Experiencing Body Bumps and Skin Dryness, this blog is a must read!
Dry skin or blemishes not only affects the appearance of skin’s texture, it results in rough and bumpy look. For many people, the look of “chicken skin” results in feelings of self-consciousness when wearing sleeveless tops or shorts. In addition to being frustrating, rough skin can be challenging to manage, especially if you’re not sure the cause.
A common complaint I hear from my clients is, “I have dry skin, and little bumps on the backs of my arms, elbows, thighs and legs.” Those bumps are usually attributed to something called Keratosis pilaris (KP). This is a harmless condition, and has a lot to do with lack of exfoliation. It’s fairly easy to address as long as you use the right products and techniques.
Keep scrolling to learn all about this skin condition and how to manage it at home with the right products. After this, you’ll be well on your way to healthy-looking smooth, soft and even skin that can reflect light well, and ultimately gives skin a radiant, naturally glowing appearance.
What Is Keratosis Pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that causes bumps on the back of the arms, thighs, and buttocks. It’s also sometimes referred to as “chicken skin,” and while it typically appears on the body, it can also appear on the sides of the face.
Your skin constantly turns over to make room for new skin cells, and usually, skin does this on its own. Sometimes, however, dead skin cells can get stuck on your skin’s surface. This buildup can result in dull looking skin clogged pores, and a rough, uneven skin texture.
Because dead skin cells aren’t shed as quickly as they should be, they block the hair follicles, leaving them bumpy, and oftentimes, red or dark in appearance. Not shedding dead skin cells over a period of time can result in keratosis pilaris.
How Can I Get Rid of It?
Since bumps and dry skin are the direct results of dead skin cell build-up, the most effective way to get rid of them is to exfoliate the body at least three times per week with a chemical exfoliator.
Chemical exfoliators absorb into the surface layers of the skin to dissolve/loosen away the dead skin cells that can lead to bumps. Chemical exfoliators are a total game-changer, and once you use one, you can immediately see and feel a difference in the texture of your skin.
Personally, I use and recommend the exfoliating cleanser to help dissolve skin cell buildup. So swap out your go-to body wash for an exfoliating cleanser. This cleanser leaves the entire body soft, smooth and refreshed and is also effective for controlling acne on the back and chest. Continued usage will reveal brighter, more radiant-looking skin.
Apply the body lotion after the initial exfoliation steps are complete to maintain smooth, bump-free skin. You’ll also want to use The body lotion both morning and night and even on days when you’re not using a physical or chemical exfoliator.
If you’re in a particularly dry environment, try applying a body oil over the body lotion.
You should aim to complete this process at least thrice per week if you’re serious about getting rid of keratosis pilaris. Once you get into the routine, try doing it 4 - 5 times per week to see if this gives you even better results. And remember, even if you’re not exfoliating, you should still be using body lotion and/or oil both morning and night to seal in moisture.
Even if bumps aren’t your issue - dry, flaky skin will still greatly benefit from regular exfoliation. Trust me—if having smooth skin is something you desire, this process will help get you there. With consistent use, the combination of physical and chemical exfoliators, along with regular moisture from body lotion and oil, will help reveal soft, silky skin. I know it’s worked for me!
There’s one more thing I want to mention. There are professional treatments that work on a deeper level to address keratosis pilaris, such as chemical peels.