Here's How To Get Rid Of Chicken Skin AKA Those Annoying Bumps On The Back Of Your Arms

Keratosis Pilaris is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting roughly 40 per cent of adults and even more adolescents, but you probably know it better as 'chicken skin'.

Chicken skin is a disorder of follicles causing a buildup of dead skin cells that leads to small bumps appearing on the surface of the skin - much like the skin of the bird it takes its name from.

Chicken skin is totally harmless and is commonly found on upper outer arms, thighs, buttocks, and occasionally on the cheeks.

Dermatologist Dr. Janet Prystowsky, who has worked with patients with the condition for years, tells PRETTY 52 while there isn't a difference between the sexes in terms of incidence, she believes "it bothers women more than men."

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Chicken skin is hereditary and incurable, though there are steps sufferers can take to prevent the condition looking worse. Many common tips include avoiding perfumed soaps or bath products that could irritate the skin, harsh scrubs and picking and rubbing.

"If the plugged follicles get irritated with pressure and sweating, which commonly occurs if the buttocks are involved, then follicles can get inflamed and resemble acne," says Dr. Prystowsky. "Picking at the rough follicles always makes the problem worse, too."

There are also steps you can take to improve the condition, such as using unperfumed bathing products, having lukewarm showers and gently patting your skin dry after washing.

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Dr. Prystowsky says that "microdermabrasion on a regular basis to the affected areas seems to help the condition the best," while topical acne medicines - such as Retin-A, tretinoin, tazarotene, or adapalene - are often prescribed by doctors to clean out pores. She has "never seen great results from them" though, adding "alpha hydroxy acids do not help much either."

She explains that some of her patients have seen results from LIVAD moisturizer which contains Vitamins A, D, and E. "Since redness of the plugged follicles is one of the complaints, it is possible that the Vitamin D in my product helps because it is anti-inflammatory and reduces redness. While the Vitamin A may help decrease the follicular plugging," she says.

For more information on chicken skin, the NHS list some helpful tips and advice.

Topics: Beauty, health news, Skin

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara is a freelance journalist working for Tyla. After graduating from the University of Sussex, Ciara worked as a writer at GLAMOUR Magazine and later as the Assistant Editor of Yahoo Style UK.

@ciarasheppard