Keratosis Pilaris - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that is mottled like chicken skin and feels rough. This condition usually goes away on its own with age.

Keratosis pilaris or also known as chicken skin disease is not a dangerous disease. However, this condition can interfere with appearance. Therefore, patients are advised to consult a doctor.

Keratosis pilaris can affect all age groups, but most people with this condition are children and adolescents.

Causes and Risk Factors of Keratosis Pilaris

The spots on keratosis pilaris appear when the pores of the skin are blocked by a buildup of keratin. Keratin itself is a dense protein that protects the skin from harmful substances and infections.

It is not known what causes the buildup of keratin, but it is suspected that this has something to do with genetic disorders.

The following are factors that can increase the risk of developing keratosis pilaris:

  • Female gender
  • Having a family with keratosis pilaris
  • Have skin conditions that tend to be dry, such as in patients with ichthyosis and atopic eczema

Symptoms of Keratosis Pilaris

Keratosis pilaris is characterized by spots on the skin. These spots appear on the surface of the skin which is generally overgrown with hair, such as on the arms, thighs, cheeks, buttocks, face and scalp.

Other features of keratosis pilaris are:

  • Red or brown spots
  • Skin feels dry and rough
  • The appearance of the skin that resembles chicken skin

The spots on keratosis pilaris will usually be more obvious or multiply when the skin is dry, for example due to cold air. In some cases, pregnancy can also make keratosis pilaris multiply.

Diagnosis of Keratosis Pilaris

To determine the diagnosis of keratosis pilaris, the doctor will conduct a question and answer session regarding the patient's complaints and allergies, a history of skin diseases, and whether the patient's family also has similar symptoms.

After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination to see the condition that the patient is complaining about and the overall condition of his skin. Usually, the diagnosis of keratosis pilaris is sufficient by physical examination.

Keratosis Pilaris Treatment

There is no specific treatment that can cure keratosis pilaris. This is because in most cases keratosis pilaris will go away on its own. Even so, there are several ways that can be done to help reduce the appearance of keratosis pilaris, namely:

Self care

Mild keratosis pilaris can be treated with self-care. Here are the ways:

  • Use a skin moisturizer that suits your skin type
  • Use water humidifier to control the humidity of the room, especially when the weather is dry
  • Avoid bathing for too long, because it can strip the skin's natural oils
  • Take a bath with warm water
  • Do light skin exfoliation regularly, for example using natural stones or loofah, approximately 2-3 times a week
  • Using soaps with high levels of essential oils or moisturizers
  • Wear loose-fitting clothes and clothing materials that are soft on the skin

If the appearance of keratosis pilaris is bothersome, you should consult a doctor. The method of treatment that will be carried out by the doctor depends on the condition of the patient's skin when examined. Here is the explanation:

Drugs

If there are signs of inflammation, the doctor will focus on treating the inflammation first. The trick is to give a corticosteroid cream to be rubbed on the skin. However, if the inflammation in the patient's skin is severe, the doctor may prescribe isotretinoin pills.

If there are no signs of inflammation, the doctor may prescribe the following topical (oles) medications:

  • Topical exfoliants

    These cream-shaped drugs usually contain acids such as AHAs, lactic acid, salicylic acid, or urea. This cream works to moisturize dry skin and get rid of dead skin cells. However, this drug is not recommended for pediatric patients.

  • Topical retinoids

    Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A that can speed up the cell turnover process and prevent clogging of hair follicles. However, this drug is not recommended for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Therapy

For maximum results, doctors can combine the use of topical medications with exfoliation therapy, which is therapy to remove dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. These actions are in the form of:

  • Laser therapy
  • Microdermabrasion
  • IPL therapy (Intense Pulse Light)
  • Chemical peels

Prevention of Keratosis Pilaris

There is no specific way to prevent the appearance of keratosis pilaris, because this condition is inherited genetically. However, people with keratosis pilaris can prevent this condition from getting worse by always keeping their skin moist and clean.