Those little red bumps on the backs of the arms, cheeks and legs. Keratosis pilaris.

Hi, my daughter who is 14 as keratosis pilaris on her cheek and upper arms. She has that since she was young. We have try Amlactin cream and other moisturizers but it is not working. There is also redness around the bumps on her cheeks. A dermatologist told me that this her skin's DNA and there is nothing to do except moisturize!!! Is there really anything we can do to get rid of those bumps especially the one on her cheeks? Is this condition worsen with age or there is a chance that when she gets older this will disappear?? Should we use exfoliant every week?? Is there any cream out there?? Thanks

Who named this disease anyway??  🙂  Most derms just call it KP – short for keratosis pilaris.

And what causes it?  Your dermatologist is right.  It’s genetic and about 10-20% have a form of it at some point in their lives. The lining of the hair follicles in those locations makes hard keratin instead of softer keratin.  Then the “plug” that forms irritates the follicle and makes it red.

Here’s the good news!  It almost always gets better with age. But that’s not very comforting to a young adult like your daughter.  I had this too when I was her age and grew out of it by my late 20s.

In the meantime, some ideas that may help:

  • Try the OTC  (no prescription needed) Differin on her cheeks and arms.  Start every three days, and if not irritated by it, increase the frequency.  Retinoids (vitamin A cousins) like Differin help keep the plugs from forming.  You need to use it for at least a month to see if it’s helping.
  • Did you try the Amlactin for at least a month?  But don’t use the Differin and Amlactin together.  Generally try ONE intervention, and then, if doing well with that, try adding a second.
  • Some patients like the also OTC glycolics or sal acid compounds for this.  Start with 10%. Consistency and trying one thing at a time are key.
  • Exfoliation with KP is tricky.  Some patients just get irritated and some it improves a little.  Again, try a gentle washcloth 2-3 times a week first.  Gradual is good.
  • A self tanner or a nice foundation may help to cover the red around the follicles.
  • There is no science on this but some of our patients swear by an anti-inflammatory diet which you can find on the web.  Mostly low glycemic index, low carb, gluten and dairy.
  • Again no science, but try adding wild Alaska salmon oil or flax seed oil to her diet.  And probiotics never hurt.  There’s a connection between the gut and skin that we don’t understand very well yet.
Hope this helps!
Dr. Brandith Irwin
Founder, SkinTour
Director, Madison Skin & Laser Center
Follow my skin tips and travels on Instagram!

 

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

Ask me your skincare question!

Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

  • All our content is written and researched by myself.
  • My medical office in Seattle has treated thousands of patients for 15+ years.
  • This site is not affiliated or financially tied to any product, treatment or device.
Ask Me Something
SkinTour Skincare
One of the best investments in your skin is your daily skincare. Why? Because you can prevent many problems with blotchy skin color, lack of glow, texture, some types of acne, and fine lines with good skincare products. You can also correct some of these problems with effective skincare products. Great skincare is often more expensive because quality ingredients are expensive. Some companies spend on research/development which benefits all of us and adds to the cost. Are they worth it? In general - yes! I have handpicked some of what I consider to be the best skin care products, and offer them for sale on SkinTour's shop. This is based on my team and I's testing and research at our clinic. Many of the products are in my own regimen. What could be better than using skin care products a dermatologist uses?!