Developing a Good Keratosis Pilaris Skin Care Regimen
Having keratosis pilaris otherwise known as chicken skin can be quite embarrassing for the people who suffer from it. Often people who have keratosis feel that they need to conceal their skin by wearing long sleeves or long pants because they don’t want people to see that they have the disorder. Fortunately, keratosis can be easily manged through a good skin care regimen in most cases. Occasionally it may require the assistance of a dermatologist but that is not common.
Treatment of keratosis pilaris begins with your showering regimen. It is essential that you do not shower or bathe in water that is extremely hot. The water you use to bathe should be warm. You also want to make certain to not shower or bathe for an extended period of time. You need to get and get what you need done so that you can get out quick. Ten minutes is the maximum amount of time some with keratosis pilaris should bathe for.
While you are showering there are a few things that can be done differently to help improve your keratosis pilaris. Instead of using a soap or body wash, use a mild cleanser like Cetaphil. Cleansers do not dry the skin or strip them of natural oils the way that soaps and body washes do. Additionally, you do not want to irritate the skin by scrubbing or rubbing it abrasively. You should avoid use a washcloth, sponge or loofah and just wash with your hands. This will help you prevent irritation that may lead to inflammation of the affected area. You may also want to avoid showering daily and shower every other day instead.
When you are done showering it is important to preserve the moisture that your skin absorbed. You can do this by patting dry rather than rubbing dry. Patting dry also helps prevent additional irritation from occurring. To lock in the moisture gained from showering lotion your skin right away when you get out of the shower. Use a moisturizer that is fragrance free, dye free and that contains lactic acid. These lotions can be found over the counter and can also be prescribed through your dermatologist. Lotion regularly throughout the day. It is important that your skin is always moist.
Once you have developed a skin care regimen that reduces or eliminates your keratosis pilaris you should stick to that regimen regardless of whether or not you are having a flare up. Keratosis pilaris is not curable and if you can keep the condition at bay with a skin care regimen then you do not want to have it return because you discontinued the regimen. With keratosis pilaris skin care regimens are both part of a treatment and prevention plan. Experiment with what works for you and stick to it for the long-term and you should succeed and minimizing or altogether eliminating the appearance of keratosis on your skin.