Dermatologist says this £15 cream will treat bumpy 'chicken skin'
What is keratosis pilaris? Dermatologist says this £10 cream will treat dry and bumpy ‘chicken skin’ at home – and thousands of shoppers agree
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Almost half of the UK population experience keratosis pilaris or ‘chicken skin’ as it is most commonly known. It is a harmless skin condition that causes tiny, stubborn red bumps on areas like your upper arms, legs, thighs, and butt. But what is it, and how can it be treated?
‘It tends to be tiny little bumps that appear around a hair follicle, and it has a chicken skin-like appearance,’ explains Dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite.
‘It can crop up anywhere on your body, but the main areas are on the backs of arms – which is the most common – and on thighs.’
Keratosis pilaris is a genetic skin condition where small, stubborn bumps appear on the skin caused by a build-up of keratin that blocks your hair follicles
Dermatologist Dr Alexis Granite explained how using a moisturiser such as CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream daily will both hydrate and exfoliate the skin to keep signs of KP at bay
This occurs due to a lack of sebum, the natural protective oil that lubricates the skin.
And while there’s no apparent scientific reason as to why one person might develop KP, we hate to break it to you, but it’s often thought to be genetic, and it’s difficult to cure.
But thankfully, according to Dr Granite, you can improve its appearance, and it’s surprisingly easy to do: it is key to incorporate a moisturiser into your daily routine that will both hydrate and exfoliate the skin to keep signs of KP at bay.
And there’s one affordable and effective option that does just that: enter CeraVe’s SA Smoothing Cream (now £9.60 for 177ml at Amazon), a deeply moisturising cream that’s been created specifically for use on the body.
Along with the brand’s patented MVE technology which works to keep skin hydrated for up to 24 hours, the CeraVe body cream also contains a mixture of effective exfoliating acids to smooth and soften rough, bumpy skin.
The bestselling CeraVe body cream also contains a mixture of effective exfoliating acids to smooth and soften rough, bumpy skin
‘It combines lactic acid with 0.5 per cent salicylic acid (a BHA – beta-hydroxy acid – that’s proven to accelerate skin exfoliation) with 10 per cent urea (which breaks down keratin while helping to loosen and remove dead skin cells) all while being clinically proven to provide smoother feeling skin in just three days,’ she says.
‘Plus, one of my favourite things about it is that it can be used daily, and when it’s used after a shower, it’s best applied straight onto skin that’s still slightly damp.’
What is keratosis pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris, also known as KP or chicken skin, is a genetic skin condition that causes tiny, stubborn bumps on areas like your upper arms, legs, thighs, and butt.
The common condition is harmless and caused by a build-up of keratin around the hair follicles.
This occurs due to a lack of sebum, the natural protective oil that lubricates the skin.
But Dr Granite warns that keratosis pilaris can’t be scrubbed away with physical exfoliants or exfoliating gloves and mitts; they will only worsen the condition.
She adds: ‘Body scrubs are a no-go – avoid a strong grain and exfoliating gloves; otherwise, it could turn into eczema. A targeted and specially formulated moisturising cream should be part of your routine, too.’
Beauty fanatics and those suffering from KP and rough, bumpy skin agree that CeraVe’s SA Smoothing Cream does it all, with nearly 2,000 Amazon shoppers attesting to its claims that it alleviates the symptoms of chicken skin, with one user calling it ‘absolute magic’.
‘I have had keratosis pilaris (chicken skin) for my whole life and had fully resigned myself to long-sleeved shirts and colour correcting foundation on the arms until the day when it went away with old age.
‘Enter this cream. It has been 2 DAYS, and my arms are smoother than I ever remember them being!! The splotchy redness has evened out and is slowly brightening; I am FLOORED.’
They added: ‘After one day of usage, the built-up dead skin on my arms peeled away as if it was just a bad sunburn, and as a result, the bumps and ingrown hairs drastically reduced. If you’re like me and think chicken skin is just a fact of life – TRY THIS PRODUCT.’
‘I was really sceptical about how much this could help my keratosis pilaris as it’s plagued me my whole life and been worse since I moved to the UK and got off the pill,’ another customer shared.
Amazon shoppers are calling the CeraVe’s SA Smoothing Cream ‘absolute magic’ for helping treat keratosis pilaris
‘However, I have had such great results in just a few weeks that I can see myself using this product for the rest of my life. Seriously.’
A third raved: ‘I’ve suffered from ‘chicken skin’ on the tops of my arms for as long as I can remember, and nothing ever managed to get rid of it.
‘I’ve been using this for literally just a few days, and the bumps are nearly gone for the first time in years!
‘This product is absolutely amazing, and the tub is huge. You only need a tiny bit when applying, so it will last ages too.’
For smooth and bump-free skin this summer shop CeraVeA Smoothing Cream 177ml for £9.60 at Amazon.
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