Understanding and treating keratosis pilaris: Strawberry skin
If you've ever noticed small, rough bumps on your skin that resemble goosebumps or chicken skin, you might be dealing with keratosis pilaris (KP). This common, harmless skin condition, also known as strawberry skin on social media, affects up to 40% of adults and is even more common in teenagers. While it may be frustrating, understanding KP is the first step toward managing it.
What is keratosis pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris occurs when hair follicles become plugged with keratin, a protein found in skin, hair, and nails. This buildup creates small, painless bumps that typically appear on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, and sometimes the cheeks. The bumps are often light-coloured but can also be red or brown, depending on your skin tone.
What causes keratosis pilaris?
The exact cause of KP isn't fully understood, but several factors contribute to its development:
- Genetics: KP often runs in families
- Associated conditions: It's more common in people with eczema or dry skin
- Age: It typically appears in childhood and may worsen during puberty
- Seasonal changes: Symptoms often worsen in winter when skin tends to be drier
How to treat keratosis pilaris
While there's no cure for keratosis pilaris, several treatments can improve its appearance:
- Moisturise regularly: Use thick, fragrance-free moisturisers immediately after bathing to lock in hydration.
- Gentle exfoliation: Products containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like lactic or glycolic acid can help remove dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of bumps.
- Keratolytic treatments: Creams containing urea or salicylic acid can help break down excess keratin.
- Prescription options: For more severe cases, dermatologists may prescribe retinoid creams to promote cell turnover.
The Miracle Fluid
On our quest for silky smooth skin from head to toe, we created The Miracle Fluid, a gently exfoliating and hydrating face + body serum. The fragrance-free, lightweight formula features face-grade ingredients for full body results, including mandelic + lactobionic acid, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, vitamin E and French indirubin, which naturally provides the serum’s pink hue. The innovative blend gently exfoliates dead skin cells, minimising the occurrence of clogged pores, ingrown hair and also keratosis pilaris, while providing hydration. The result? Miraculously smoother skin.
Tips for Managing KP
- Take shorter, cooler showers to prevent skin from drying out
- Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers
- Avoid scratching or picking at the bumps
- Consider using a humidifier in dry environments
- Be patient – improvements may take weeks or months to become visible
A MANTLE routine for super-smooth skin
Step 1: Before showering, exfoliate your body with The Hot Ex, our warming body exfoliator, to get rid of dead skin cells and buildup that may be clogging your pores.
Step 2: After drying off, apply The Miracle Fluid all over your body. With its transformative blend of lactobionic + mandelic acid it gently exfoliates, revealing smoother, more even skin.
Step 3: Lock in hydration and soften your skin with a cocooning body moisturiser. We suggest The Whipp, our award-winning body moisturiser.