Who Can Develop Keratosis Pilaris
Chicken skin is common in women, children or teenagers, and those of Celtic ancestry, as well as those with:
Anyone can be susceptible to this skin condition, but its most common in children and teenagers. Keratosis pilaris often begins in late infancy or during adolescence. It typically clears up in ones mid-20s, with most cases completely gone by the age of 30.
Hormonal changes can cause flare-ups during pregnancy and during puberty. Keratosis pilaris is most common in people with fair skin.
Keratosis pilaris is diagnosed based on medical history and a physical exam. A skin doctor, known as a dermatologist, can typically confirm the diagnosis just by looking at the affected area. Factors that go into the diagnosis include:
Treating Acne And Eczema
Bad cases of acne might need topical antibiotics, but usually get better over time. For eczema, you may be prescribed topical steroids or anti-inflammatories to manage symptoms.
In either case, avoid getting too much sun. Stress and anxiety are also triggers for both acne and eczema so think twice about throwing yourself into high-stress situations.
Skin Rashes Caused By Allergic Reactions To Medication
There are two main types of drug-induced skin rashes. One is immediate associated with hives, itching, and often with breathing difficulty, and tongue or lip swelling. If this happens, it is important to seek medical attention right away.
A drug rash can also occur several days to even weeks later. These may include skin bump eruptions, purple or red skin discoloration, or scaly and thickened areas of skin. This skin condition can occur anywhere on the skin or even inside the mouth. In rare cases, such as those accompanied by fever, pain, swelling, eye, mouth, or genitalia involvement, drug-induced rashes can be serious or even fatal, so check with your doctor. Treatment is to stop taking the drug and manage the symptoms with antihistamines or steroids.
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Key Points About Seborrheic Dermatitis
- Seborrheic dermatitis is a common type of rash. It causes red, scaly, greasy skin. It occurs on skin that has oil glands, such as the face, scalp, and upper chest.
- It tends to last a long time, or go away and come back. It is often made worse by cold weather, hormonal changes, and stress.
- Symptoms can include skin that is bumpy, scaly, greasy, and itchy.
- Treatment such as medicine in shampoo, body wash, and lotion can reduce symptoms.
- Seborrheic dermatitis is an ongoing condition. It can go away and then come back. You will likely need to use shampoo, cream, or ointment with medicine once or twice a week.
Identifying And Treating Different Types Of Skin Rashes
Skin rashes can be caused by many things that occur inside and outside your body. Most skin rashes cause some discomfort. They can be painful, itchy, and change the appearance of your skin.
Knowing how to identify a skin rash and pinpoint the underlying cause is key to proper treatment and relief. If you think you have any of the below skin rashes, you may need treatment to help the symptoms resolve. The type of treatment will depend on the rash you have.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Molluscum Contagiosum
If you or your child comes into contact with the M. contagiosum virus, you may not see symptoms of infection for up to 6 months. These symptoms usually take between 2 and 7 weeks to show from the moment you acquire the molluscum contagiosum virus.
You may notice the appearance of a small group of painless lesions. These bumps can appear alone or in a patch of as many as 20. Theyre usually:
- very small, shiny, and smooth in appearance
- flesh-colored, white, or pink
Most presentations of molluscum contagiosum heal without treatment. But some people experience complications, including:
- impetigo, or a skin infection that develops after scratching the lesions
- conjunctivitis, an eye infection that may develop if lesions occur on the eyelid
- disseminated secondary eczema, which might occur as a result of overreaction to the virus by your immune system
- widespread molluscum contagiosum that are larger than usual, often on the face
- sudden scarring with a pitted appearance, either spontaneously or due to lesion removal surgery
What Is Keratosis Pilaris
Keratosis pilaris is a common, mostly harmless skin condition that causes small, rough, white or reddish bumps or patches on the skin. While it can occur at any age, keratosis pilaris most commonly affects children and adolescents. The symptoms often improve and then disappear entirely early in adult life.
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Impetigo: A Skin Rash Caused By Bacteria
Impetigo is a rash caused by a skin infection, usually traced to one of two bacteria, group A streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus. This skin rash appears as brown, crusty sores or blisters around the nose or mouth area. The rash is very itchy and very contagious. Scratching the rash and then touching other areas of the body, or other people, will cause it to spread. Treatment of impetigo is with antibiotic creams or lotions, and for more severe cases, with oral antibiotics.
Why Is My Skin Rough And Bumpy
Does sleeveless clothing make you anxious? Are you constantly rubbing the strange bumps on the backs of your arms? Are you convinced that you’ll never be fully able to shave your bumpy thighs?
Our skin does a lot of strange things. Many are the result of allergies, maltreatment, or even health problems. Keratosis pilaris is one of the most common skin conditions. It’s not caused by anything you’re doing, and its not harmful to your health. Instead, it produces small bumps on the skin’s surface. The bumps may be clear or white, and are sometimes surrounded by red, patchy skin.
For many people, KP clears up in their thirties, but for others, it’s a lifelong condition. Keratosis pilaris wont develop into anything worse, and it doesnt mean you have any serious health issues, and there are options available to treat some of the symptoms associated with the condition.
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Chickenpox: A Skin Rash Made Up Of Blisters
The virus known as varicella zoster, more commonly called chickenpox, creates a skin rash of itchy blisters on the face that spreads down to cover the chest, back, and the rest of the body. It’s typically accompanied by fever and headache. Because a vaccine is available, chickenpox is less common now, though it still occurs, especially in children under age 12. Treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms, including fever, with non-aspirin pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen , and soothing the itch with oatmeal baths. People with chickenpox should avoid young children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems, because chickenpox is highly contagious for those without prior exposure or who did not receive the vaccine.
On Your Arms And Legs
If youre struggling with rough, bumpy skin that resembles goose flesh or chicken skin on the backs of your legs and arms, you may have a common skin condition called keratosis pilaris .
Keratosis pilaris results when your skin accumulates a protein called keratin. As it builds up, the keratin particles block your hair follicles, creating small bumps. The small, painless bumps most often appear on the back of your arms, legs, and buttocks though its possible to get KP in other locations.
If you suspect you have KP, its best to see one of our skin experts at Manhattan Dermatology to get an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment recommendations. KP may resolve on its own, but there are steps you can take to improve your skins feel and appearance, including:
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Transmission Of Molluscum Contagiosum
There are a number of ways that M. contagiosum passes between people, including:
- Skin contact with a person who carries the infection. You can get molluscum contagiosum by touching the lesions on the skin of a person who has this infection. Children can transmit the virus during normal play with other children. Teens and adults are more likely to contract it through sexual contact. You can also become infected during contact sports that involve touching bare skin, like wrestling or football.
- Contact with surfaces that a person with molluscum contagiosum has touched. The virus can survive on surfaces that has made contact with the skin. Its possible to contract the virus by handling contaminated towels, clothing, toys, or other items.
- Sharing sports equipment that has had contact with a person who has molluscum contagiosum. The virus can remain on equipment for transmission to another person. This includes items like baseball gloves, wrestling mats, and football helmets.
- Internal spread. If you have molluscum contagiosum, you might spread the infection throughout your body. You can transfer the virus from one part of your body to another by touching, scratching, or shaving a bump and then touching another part of your body.
Transmission seems to take place more in wet environments, like during childrens shared swimming classes. If skin lesions are no longer visible, the virus can no longer pass from your body to that of another person.
- children between the ages of
When To See A Doctor About Molluscum Contagiosum
Some circumstances may make you a good candidate for treatment:
- your lesions are large and located on your face and neck
- you have an existing health problem that causes skin effects, like atopic dermatitis
- you have concerns about spreading the virus
- youve received treatment or acquired a health problem that reduces your immune activity
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How To Get Rid Of Uneven Skin Texture According To A Derm
For skin that’s smooth as silk.
PLUME CREATIVE/ GETTY IMAGES / Design by Michela Buttignol
If you’re a skincare devotee, you probably have your regimen down to a science and have found a good groove with your skin routine, finally. After years of familiarizing yourself with your complexion, you know which products and treatments to rely on when any familiar skin predicament arises, be it breakouts, wrinkles, discoloration, or something else entirely. But sometimes skin has a way of presenting new issues you didn’t even know existedfor instance, uneven skin texture. Nope, we’re not talking about uneven skin tone, which deals with the pigmentation of your skin, but rather the feel or smoothness of your overall complexion. And although it might not be as well-known or talked about, uneven skin texture is just as common as uneven skin tone.
“Uneven skin texture is commonly a result of excess dead skin cells that build up on the surface of the skin,” explains Frank. “This can make areas of the skin feel rough or bumpy to the touch and can also give the skin a dull appearance.” As for how it happens, there are a number of potential causes.
Addressing Skin Texture Concerns With Drunk Elephant
Keep reading for a seven-step guide to smoothing out your face once and for all.
How Can I Treat Symptoms Of Keratosis Pilaris
Because KP has no obvious environmental causes, dietary and detergent changes are unlikely to make it go away. KP can be difficult to treat, and once you find a treatment that works, you’ll need to stick with it, or your symptoms will return. Some strategies include:
- Keeping your skin heavily moisturized, especially during the winter months. Colloidal oatmeal treatments work particularly well, especially if you also have eczema.
- Alpha hydroxy acid treatments. These products chemically exfoliate your skin, potentially eliminating blockages and reducing the chance of developing a future keratin blockage.
- Frequently exfoliating your skin. Doing so removes dead skin cells, and may prevent future keratin blockages. It can also help reduce dryness and itching.
If you think you have KP, talk to a doctor or a dermatologist to be sure, but know that youre not alone. Your symptoms can be reduced, and that red, bumpy skin could become a thing of the past.
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About the Author
Zawn Villines
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Identifying Other Rashes Not Related To Dermatitis
Although inflamed skin is a symptom of many types of rashes, not all rashes are a form of dermatitis.
Skin can become irritated by the seasons and temperature changes. You may also notice skin changes when youre more stressed than usual. Rashes are also symptoms of some illnesses, like autoimmune conditions.
Lets explore more of these causes in detail.
How Is Keratosis Pilaris Treated
Keratosis pilaris is often a mild condition that doesn’t require medical treatment and usually disappears by the age 30.
Below are a number of things you can do to help reduce your symptoms:
- Try not to scratch the bumps.
- Treat the skin gently and avoid using harsh chemicals, which can dry out the skin.
- Wash using a mild soap and warm, rather than hot, water.
- Gently pat or blot the skin dry and follow up by applying a soothing moisturising cream that contains lanolin, petroleum jelly or glycerine.
- Avoid friction from tight clothes.
A variety of medicated creams, some of which are available over the counter, may also help to relieve symptoms. The creams contain ingredients, such as retinoids , urea, alpha-hydroxy acid, lactic acid or salicylic acid, that help to break down the excess keratin and remove dead skin. However, these chemicals can be harsh and cause dry skin and irritation, so they may not be suitable for children.
Laser therapy can be used to successfully treat keratosis pilaris that has become very red and inflamed.
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When To See A Healthcare Professional
Developing a blister from a tight pair of shoes or after a long golf trip doesn’t warrant a medical visit, but suspicious, unfamiliar bumps that are not healing should be examined.
This is especially important if they are accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, limited mobility, fever, joint pain, swelling, or bleeding.
Changes in the size, color, and shape of moles warrant a skin cancer screening. Skin changes that linger and do not go away should also be evaluated.
Dermatitis And The Causes Of Rashes
Unlike a bacterial or fungal infection, dermatitis is not contagious. Dermatitis often occurs when your skin touches an irritating substance in your physical environment. It can also be triggered by allergies, illness, and genetics.
Examples of substances that some people react to include:
- Chemicals like hair dye and pesticides
- Fabrics and certain clothing
- Metals like nickel – are found in jewelry, watches, zippers, bra hooks, buttons, lipstick, and makeup containers
- Plants like poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac
- Soaps, shampoos, and detergents
- When exposed to sunlight, certain shaving lotions or sunscreens, sulfa ointments, some perfumes, coal tar or lime oil.
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Diagnosing The Cause Of Your Skin Lump
Your doctor will ask you a series of questions to help diagnose the cause of your skin lump, such as:
- Who first discovered the lump?
- When did you first discover the lump?
- How many skin lumps do you have?
- What are the color, shape, and texture of the lumps?
- Does the lump hurt?
- Are you experiencing other symptoms?
The color and shape of the lump can be an important part of diagnosing the problem. A mole that changes color, grows in size to larger than the size of a pencil eraser, or has an irregular border is a red flag. These characteristics are signs of possible skin cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma is another form of skin cancer that looks like an ordinary skin lump or pimple at first glance. A lump could be cancerous if it:
- doesnt go away
Discuss any unusual skin lumps with your healthcare provider. You may need a skin biopsy if your lump appears suddenly and without explanation. A biopsy is the removal of a small sample of your skin tissue. Your doctor can test the biopsy sample for cancerous cells.
On Other Areas Or With Dry Patches
Skin that feels rough and bumpy to the touch, especially when it appears on your hands, feet, or face, is usually a symptom of dry skin and dead skin cell buildup. This condition often gets worse with age since your skin renewal processes slow down as you get older.
Sometimes rough, bumpy skin with dry patches may be caused by an underlying skin condition. We evaluate your skin and medical history to expertly diagnose the cause of your rough, bumpy skin. Possible causes include psoriasis, eczema, sun exposure, and folliculitis .
Most of the time, using a lotion for rough, bumpy, and dry skin helps restore your skins smooth, soft texture. We can make specific lotion recommendations based on the location of your skin problems and whether theyre caused by an underlying condition.
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How To Manage Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is an ongoing condition. It can go away and then come back. You will likely need to use shampoo, cream, or ointment with medicine once or twice a week. This can help to keep symptoms from coming back or getting worse. Wash your skin gently. You can remove scales with oil and gentle rubbing or a brush.
How Do You Treat Rough And Bumpy Skin
Well, that depends on the cause of your skin texture. “It can be very beneficial to get a diagnosis from a dermatologist,” Dr. Ingleton explains. “Because if your skin texture issues are from a condition like eczema or psoriasis, youll require a very different treatment from if youre dealing with clogged pores.” When texture issues are due to the buildup of dead cells, Dr. Ciraldo recommends in-office treatments, like a HydraFacial , a higher strength glycolic acid peel , or a salicylic acid peel. “Superficial chemical peels or ‘lunchtime peels’ are very safe, have little to no downtime, and can be an effective way to smooth your skins texture,” Dr. Ingleton adds. “I especially recommend this for skin of color, since its not likely to irritate and cause hyperpigmentation.”
And when texture issues are caused by changes in dermal collagen, Dr. Ciraldo suggests microneedling , filler injections, or TCA peels. Depending on your skin type, your derm might even suggest laser treatments to help remove discoloration and smooth uneven texture. “For a deeper treatment, fractional laser resurfacing, like Fraxel, can also be used and can be helpful, especially for textured acne scars,” Dr. Ingleton says.
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