We all would love to be able to avoid keratosis pilaris if possible. The little red bumps, or chicken bumps, that proliferate throughout our skin are a cosmetic disaster on top of being itchy and uncomfortable. Many people confuse them with acne when their redness is pronounced, but they proliferate in greater numbers than acne and have a smaller "bump" size. Roughly 40% of us will have to experience this skin condition throughout our lives. It is even a higher percentage when you limit it to the teenage years. Statistics have shown that it is 50 to 80% of teenagers who undergo this skin condition as a result of the hormonal changes that stem from puberty.

There are three main forms of KP. The first one we'll mention is keratosis pilaris rubra. This is the kind of KP that shows up as red, inflamed bumps on the arms, head, and legs. After that there is keratosis pilaris alba. This has no redness or irritation to it but does make the skin rough and bumpy. Thirdly there is the highly undesirable keratosis pilaris faceii which consists of the reddish rash on the cheeks.

Keratosis pilaris is formed from the overproduction of keratin. Keratin in a natural protein the body produces that is necessary for proper skin health provided it is within a certain amount. Unfortunately when produced in excessive amounts, it surrounds and entraps the hair follicles within the pore. This is what causes the process of hard plugs forming which goes by the label of hyperkeratinization. Although there are people who have this condition year round, it is mainly contracted during the colder winter months.

Fortunately there are remedies that will alleviate the symptoms of follicular hyperkeratosis until they are all gone. On the unfortunate side there is the pesky fact that there is no cure that will prevent the skin condition from reforming at a later date. When a treatment for keratosis includes the acid form of vitamin A or Tretinoin, studies have shown it to be an effective KP reduction application. These creams are usually sold under the name of Retin-A and are also used to treat acne. They decrease the amount of keratin in the skin while increasing the cell turnover rate of the skin's outer layer.

An alternative treatment is the prescription medicine of Triamcinolone. It is usually seen in pharmacies under the name of Aristocort. It is a synthetic cortiscosteroid that is compounded as a cream. This treatment is also approved an an anti-inflammatory agent for treating the dry skin condition of ezcema. This will also reduce the amount of keratin within the pores that then allows for the bumps to decrease in size and lose their red color.

Most doctors will say that to cure KP the treatment should be a mixture between an effective moisturizer and the incorporation of an ingredient that will increase cell turnover within the skin. There exists a biological skin cream that has been proven within a peer reviewed scientific journal to perform both these functions to make for an effective KP remover.