Can You Actually ‘Get Rid of’ Chicken Skin? We Answer Your Keratosis Pilaris Questions

One of the most common beauty questions we get asked is on the topic of 'chicken skin'.

Not the delicious, crispy kind. We're talking about keratosis pilaris or KP.

Keratosis pilaris is what we call it when you see a group of small red or pink-ish dots somewhere on your skin.

And I'd be able to shout you a fancy dinner if I had a buck for every time someone asked me 'how to get rid of chicken skin' or 'how to get rid of keratosis pilaris'.

First, it's important to know those little bumps on the backs of your arms aren't dangerous, nor are they unusual.

But if they bother you, you have options.

Keep scrolling for all your keratosis pilaris and chicken skin questions, answered. Plus, we'll share some tried-and-tested keratosis pilaris product recommendations.

What is Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris (or KP for short) is a very common genetic skin condition involving an overgrowth of skin around a hair follicle.

It's often referred to as 'chicken skin'. This is because keratosis pilaris looks like little pink or red bumps scattered in different places on the body - usually on the backs of the arms, but also the thighs, back and even the cheeks and eyebrows.

"I like to say it's a really common human trait, as it's thought to be autosomal dominant, which means if your parents have it, you've got a 50/50 chance of inheriting it," Dr Ryan De Cruz from Southern Dermatology told the Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast.

Listen to the full interview with Dr Ryan De Cruz in this podcast episode below.

Keratosis Pilaris Causes.

Despite what you might've read on the internet, there's no convincing evidence to suggest lifestyle factors like diet can make KP look better or worse.

"Keratosis pilaris causes are mostly genetic. What happens is a lot of skin blocks the hair follicles, giving the skin a rough or bumpy appearance. With the excess skin is an increase of blood vessels, so they can often look like little red bumps," Dr De Cruz says.

"Everyone who has KP can have it to varying degrees. However, when the skin is a bit dryer, [keratosis pilaris] might be more pronounced. And in different environmental conditions, like going from somewhere humid to less humid, you might notice it a bit more."

How to Get Rid of Keratosis Pilaris.

Can you get rid of chicken skin?

Yes, you can 'get rid of' the appearance of it and how it looks, but only through maintenance.

Dr De Cruz says, "It's part of your genetics, there's no clear way or simple fix to 'get rid of it' forever. You can make it smoother and less conspicuous through maintenance over time, depending on how much it bothers you."

Check out our body care YouTube video below for more ideas!

Keratosis Pilaris Treatment.

According to Dr De Cruz, there are three key things you can do at home to treat keratosis pilaris on arms, thighs or anywhere on the body:

• Use a body wash containing an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) like glycolic acid, or beta hydroxy acid (BHA) liek salicylic acid for keratosis pilaris in the shower.

• Follow up with either a keratosis pilaris moisturiser containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid, or hydrating ingredients like ceramides - or both.

• Dr De Cruz suggests using an exfoliating tool like a loofa or exfoliating glove combined with your salicylic body wash in the shower for light but regular exfoliation.

"You need to use a technique between 2-3 times per week. But it's a fine line between light exfoliation and moisturising, to over exfoliating and secondary infection," he says.

"When you try to scrub the skin too hard, you might start to see pustules that look like pimples. This is when bacteria gets into the skin, and it can be quite itchy and leave some scarring."

In other words, it's about playing the long game.

"Inevitably, patients get sick of having to [exfoliate regularly] over time, so keratosis pilaris can come back and fluctuate. So I encourage [people] to make peace with it, to an extent."

Best Body Products for Keratosis Pilaris.

There are heaps of chicken skin products you can add to your body care routine.

Think exfoliating body wash, salicylic acid body washes, glycolic acid moisturisers, salicylic acid lotions - even exfoliating face cleansers.

And if you're familiar with body acne - butt-ne, back-ne or pimples on the backs of your thighs and bum - you can use those products for KP, too.

From a keratosis pilaris cream to a keratosis pilaris lotion, here are some of the best chicken skin products, and treatment products for keratosis pilaris.

These are just some of our favourite keratosis pilaris products, but everyone is different.

As always, speak to a medical professional like a GP or dermatologist to get professional, personalised advice!

Want more great body care product recommendations? Check out these stories from our Adore Beauty staff below!

• Do At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices Actually Work

• The 9 Best Products for Treating Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)

• 4 Glorious Shower Oils That Deserve a Spot in Your Bathroom ASAP

• Does Shaving Give You 'Strawberry Skin'? Here's How to Get Rid of It for Good