If you’ve noticed small, painless bumps on the back of your arms, thighs, tush or face, you may be experiencing keratosis pilaris. Sometimes called “chicken skin,” “strawberry skin,” or simply “KP,” it’s a totally common, harmless skin condition, often resulting in rough, reddish dots. Per the Mayo Clinic, KP generally doesn’t demand professional treatment and can often be dealt with via OTC skin care. Lucky for you, we spotted a dynamic duo: an exfoliating salicylic acid serum and a retinol serum from the brand Tree of Life that reviewers credit for “curing my keratosis pilaris” after “nothing has worked.” Bonus: Both are currently on sale for up to 35% off.
Read more Trump Voter Reacts To President Commuting Sentence Of Woman Who Defrauded Him, Others Of Millions
No, it’s not acne or a rash — according to Cleveland Clinic, these bumps happen when excess keratin (a protein in our skin, hair and nails) clogs our pores instead of naturally shedding off.
Per the Cleveland Clinic, KP happens when our skin struggles to get rid of old keratin, causing bumps to form around our hair follicles. While there’s no exact cause known, the Cleveland Clinic reports that KP is often more common in people with fair or light skin, dry skin or who deal with eczema or ichthyosis.
Of course, if it’s not hurting you or causing discomfort, you certainly don’t have to do anything about it, yet if you’re looking for a smoother look or more even texture and tone to the skin, Mayo Clinic writes that exfoliating products, like salicylic acid (to help you shed dead skin) and topical retinoids, like retinol, (to prevent hair follicles from clogging) can be a winning combo.
“Creams containing alpha hydroxy acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid or urea help loosen and remove dead skin cells. They also moisturize and soften dry skin,” Mayo Clinic said. “[Topical retinoids] work by promoting cell turnover and preventing plugged hair follicles.”
Reviewers dealing with chronic “chicken skin” credit these serums for “fewer bumps and softer skin.”
When tackling chicken skin, Mayo Clinic writes you want to help your skin better remove dead skin cells. An effective, but gentle way to do this? Chemical exfoliants (like salicylic and glycolic acids). (If you’re a research lover like me, I suggest this awesome previous HuffPost story on the topic.) Made with 2% salicylic acid, glycolic acid and gluconolactone (another government-studied exfoliant), the salicylic acid serum gives dead skin the boot, without being too rough. The brand says the included vitamin B5 and botanical extracts offer soothing and hydration, helping your skin stay supple, too.
Of course, the star of the show may be the retinol serum, made with 2% retinol (derived from vitamin A), moisturizing jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, witch hazel, green tea and Vitamin E. HuffPost has done so much amazing reporting on how retinol works (here’s another great story to read), boosting skin cell prodcution and helping keep your pores and follicles unclogged.
Fans say the retinol, with the lineup of other rockstar ingredients, makes this serum something special, so much so that many say it’s been the only thing that’s worked for their KP — quickly.
“My wife had had ‘chicken skin’ on the back of her arms for her whole life, has tried numerous products and even gone gluten free and nothing has worked. A few days after using this product, she noticed fewer bumps and softer skin,” one wrote. “We started using it on my 6-year-old son, who has the same skin issue on his arms and face, and have noticed the same positive change!”
“I only used this product for a week and I already see results,” another said. “I am using it on my arms for keratosis Pilaris and it’s clearing up my skin so quickly.”
Read more 31 Of The Funniest Tweets From Couples This Week (Aug 10-17)
Another shopper writes that the serum is “curing my keratosis pilaris,” adding, “nothing has worked until this product and it has worked fast! Beats the lactic acid moisturizer, hydrocortisone, or salicylic acid! Amazing product! Will be a staple!”
Reviewers love these salicylic acid and retinol serums for smoothing stubborn bumps. Read more 5-star reviews and grab some for yourself on sale.
“I only used this product for a week and I already see results. I am using it on my arms for keratosis Pilaris and it’s clearing up my skin so quickly. I love it and highly recommend it.” — maria giarratano
“This may be a bit premature, but my skin has always responded well to Retinol. After using this product for the first time overnight I can say it’s already helped stop some of the breakout I was getting from my period. I bought this for my face and for my body. It’s a great size, great price, and I was very happy with the list of ingredients and how far up on the list the active ingredients are. I will continue using this and update this review if necessary. So far I am very happy with this product and I am interested in trying other things from this seller.
<<<
>>> It’s curing my keratosis pilaris! Nothing has worked until this product and it has worked fast! Beats the lactic acid moisturizer, hydrocortisone, or salicylic acid! Amazing product! Will be a staple!” — Roxanne Wilson
“My wife had had ‘chicken skin’ on the back of her arms for her whole life, has tried numerous products and even gone gluten free and nothing has worked. A few days after using this product, she noticed fewer bumps and softer skin. We started using it on my 6 year old son, who has the same skin issue on his arms and face, and have noticed the same positive change!” — Troy Baillargeon
Looking for other under-$20 skin care favs? Check out this list of staples from HuffPost contributer and beauty expert Essence Gant.
This liquid exfoliant by Paula’s Choice that leaves your skin’s surface smooth, soft, and radiant
Promising review: “This has been my go-to BHA for over a year now, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I do recall a purge phase when this was my first ever BHA/AHA toner, but that went away after a month, and my skin went noticeably clearer/brighter after.
I honestly wasn’t even sure what this product was meant to do for you. But in my experience, it alleviated the redness from my acne-prone/scarred combination skin to the point where I began going out without makeup for the first time since puberty 10+ years ago…” — Ali01
The Tend Skin Solution to nip ingrown hairs in the bud and prevent others from popping up
You’d be hard-pressed to not find Tend Skin solution on my bathroom sink. If you’re prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps, try this blue bottle after your shave routine. I mainly use Tend Skin on my bikini area, although it’s safe for legs, underarms, bikini lines, chin, neck, and face, too. Just be sure to follow the instructions and patch test. I pour a few drops into my hands and pat it on my bikini line area every day after I shower, and it keeps any irritation caused by shaving at bay. I regularly shave, and I can’t tell you the last time I had an ingrown hair or razor bump. I will use the product until eternity… or until I laser away all my hair.
Promising review: “I’ve been using Tend Skin for a while now, and I keep it in my bathroom at all times now. This product is a must-have for anyone who deals with razor bumps, ingrown hairs, or razor burns – it works exactly as advertised. I’ve always struggled with razor bumps and occasional ingrown hairs, especially after shaving my legs and bikini area. Tend Skin has been a game-changer! I started applying it to the affected areas right after shaving, and within a couple of days, the redness and bumps began to disappear. It even helped clear up ingrown hairs that had been stubbornly stuck under the skin for days…” — Delaney Mahan
A melanin-friendly SPF 30 that protects your skin from the sun and doesn’t leave behind a white cast
Promising review: “Love it, it leaves my skin moisturized, protected with a healthy glow, and it doesn’t leave a white-purplish ashiness on my skin. I believe it is great and universal to all skin tones and types. Just remember to do a skin patch test with any skincare products if it’s your first time using it, especially when it comes to your face. I love it, and my daughters, son, and husband love it too.” — Serenity
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)
Read more The ‘Best Mascara Ever’ Costs Less Than Your Starbucks Order — And I’m Telling You, The Hype Is Real
Leave a Reply