As is true for a lot of issues, in skincare, it may be laborious to deal with any situation in case you don’t know the title for it. After I first heard the time period “strawberry pores and skin,” I’ll admit the alliteration was unfamiliar. However once I understood the definition, I may visualize it completely—and all of a sudden, studying deal with keratosis pilaris turned my skincare routine’s major concern.
Strawberry pores and skin, also referred to as keratosis pilaris (KP), describes the bumpy, darkish spots that seem on the hair follicle. I had suffered from KP for therefore lengthy that I didn’t know there was something I may do about it. Till I spotted that with focused remedies and intentional merchandise, I may determine deal with keratosis pilaris.
At this level, I’ve a reasonably devoted skincare routine. I nonetheless take pleasure in making an attempt new merchandise and switching out serums and face masks relying on what my pores and skin is doing. However largely, my routine is ready and so locked in that I can do it at the hours of darkness. With my skincare rituals established, it’s solely pure that my consideration would flip to physique care.
Featured picture by Belathée Photography.
Image courtesy of Stella Simona
Excessive-end physique merchandise are the most recent wave in skincare. Recent, buzzy, and garnering main consideration on social media, they’re repurposing acquainted skincare substances like retinol or collagen to make sure your physique will get simply as a lot love as your face. Focused physique care isn’t only for bacne anymore (as an apart, I’ve by no means liked the portmanteau). Quite, it’s answering the decision for all-over glass skin.
After discovering that there was one thing I may do about my strawberry pores and skin, I dove head first into the venture of buffing my physique for final delicate and clean pores and skin. To bust the myths about KP—as a result of you possibly can’t belief every thing you see on TikTok—and discover ways to deal with keratosis pilaris, I spoke to Jessica Houston, a double-licensed esthetician and VP of Operations on the Los Angeles spa and salon, BEAUTYBEEZ. An skilled in all issues physique remedies, she shared loads of insightful suggestions in addition to her tried-and-true secrets and techniques to clean pores and skin.
Image by Michelle Nash
What’s keratosis pilaris? What causes it?
Keratosis pilaris is a situation that causes tough patches and small, acne-like bumps to kind on the pores and skin. This situation develops when the pores and skin produces an excessive amount of of a protein referred to as keratin, which may block hair follicles and trigger bumps to develop. The bumps sometimes seem on the arms, thighs, cheeks, and buttocks. They’re white, generally purple, however they sometimes don’t damage or itch.
So much has been mentioned about keratosis pilaris, however not all of it’s true. Might you break down some frequent keratosis pilaris myths?
Fable: You simply must exfoliate extra
Once you see tiny bumps in your arms or legs, it is sensible to need to exfoliate them away. Sadly, extra rubbing of your pores and skin may very well be doing extra hurt than good. KP bumps can’t be scrubbed off, however some gentle exfoliation may be useful. Ditch the loofa and substitute it with a bathe physique scrub.
Fable: They’re simply pimples, so you possibly can deal with them with zits medicine
It’s essential to grasp that keratosis pilaris is just not the identical as zits, psoriasis, or eczema. Keratosis pilaris is its personal situation. Due to that, it can’t be handled in the identical method as different pores and skin situations. Zits medicines are meant to be drying, which may trigger bumps to worsen.
Fable: There are not any therapy choices
Whereas keratosis pilaris doesn’t have a treatment, there are issues you are able to do to cut back the looks of these tiny bumps! Utilizing a keratosis pilaris-specific therapy routine like KP Components may be extremely efficient. By utilizing a body scrub within the bathe and an exfoliating skin cream twice each day, you possibly can see vital enchancment in as little as three weeks.
Image by Hannah Zahner
How do you deal with keratosis pilaris?
Widespread remedies for keratosis pilaris embody:
- Glycolic and lactic acids. These are each commonly-recommended remedies, and for good cause. Each AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) break down your keratosis pilaris bumps and clean pores and skin.
- Diamond microdermabrasion and gentle exfoliation enzyme. In these skilled remedies, an esthetician makes use of instruments or enzymes to scrape off the highest layer of your pores and skin to disclose new, clear pores and skin. These are simplest if carried out routinely.
- Delicate chemical peel. Chemical peels can simply exfoliate this prime, clogged layer of pores and skin and make your pores and skin smoother. They dislodge the dry and thickened pores and skin, thus making the pores and skin softer.
- Mild exfoliation. Once you exfoliate your pores and skin, you’re eradicating the lifeless pores and skin cells from the floor.
Image by Danielle Sabol
