keratosis pilaris
With good weather and bare arms they suddenly stand out again: red bumps on your upper arm. They are rough: a kind of red goosebumps. About a quarter of the people suffer from it. This skin condition is called keratosis pilaris.
The rough red bumps are a common harmless skin complaint. It is generally not considered a disease, but a variant of normal skin.
With whom?
Keratosis pilaris usually develops in childhood and is therefore often seen in young people. It can also affect adults and the elderly. Especially people with a predisposition to allergic reactions such as atopic eczema, asthma and hay fever and patients with the so-called fish scale disease (ichthyosis vulgaris).
The deviation is usually seen on the stretched side of the upper arm and thighs. Sometimes keratosis pilaris also occurs in other places such as the buttocks, back and face. The number of spots varies per person, but usually they do not cause any complaints. No itching or pain either. This sometimes occurs after scratching or picking, as well as scabs or pigment spots.
Cause
A disturbance in the maturation of the horny cells in the hair follicles is the cause of the bumps. The small red bumps are mainly located in the places where hairs come out of the skin. Because bacteria settle in the poorly maturing hair follicles, small inflammations or infections sometimes arise, causing small heads of pus to appear.
It is unknown why something goes wrong with the maturation of the horny cells. There is some evidence that the skin condition is hereditary. In addition, there is often a natural predisposition to dry skin. The symptoms may decrease with age.
What to do?
Treatment is usually not necessary, but keratosis pilaris is also not curable. The skin defect will remain. Periods of rest and aggravation alternate.
However, it is wise to prevent dry skin as much as possible by, for example, not showering too hot and for too long, drying the skin gently and also greasing it well. It is also better to avoid products that irritate the skin, for example through perfume. Gently exfoliating helps to even out the skin; however, if you do this too hard, there is a good chance that you will cause irritation. Not scratching is also important.
The doctor may prescribe a cream that dissolves the stratum corneum. Examples of horn-dissolving substances (keratolytic) are urea, salicylic acid or vitamin A acid. Some people experience softer skin as a result, but this does not apply to everyone.
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