What is Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)?
Keratosis pilaris, one of the most common skin conditions, is usually harmless and can be seen as a normal skin variation. It mainly affects the areas of your upper arms and legs that don’t flex or bend. The condition often shows up in early childhood and usually gets worse during the teenage years. People with keratosis pilaris often also have other skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, a dry and itchy skin condition; ichthyosis vulgaris, a condition that causes your skin to become dry and scaly; or health issues such as obesity, diabetes, or malnutrition. It can also appear along with certain genetic syndromes like Down syndrome and Noonan syndrome.
Over time, this condition tends to improve, but if it bothers you, there are treatments available. These include moisturizers, skin exfoliation treatments, anti-inflammatory medicines, light therapy treatments, and various types of laser therapies.
What Causes Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)?
Keratosis pilaris is a condition that many people have, but we still don’t know exactly what causes it. This skin condition tends to run in families, and your genes might play a role. Specifically, changes in a gene called filaggrin, which helps to create and maintain the skin’s natural barrier, might be involved.
In some cases, keratosis pilaris has been linked to abnormalities in a process in our cells called the Ras signaling cascade. This process is important for cell growth and survival. When this process doesn’t work properly, it might cause the small bumps that we see in keratosis pilaris.
It has also been noticed that keratosis pilaris often appears in people who have a skin condition called atopic dermatitis. This information, along with the potential role of the filaggrin gene, suggests that keratosis pilaris might develop when the skin’s barrier doesn’t function as it should.
Risk Factors and Frequency for Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)
Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition. It is frequently seen in teenagers, affecting 50 to 80 percent of them. It’s also common among adults, where 40 percent are affected. However, the actual number could be higher as this condition often goes unreported. Importantly, your race or gender doesn’t make you more likely to get keratosis pilaris.
Signs and Symptoms of Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)
When a doctor is trying to diagnose keratosis pilaris, it’s crucial to take an exhaustive patient history and carry out a physical examination. They should look for information about when and where the skin bumps first appeared, what they look like, and any symptoms they might be causing. Asking about any treatments attempted at home and how the condition is affecting the patient’s life can also help manage the condition.
Keratosis pilaris is most commonly seen in teenagers and is often associated with a condition called atopic dermatitis. Patients with keratosis pilaris will often go to a doctor because they have red, bumpy skin that doesn’t hurt or itch. The bumpy skin is usually noticed on the outer surfaces of the upper arms and thighs and buttocks. However, it can also appear on the face, trunk of the body, and ends of the limbs.
- Appears predominantly in teenagers and those with atopic dermatitis
- Patients have red, bumpy skin that doesn’t hurt or itch
- Most commonly affects the outer surfaces of the upper arms, thighs, and buttocks
- Can also appear on the face, trunk of the body, and ends of the limbs
The doctor should look for lots of small, inflamed bumps around hair follicles on the affected areas. Redness and swelling may appear around some of these bumps if the patient attempts to squeeze out the hard, keratin plug in them. People with keratosis pilaris often seek medical care because they’re distressed about the appearance of their skin, not because the bumps themselves cause discomfort.
Testing for Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)
Keratosis pilaris is usually identified based on your medical history and a physical examination conducted by your doctor. This examination often involves looking at skin bumps, known as papules, using a device called a dermatoscope.
The dermatoscope can help your doctor visualize hair follicle abnormalities, which are common in keratosis pilaris. The hair that grows from these follicles may be thin and short, coiled, or stuck within the outermost layer of the skin, also known as the stratum corneum. The dermatoscope can also reveal scaling (flakes of skin) and erythema (redness), which are signs of this condition.
Generally, a simple skin biopsy – a procedure where a small sample of your skin is removed for testing – is not typically needed to diagnose keratosis pilaris.
Treatment Options for Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)
Keratosis pilaris is a condition that doesn’t usually cause any symptoms and tends to get better by itself over time. So, it typically doesn’t require any specific treatment. But, if you have this condition, it can help to make sure you keep your skin clean by using hypoallergenic soaps and not picking at the small bumps that are a common symptom of the condition.
For those who are interested in treating the condition, there are some medications that can be applied directly to the skin to help improve the appearance and texture of the skin. These include moisturizers or creams and topical keratolytics, which help to remove dead skin cells. Salicylic acid lotion and urea cream have been shown to improve skin texture.
There are also some other treatments that may be used less often but can also be helpful. These include laser treatments, retinoids, which are a type of vitamin A that can help to promote healthy skin, and vitamin D3 derivatives.
While these treatments may improve the look of the skin, it’s important to understand that there’s no cure for keratosis pilaris and no treatments that have been proven to be effective in controlled clinical trials.
In some cases, the use of a type of retinoid known as 0.01% tazarotene has been reported to be successful when applied every night. Reports indicate that keratosis pilaris faded in two weeks and disappeared completely after four to eight weeks. Certain chemical peels and laser treatments have also been reported to improve the appearance of keratosis pilaris in some cases.
What else can Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin) be?
The following skin conditions can often be mistaken for each other due to similar symptoms:
- Folliculitis
- Atopic dermatitis
- Milia
- Acne vulgaris
- Scurvy
What to expect with Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)
Keratosis pilaris commonly starts developing in childhood and typically gets better over time. According to a study, around 35% of people saw their condition improve, while for 43%, their keratosis pilaris continued to persist. In about 22% of patients, their keratosis pilaris got worse over time.
The severity of keratosis pilaris can also change with the seasons. Almost half of the patients (49%) noticed that their condition improved during the summertime. Conversely, during the wintertime, 47% of people observed that their keratosis pilaris got worse. These changes in condition are likely due to the lower moisture content in the air during the winter season.
Possible Complications When Diagnosed with Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)
Keratosis pilaris, a condition that causes small bumps on the skin, doesn’t often lead to serious problems, but this isn’t well-documented in medical literature. Patients are commonly upset about how it looks. There can also be scarring if the patient accidentally ruptures the bumps on the skin. It’s essential for doctors to tell patients that they need to use their prescribed creams or lotions and avoid touching the bumps.
Key Points:
- Keratosis pilaris is a condition that causes small bumps on the skin, mostly it does not lead to serious problems.
- Patients may be upset about how it affects their appearance.
- Scarring can occur if the skin bumps are accidentally ruptured.
- Doctors should inform patients to use prescribed creams or lotions and not to touch the bumps.
Preventing Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)
Education is key for managing a skin condition called keratosis pilaris. It’s important for patients to know that this condition is chronic, which means it’s long-lasting and doesn’t have a cure. However, doctors should also let patients know that keratosis pilaris often gets better on its own over time, so treatment isn’t always needed. In fact, treatments are mainly used to improve the appearance of the skin.
Patients should also be aware that keratosis pilaris can be tough to treat with the options currently available. These treatments don’t always work and there’s limited research supporting their effectiveness. Therefore, doctors should explain the risks and benefits of treating keratosis pilaris, so patients can make an informed decision.