Skin Care Tip of the Week - Using Clarisonic to Smooth Bumps on Arms
How many of you suffer from the annoying red bumps on the outside of your upper arms? This condition, known as Keratosis Pilaris is very common and can also affect thighs and cheeks. It is genetic and can affect anyone, but it is most commonly seen in older children, teens, young adults and women. It mproves with age for most people but some have it until middle age. As I never see it in seniors, I assume everyone eventually grows out of it.
There is no cure for keratosis pilaris. It is actually not considered a disease, just a condition in which the hair follicles get plugged up with keratin, a protein your skin produces. It can be minimized however.
This is what I recomend to my patients to improve their “KP”: use a Clarisonic Pro (this is a device used for deep cleaning the skin but also helps smooth out KP bumps.) The Pro version is only available through physicians and has a special speed for use on the body. After treating the area with the Clarisonic Pro apply a strong glycolic body lotion to help exfoliate the keratin plugs. I recommend Neostrata Lotion Plus or LK Glycolic Hand and Body Lotion (one of my own skin care products.) Repeat daily and you will definitely see an improvement. Nothing can “cure” keratosis pilaris but it can be improved and made to look much better.
Send me your comments and questions if you have KP.