Keratosis Pilaris Treatment

There are many conditions that affect the skin and change its appearance. One such condition which is hereditary in nature is known as keratosis pilaris, which manifests in the form of rough bumps on the skin. It usually affects the limbs; including the region of upper arms, legs, thighs, buttocks, etc. It can in fact affect any part of the skin except for the thick skinned palms and soles of feet. In very rare cases only does it appear on the face, in which case it resembles acne. This condition occurs due to production of keratin in large quantities, which ends up blocking the pores of the skin, leading to hyperkeratinization. There are many measures that can be taken to deal with this condition as a part of treatment plan. Details regarding the same are given below.

Keratosis pilaris is a hereditary condition that cannot be cured but can be treated. The efficacy of the treatment varies from person to person and is dependent on a lot of factors. The various options available when it comes to treatment include the following.

Topical Creams for Keratosis Pilaris
One very commonly used cream to control this condition is cream that contains vitamin A and tretinoin. The use of vitamin A for acne is not uncommon and this vitamin has been used for a long time to deal with acne. However, when this cream acts along with tretinoin, it helps the skin to grow and shed more rapidly, which in turn, prevents the amount of keratin in the skin as the pores then have a lesser tendency of getting blocked. You can also use creams that contain adapalene crystals. Even topical application of creams that contain benzoyl peroxide work great. You must have noticed that these are all commonly prescribed medication that are used to deal with acne. So, they work quite well when dealing with keratosis pilaris on face too.

Steroids
In some stubborn cases of keratosis pilaris cases, one option that may help is making use of triamcinolone. This is a steroid and steroids are basically used to control the severity of redness and inflammation of the skin. This is not an option when it comes to keratosis pilaris treatment over the counter, because this is a cream that is strictly to be used only when prescribed by the doctor, because regular use of steroids has its own set of disadvantages.

Other Treatment Options
As mentioned earlier, different kinds of treatment options have varied results for patients. Some dermatologists claim that there is really no need for keratosis pilaris treatment in adults because the severity of this condition usually decreases with age. For some people, medication containing sulfur or methylsulfonylmethane also helps, as this leads to exfoliation of the skin. Some doctors also say that following a regular skin care regime of exfoliation and moisturizing the skin regularly can also help in controlling the outbreak of acne. This works great as a home remedy, as this helps to prevent the root cause of the problem, that is, it prevents the formation of clogged pores. If there is hyperpigmentation, then use of skin lightening creams like those containing hydroquinone or kojic acid may be of help. In severe cases systemic therapy may need to be initiated, so as to curb the symptoms.

As mentioned earlier, the severity of this condition varies from person to person, as does the treatment that works. Most people claim that although there is need for treatment of keratosis pilaris in children, the condition usually gets better on its own as age progresses. However, if you still have symptoms of this condition as an adult, then it is best to ask your dermatologist about the treatment options available, so that he may explain them to you and so that you can then make an informed decision accordingly.