Banish the Bumps: Get Ready for the Party Season!
I know December and (whisper) Christmas isn’t quite here yet but here’s a little tip for those of you planning to show off some skin in sparkly party dresses or tops during the party season - start smoothing the skin now! With all the cosy layers and central heating we’re living in right now, it’s not unusual for skin on the upper arms to feel a bit, well… not smooth as one would like!
Back in May, I had run out of my usual exfoliating body lotion and ended up using some other ones that I had left, when I noticed rough little bumps on my upper arms. I’d never had keratosis pilaris before but here it was!
So what is keratosis pilaris? “KP” or “chicken skin,” is a super common skin thing that gives you little rough bumps, almost like tiny hard pimples on certain areas of your body that look a lot like goosebumps or chicken skin. I’m going to call it KP rather than, er, chicken skin.
These bumps like to pop up on places like your upper arms, thighs, cheeks and even on your bum! The good news is though, it’s harmless and not catchy, and most of the time, it doesn’t itch or hurt at all - its just dead skin cells (made of keratin) clogging up hair follicles.
However, it can get a bit worse in the winter when skin is drier so hence this article. Also, hormones can play a crappy part too and I have a feeling that’s why mine appeared, as it was in the month of May - hardly cold! Anyhoo, I want you to have plenty of time to get super-smooth skin!
Come Causes of KP
Genetics. Firstly, most things come down to little quirks in our genes so don’t be surprised if your family members have had it too.
Dry skin. Lack of oil and water can cause skin that is dry to become flaky and then they just sit there on the surface, which in turn clogs the pores.
The weather. When there’s less moisture in the air, our skin easily dries out. In the colder months, we wear lots of layers that rub against the skin and we crank up the central heating which only adds to the dryness.
Menopause, pregnancy and puberty. Bloomin’ hormones play havoc with the skin and affect the keratin production and turnover rate. Excess oestrogen and testosterone can increase the production of keratin.
Medical reasons. KP does have some connections with other skin stuff such as dry/sensitive skin types/conditions, atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema) and acne. Hormonal changes, like those with PCOS, can also make KP a bit worse.
So how to keep KP at bay?
Avoid hot showers and baths, as they can remove protective oils in the skin. Keep them warm to unclog and loosen the pores.
Exfoliate daily. I know I harp on about daily exfoliation of the face, it’s too much but it’s perfectly fine to do so on the body as the skin is thicker. To be honest, a flannel with some shower cream or gel on, is sufficient - just remember to moisturise after.
If you want to go down the ‘acid’ route like me then you can use exfoliation creams daily as they speed up cell turnover nicely. They are hydrating too so you are getting the best of both worlds. However, the downside is that they normally don’t smell very nice, to me anyway. It seems that any body lotion with exfoliants in (funny that exfoliating facial skincare smell nice!) has a really strong scent which manufacturers then hide with an even more overpowering one!
If you are going down the loofah, flannel or scrub route, then don’t forget to hydrate to seal in some moisture. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!
