself without handling.

Is keratosis pilaris contagious?

Keratosis pilaris is non contagious. People do not requite it to someone else through skin contact and practice not catch it from anyone else. Some people are just more than prone to developing keratosis pilaris because of genetics and skin blazon.

What weather condition mimic keratosis pilaris?

Other medical conditions can mimic keratosis pilaris. Keratosis pilaris may resemble acne, milia, folliculitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, facial rosacea, or dry out skin (xerosis). Keratosis pilaris may also resemble uncommon pare conditions like lichen spinulosus, pityriasis rubra pilaris, phrynoderma (vitamin A deficiency), ulerythema ophryogenes, ichthyosis vulgaris, eruptive vellus hair cysts, keratosis follicularis (Darier affliction), Kyrle disease, lichen nitidus, lichen spinulosus, perforating folliculitis, and trichostasis spinulosa.

In India and other countries, a specific condition chosen erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli occurs. This unusual condition has a possible genetic human relationship to keratosis pilaris. Erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli is characterized by the triad of hyperpigmentation (darker skin colour), follicular plugging (blocked hair follicles), and redness of the face and neck.

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What is the treatment for keratosis pilaris?

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Many treatment options and skin intendance recipes are available for controlling keratosis pilaris. Often there is very good temporary improvement following a regular skin intendance program of lubrication. As a general rule of thumb, treatment needs to be continuous. Since at that place is no available cure or universally effective handling for keratosis pilaris, the list of potential lotions and creams is long. It is important to keep in mind that every bit with any condition, no therapy is uniformly effective in all people. Consummate immigration may not be possible. In some cases, keratosis pilaris may too meliorate or clear spontaneously without any treatment.

Health intendance providers recommend general measures to preclude excessive skin dryness, such every bit using balmy soapless cleansers. Frequent skin lubrication is the mainstay of treatment for nearly all cases.

Basic over-the-counter moisturizers such every bit Cetaphil balm or Aquaphor ointment may improve balmy cases of keratosis pilaris. Additional available therapeutic options for more difficult cases of keratosis pilaris include lactic-acid lotions (AmLactin, Lac-Hydrin), alpha-hydroxy-acid lotions (Glytone, glycolic body lotions), urea cream (Carmol 10, Carmol twenty, Carmol 40, Urix 40), salicylic acid (Salex lotion), topical tretinoin cream (Retin A), and topical steroid creams (triamcinolone 0.1%). Recently, medical professionals have recommended light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation treatment for keratosis pilaris. New unproven treatments include topical chlorine dioxide complex wash, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (Nitrosomonas eutropha) spray on mist, and photopneumatic therapy. People have tried many treatments for keratosis pilaris, including carbon dioxide laser with mixed results. Every bit there is no miraculous cure or universally effective treatment for keratosis pilaris, information technology is important to proceed with caution.

Rarely, physicians may prescribe a short seven- to 10-solar day course of a medium-potency, emollient-based topical steroid cream in one case or twice a mean solar day for itchy, inflamed cerise areas.

Because keratosis pilaris is mostly a chronic condition requiring long-term maintenance, most therapies would require repeated or long-term use for optimum results.

Mild cleansers and lotions for sensitive skin: Wash daily, and apply balm twice a day.

Cetaphil
Dove
Eucerin
Curel

Potent moisturizers for dwelling treatment: Use once or twice a twenty-four hours.

Lactic-acid lotions (AmLactin, Lac-Hydrin)
Alpha-hydroxy-acid lotions (Glytone, Citrix glycolic trunk lotion 15%)
Urea creams (Carmol 10, Carmol xx, Carmol 40, Urix xl)
Salicylic-acid lotions (Salex 6%)
Compounded iii% salicylic acrid in 20% urea cream

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Eczema Browse our medical epitome collection of allergic peel disorders such every bit psoriasis and dermatitis and more caused by allergies See Images

Are at that place home remedies for keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris "exercise'due south"

Do have measures to prevent excessive skin dryness, especially in colder wintertime months.
Do use mild soaps similar Dove soapless cleanser or Cetaphil cleanser.
Do lubricate skin with special lotions containing ammonium lactate such every bit AmLactin or Lac-Hydrin lotion, alpha-hydroxy-acrid lotions (glycolic acid), urea foam (Urix forty), and salicylic acid (Salex).
Do gently massage the lotions into the affected expanse twice a day.

Keratosis pilaris "don'ts"

Don't use harsh soaps or cleansers.
Don't scrub harshly and attempt to scrape off the skin.
Don't expect immediate results with topical creams.
Never give up hope.

What are possible complications of keratosis pilaris?

Complications are infrequent since it'south primarily a cosmetic skin condition. All the same, temporary skin discoloration called post-inflammatory hypopigmentation (lighter than the regular skin color) or hyperpigmentation may occur afterwards the inflamed, ruby bumps have improved or after a temporary flare. Permanent scarring may rarely occur from picking, overly aggressive treatments, or other inflammation.

What is the prognosis of patients with keratosis pilaris?

Overall, keratosis pilaris is a chronic skin condition periodically becoming worse or better. Keratosis pilaris is a benign, noncontagious, self-express skin condition that tends to exist mild. Keratosis pilaris frequently improves with age in many patients. Many patients note improvement of their symptoms in the summer months and seasonal flares in colder winter months. Keratosis seems to improve in areas of loftier humidity. More than widespread, atypical cases of keratosis pilaris may be cosmetically pitiful.

Will I eventually outgrow keratosis pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris ordinarily improves with increasing age. Keratosis pilaris may even spontaneously articulate completely after puberty. However, more frequently the status is chronic with periodic exacerbations and improvements. Many adults nonetheless have the peel condition into their 40s and 50s.

Medically Reviewed on 4/one/2022

References

Hwang, Sharon, and Robert A. Schwartz. "Keratosis Pilaris: A Mutual Follicular Hyperkeratosis." Pediatric Dermatology 82 Sept. 2008: 177-180.

Kootiratrakarn, Tanawatt, Kowit Kampirapap, and Chakkrapong Chunhasewee. "Epidermal Permeability Barrier in the Treatment of Keratosis Pilaris." Dermatology Inquiry and Practice 2015 Feb. 12, 2015: 1-5.

Thomas, Mary, and Uday Sharadchandra Khopkar. "Keratosis Pilaris Revisited: Is It More Than But a Follicular Keratosis?" Int J Trichology four.four. October.-Dec. 2012: 255-258.

Wang, Jason F., and Seth J. Orlow. "Keratosis Pilaris and its Subtypes: Associations, New Molecular and Pharmacologic Etiologies, and Therapeutic Options." American Periodical of Clinical Dermatology 19 (2018): 733-757.

Zirwas, Matthew J., and Jill Fichtel. "Chlorine Dioxide Circuitous Cleanser: A New Agent With Rapid Efficacy for Keratosis Pilaris." Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 17.5 May 2018.