Ask Dr. Pimple Popper | Keratosis Pilaris aka 'Chicken Skin'

[@sportykia3578]

I had ketosis pilaris caused by ingrown hairs on my arms and legs. It was cured when I had the hair on my legs and arms permanently removed by laser hair removal. Since there is no longer any hair on my arms and legs, the hair cannot get trapped under the skin. It's also a huge time saver since I no longer have to shave.

[@janelletate7772]

I have tge sane problem and have been considering permanent hair removal. Is it very painful and how many treatments did u need to get the results? I have kp on my arms and legs mixed with folliculitis, its severe 😢

[@tsdiggs78]

I got laser and it improved my issues with ingrowns tremendously. Best decision I have ever made. ❤

[@tsdiggs78]

​@janelletate7772 It depends on the location and how coarse the hair is. I've had it done it was a total of 9-10 treatments spaced out for roughly a year. Pain level again depends on the area, I went to Ideal Image their machine has a instant cooling mist after each blast. Think of the pain as small rubber bands being constantly plucked towards your skin very fast, to me it didn't hurt but they do have numbing cream you can apply. Don't buy it from them get it from like Amazon, I never used numbing cream becuase I have a high pain tolerance. I saw immediate results as the hair was growing in the hair began to fall out. It helped with the ingrowns so much, I went from getting waxed, having a minimum of 3-5 ingrowns everytime thr hair grew back to having an ingrown maybe once ever few months. If you're wondering about price the location will determine that but it is a but expensive but to me it is worth it, the area I got done ran me about $1550.00 I did a payment plan.

[@marisolleon9470]

How expensive is that? Is that something most insurances cover?

[@fawnzelle]

Ingrown hairs are a result of keratosis pilaris, not the cause if it 🙂

[@Ziggums23]

I'm so happy this is getting more recognition.

[@shalinmurphy]

I’ve had this my entire life. I struggled with over-picking and damaging my skin growing up when I didn’t know what it was or how to treat it. I’ve been using a micro-dermabrasion bar soap called Crystal Peel in the shower. It’s extremely rough at first but as long as you use it gently in circular motions (to eliminate scratching) it has been life-changing for my skin and confidence. I’m also able to extract keratin manually after showering if needed. My skin feels like it can breath again, no itchiness, super smooth and healthy feeling skin. I always lotion after the shower with an unscented lotion with clean ingredients to hydrate because I’m super dry year round. Hope this soap can help others like it did for me. It has a patent and it treats KP, eczema, dermatitis, ingrown hairs and folliculitis - I experience all of these skin conditions.

[@addsquirrel2171]

My daughter has this! Puberty hit and BAM! Her cheeks,legs, and arms are so bad 😟 so glad I know what it is and how to treat it. Thank you!!!

[@jennigthatonecrazydoglady8100]

Is it still KP if you ARE able to squeeze the bumps? They contain a waxy white plug, but not sebum or pus. Sometimes there is so much pressure on them they literally audibly pop! It used to be confined to my upper arms but has crept down my forearms. I hate it! (But love that you’re addressing the condition; thanks!)

[@evelynkerstein1077]

That happens to me too

[@stephaniecornwell8766]

Me too! Firm waxy white plugs

[@licoricebear5864]

I have that too . It's still kp . Just try not to pop them if you can , it can actually make them more visible .

[@cloudy_conures]

YEAa that happens to me lol

[@Oliver-yf9uu]

I have it too🙄

[@peccantis]

Oh dang this explains why I cannot for the life of me remove body hair without getting mad razor burn no matter how careful I am, and why it seems my leg hair is about 35% ingrown all the time.

[@RogueCrafterJess]

Same. It’s the worst.

[@ScopeVisionTele]

I have on my arms , thighs, calves, knees, buttox, im able to extract a sebum, sometimes with pus. The best thing i could suggest is a good shampoo, a loofa or scrub and goce youself that extra time in the shower, use luke warm water not steamy, and then end with a cold shower to close the pore, it is KP and in certain areas we can also have a build up of dirt and oil. Hope this can help

[@robertoklimas5894]

One thing that helps me a lot is to apply retinoic acid. I usually use it for my face care, but one day I tryed on other parts that has KP. Get much better feel!

[@CallTheRocksLudo]

I developed this on the back/outter side of my upper arms from being on escitalopram. I tend to pick at my skin when I feel any bumps so this sucks in the summer. In the winter, my arms are covered so I don't pick at them. Putting aloe on them seems to temporarily decrease the inflammation when I start picking.

[@b3tth0l3]

Just stop picking

[@colinlarson9656]

@@b3tth0l3 easier said than done. But yes you are right.

[@Jar7173]

I asked my doctor sbout this as a teen and no doctors ever knew what this was. Ive grown out of it i guess.... or maybe just better skin care routines as an adult

[@Oliver-yf9uu]

Shaving my arms helped a lot. But I still have them on my thighs like crazy. Idk if shaving has helped or made them worse on my legs though😞also I can definitely pop some of them. A lot of times a little white thing comes out with a tiny hair attached! I also notice if I pop one sometimes a hair pops out attached to the skin too. Idk if I have folliculitis and kp or what!!!!

[@Portalain0]

It sounds like we have the same thing. It is keratosis pilaris, and I've learned that (in my case at least) shaving aggravates it/increases its occurrence, especially if my skin is at all dry. Shaving less frequently or using moisturizer often may help you. It's helped me a fair but but I know every case is different. Hope this helps!

[@thatnobodyguy1535]

Same, I have KP & reocurring Folliculitus combined. My new Dermatologist just confirmed. I think KP makes your skin more prone to it.

[@m_smiley8351]

I'm curious how this impacts the skin on the face?

[@serenaclutz]

I have struggled with KP my whole life and I keloid very easily. I was so severely bullied because of the raised brown-tinted hair follicles, and I never knew why my skin was like this until a few years ago after 3 skin punch biopsies. I have seen 3 dermatologists and no one will help me because they say it isn't that bad. I am so self-conscious of my skin and even now as an adult I have kids and adults asking me why my arm and leg hairs are so thick, and they think it is a rash that might be contagious. Even though it isn't contagious at all... It is genetic. My mother and nearly every person on my mother's side of the family have KP and/or have some type of skin disease. I am so itchy from the KP that I am supposed to be taking 20mg of Zyrtec twice a day, but unfortunately this medication is not covered by my insurance and I'm on a fixed income due to disability. I've lost hope at this point and I'm praying my only daughter didn't inherit my skin issues. I'm constantly keeping an eye on her skin and encouraging an extremely good skin care routine for her. I need a miracle if I'm ever going to be able to afford this treatment even for myself. It feels so hopeless. I hate being stared at all the time.

[@karissacastano9303]

My daughter has it but she's 19 months old. Is there something I can use for her especially around her age?

[@yamommaknowsme187]

I have this on my cheeks, back, up and down all over my arms, and thighs. I usually pop the big ones and when I do, a clear strand comes out and the feeling is immaculate! I'm just wondering why that is and also some are white little "pearls" that would also pop out when squeezed. What is this and what would be the effect if someone would to be eating such said things?

[@supraguy4694]

That's the built up keratin you're releasing

[@DawnietotheMax]

I have this on my legs. My mom said that I would outgrow it by the time I was 18 like her. It didn't happen until recently. I'm 50 now.

[@Jlife13300]

Damn! “Kevin Harts voice”

[@colinlarson9656]

I am 40 and I just started getting them on the back of my lower thighs but I am a man and don't shave my legs. Do you have any advice for me Miss Dawn? I really do not like this stuff.

[@DawnietotheMax]

@@colinlarson9656 My dermatologist prescribed a certain kind of lotion for me. The best thing is to see a derm.

[@Jlife13300]

@@colinlarson9656 there’s a product I bought that works for it.. it’s a moisturizer scrub lol surprised no one is mentioning it

[@texanpondue]

Mine was so bad I went on Accutane. It helped, but didn't eliminate it entirely.

[@sarahatkins-g7k]

Girl I have it everywheree there's literally no bare part in my body 😭

[@samanthaebeling]

My KP will actually itch sometimes which causes me to pick and then it itches even more and gets even more red. It’s so frustrating and annoying and makes me sad to see everyone else’s beautiful legs that are so clear and I have all these bumps. I didn’t even start getting this until I was in my 20s!!! 🤷🏼‍♀️😭

[@mea5220]

Can you can KP on your face specifically in the t-zone area? I have developed this upraised skin/pores (not blackheads/no pimples) which you can feel the difference compared to rest of my face, is only on both sides, right and left, of my nose (minimal upraised bumps on the actual side profile of my nose) and stops/doesn’t affect my undereye skin/undereye circles area. And it is even worse when I try to put make-up on - it only accentuates the raised bumps and makes it look like I am caking on layers of makeup when I put VERY minimal. Any ideas/feedback/suggestions are welcome and treated appreciated! Also - I have had KP on the back of my arms and have had it for years and doesn’t entirely look the same as the very specific areas of skin to the right and left sides of my nose/face.

[@Ymn1119]

I have this issue as well

[@cateringbyleigh6255]

I have/had it on the back of my arms for years, tried all sorts of things incl exfoliate all the time & moisturize after every shower. I tried using BioOil Oil (from Costco) everyday & my arms are now smooth, no more redness. Have been for years now. But I have to keep using it. I stopped for a little bit & noticed the redness coming back.

[@Lemongrass8]

I have this I am sometimes self conscious but I don’t feel the need to remove it because I feel it’s kind of my special talent in some way

[@christinamccarthy9419]

Should you use your products for KP everyday?

[@minoz394]

I got it now at the age of 57 all over my face; so there is no age limit.

[@moniquedekker5031]

My gp told me I have this. But when in see pictures of kp and then I see my skin it doesn’t look the same. my skin also itches very much and sometimes hurts and those are not symptoms of this condition, they say here in the Netherlands

[@janjob9127]

Does laser hair removal help?

[@ivanmartinz9114]

Will it go away

[@cassandraweidmann8435]

What if it is on the face? The lotion is for the body.

[@marcellastrenger4176]

Dr Lee can you recommend something for np?

[@kathryntimson1811]

My 9 month old has KP on her cheeks, arms and thighs. I just put lotion on it. At what age can we use GA lotion on a child?

[@DeadeyeGaming]

I’m 15 going on 16 and I I’ve had this for 3 years now..I’m absolutely sick of it and need it gone, I don’t know what to do. I have it all over my chest, upper arms and checks. It also seems to be creeping down my back and it’s spreading fast. I need help…everything I use makes it worse. My checks are the worst affected…they are permanently bright red and I hate it..

[@sakalsobottey3674]

I also struggle with the same problem as u have u find any solution yet?

[@blizz1620]

diet

[@blizz1620]

check your vitamin a and go on keto diet

[@lollipop1241]

I’m 26 and I’ve dealt with this literally my whole life. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t have it. BUT I was able to get rid of it on my face with Noxzema Cleansing Cream. I’ve yet to be successful with it on the rest of gym body

[@AGardnerCPwarrior]

Does anyone have waxy itchy bumps on their scalp? Tried dandruff shampoo, but it made my hair greasy. Washing my hair from once every 2 days to every day seemed to help.

[@aliezahjuarez1212]

How long do the symptoms last? Will i gey clear skin again? Also how long can you shower with cold water because its been helping me uts just teh summer heat makes it worse

[@MediaRundare-bu1qg]

Can u help me please about my skin as well Dr

[@zuzannasmama3285]

Is it normal for an infant to have 100% full body KP with the hairs not being present within the bumps and dry skin has never been an issue?

[@melrose8213]

Y’all I’ve been predicting that the next big health scare situation we’ll be told to freak out about is going to be centered around the skin. I’ve been finding forums and comments for a few years where it seems we(the commenters) all sorta developed this chronic KP+Scabies/Parasitic hybrid type of skin condition; pearls come out, hair strands coated and effected, and there’s obvious non-physiologic matter in largely non-itchy bumps that no one seems to have the answer for. I keep getting told it’s KP, while simultaneously being told KP doesn’t spread as a rash does, doesn’t hurt, there shouldn’t be actual stuff in the lumps (like she said in the video), and the KP lumps are raised, but more flat than dome like. All of us have this same issue, all within the last few years, and all get told it’s just KP even though the *symptoms we tell the doctor absolutely do not line up with KP symptoms* that they are telling us about right to our face. I’m not really a conspiracist, but the pattern is hard not to pay attention to when you’re one of the people it effects. I miss wearin’ shorts man.

[@geima222]

is therer other ways to get rid of this???

[@bellissimabeauty9387]

is SA better than GA for this? i never know which acid to get for it.

[@princevalium25]

Is it still KP if you can pop it? For the last 12 years or so I get this bigger bumps that my doctor told me were KP. A lot of times if I squeeze them these little clear or cloudy pearls kinda snap out. These aren't regular pimples, and over the years theyve spread from my upper arms to my forearms and if I dont pop them they build up really quickly, but years of popping them has left my skin scarred with a bunch of dark spots that Im really self concious about

[@baoboba]

those are keratin plugs. i get them too when i squeeze mine

[@vicstee482]

At last i have now discovered what this horrible condition is!! I now have it all over my thighs and bum. Only started appearing though in about the last 18m ish. Im wondering if it is peri menopause related?

[@nickswindall477]

Does any body know how to ask a question directly to Dr. Lee i have had a couple of spots on my face and would love to know how to treat them or what i should do about them they look like black heads but have been on my face for some years it is a hard lump under the skin but mashing them does no good just need to know what to do to make rid of them ps thanks in advance ps i am from alabama

[@dwrsdlcable]

I have it and it's all over my arms and yes a mean both I'm only 11 I've had it since I was nine and also I squeezed one once and stuff started coming out

[@samanthamoreno1497]

Can you get it on you back?

[@Cathyvalaz]

Add some vitamins A and C and essential fatty acids to your diet.

[@joanneduval5532]

I have hEDS and I received a diagnosis of KP and it’s also around my eyes. Most products say to avoid the eye area. Would you know of a product to use on your face and eyes? I now have crepe skin around my eyes and I look like I’ve aged 20 years in the past year.

[@dennisguilder1]

Did heds or Kp cause the crape skin?

[@joanneduval5532]

@@dennisguilder1 I believe it did, because it wasn’t there before my KP inflammation. I have crepe skin around my surgical scars but never had any scars on my face until now. My doctor did mention that I have a rare type of KP, but its representations is unusual. I’m looking for a product that could help around the eyes.

[@dennisguilder1]

@@joanneduval5532 which came first HED or KP? Have you ever had any extensive blood work done?

[@joanneduval5532]

@@dennisguilder1 I was born with hEDS and was braced since birth. I always lived with hEDS. I had eczema throughout my body. KP started last year and spread everywhere. My face felt like tiny stones were embedded into my skin. It’s in my ears, eyes and nose. My eye doctor mentioned surgery to remove it from my eye lids.

[@dennisguilder1]

@@joanneduval5532 what rare type do you have of Kp)

[@MediaRundare-bu1qg]

I have rash on my legs please help me

[@TheHadesShade]

Looking for a chemical peel for the KP on my buttocks with high levels of salicylic acid. Does anyone know some? Regular 1 or 2% doesn't seem to do the trick.

[@peccantis]

Just do two or three treatments back to back. It's much safer than using stronger peels.

[@SharonOparaeke]

Please, is that another solution?

[@josephBo]

currently dealing with KP and a host of other skin issues simultaneously. Tinea versicolor, eczema, psoriasis, etc. The strangest thing though, my skin can feel painful sometimes. Like it feels like there are tiny shards of sand or needles that are interwoven deep in my skin. Some of this is ingrown hair, I know that much, but a lot of times i'll have thin whispy filaments fly out of my arms when I move them (which is most likely keratin), but I can't find much info on what is causing this to feel pretty painful for me. Moisturizing definitely helps, and not all of what I see come out of my skin is solid, but the way i'm describing it, I can't find anyone that relates. I also don't know if this is exactly related to a different, rarer fungal infection. It's scaring me though. I feel like I can physically feel my skin moving and spitting out this substance at random parts of my body. I'll feel it in my neck, my arms and legs, and even my feet. Using a fungal cream has helped with the Tinea Versicolor, but the shards of whatever are still there. It grows extremely fast too and causes discoloration

[@Molotov_Milkshake]

That is Morgellon's disease

[@josephBo]

@@Molotov_Milkshake thanks for the reply, I actually figured it out. It isn't morgellons, and i suspect that many people with morgellons may think they have it when they have symptoms that are similar. I have something called tinea corporis. It doesn't look exactly like a bunch of ringworm, rather i'll have very faded ringworm spots, but the most odd thing is that almost all of my vellus hair is ingrown and covered in a shell of these clear "hair-like" substance that is actually a fungal yeast. It traps your hair, spreads hyphae throughout your skin, and creates this odd sensation that u have things crawling in your skin and you'll even see white fur balls come out of your skin that look almost like cotton. I do believe morgellons is its own thing, but i'm sure many people mistake the disease I have for morgellons because the symptoms can really be similar. I found a product that works for me and is now getting rid of the million of clear hairs that are trapping my vellus hair and making me look like i'm balding when i'm really not.

[@checksanity]

@@josephBowhat product did you find that helped?

[@josephBo]

@@checksanityI didn't necessarily use any specific product. My skin is improving drastically but it turns out that my pores were clogged with dead skin and keratin, and a lack of mobility and moisturizing for years has toughened my skin so much that when I started to massage my skin after moisturizing, I realized that soon enough, these shards of keratin were starting to pop out, and after those really hard pieces of keratin came out, out came the dead skin and debris. I can't promise this is what you have, but I hope it helps. If you are not a very mobile person, try moisturizing with like THICK layers of either lotion of petroleum jelly, then massaging the skin (I do it kinda hard to promote blood flow). Being inactive for too long caused my skin to harden and keratinize and clog my pores, which made my skin feel awful. My skin is feeling the cleanest and most relaxed it's ever felt. It's also not as discolored anymore. Can't hurt to try.

[@josephBo]

@@checksanityI'm realizing that in my reply earlier I mentioned that I used a product. I can't remember which product I used unfortunately, but just try what I mentioned to you previously