Keratosis pilaris

Keratosis pilaris usually appears as as small red, or flesh coloured bumps on the skin. The skin will appear bumpy and rough to touch and may also be itchy.

Keratosis pilaris is caused by a build-up of keratin, a protein that protects the skin. This excessive build-up leads to a plugging of the hair follicles, resulting in the bumpy appearance. The exact cause of keratosis pilaris is not fully understood, however there are a number of contributing factors, including hormones or environmental factors.

As with many skin concerns, genetics always plays a part as this condition is known to run in families. People who are prone to dry skin or excess keratin production may also develop keratosis pilaris or it may be accompanied by other skin conditions such as eczema or ichthyosis.

Treatments can be very effective for keratosis pilaris. Following an assessment this will be advised as some treatments will be more beneficial if deed exfoliation is required where other may be more concerns about the redness, in this case laser or Intense Pulse Light will be beneficial, or even a combination of both.

1. Chemical Peels – The Blue Peel Radiance and ZO Stimulator peel are effective. This will involve an application of a peel to the skin which will gently exfoliate the upper layer of skin cells, and give a deep clean to the pores helping to remove any keratin and dead skin cell build up, resulting in an overall reduction in the appearance of the rough, bumpy skin texture.
2. Hydrafacial/Body – HydraFacial is an effective treatment for reducing Keratosis Pillars and can be used on the body. This treatment provides a combination of cleansing, deep exfoliation, extraction, hydration, and antioxidant infusion finished with light therapy to deep clean and rejuvenate the skin. The exfoliation process will help to remove the build-up of dead skin cells while the extraction process will remove clogged Keratin and debris from the pores improving the appearance of the skin
3. Intense Pulse Light (IPL)/Laser – If it is that the skin is red and bumpy an effective treatment will be IPL or laser to target the vascular concerns. This will help to reduce the redness alongside other treatments to remove the buildup of Keratin

Keratosis Pilaris can be classed as a chronic condition as it will have a tendency to come and go with time, especially if there is a genetic predisposition. While treatments can be very effective at reducing the bumpy appearance this will need to be maintained with a good skin care routine that focuses of exfoliation and skin hydration to help keep it under control.

ZO Principles of Skin Health Restoration specifically focus on restoring skin’s strength and optimizing cellular functions to provide the best treatment outcomes and achieve overall skin health restoration. Skin should be fortified to renew, protect and strengthen itself to maintain healthy skin for life. From correcting and management of ageing, sun damage, and skin concerns such as milia, keratosis pilaris, pigmentation, acne, rosacea, and protecting against future damage, ZO has your skin health covered with its clinically proven, medical skin care brand. Only the highest quality active ingredients like retinoids, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, glycolic acid, lactic acid and more. Following a consultation a prescribed regimen that works to improve your skin concern alongside its texture, repairs your skin barrier and restores a healthy, youthful appearance to your skin will be prescribed.

Healthy skin starts on the inside, for optimal results this needs to be fed daily with skin specific nutrients. To help improve the appearance of compromised skin whilst supporting skin elasticity, firmness and collagen production experts recommend supporting the skin with supplements from the Advanced Nutritional Programme (ANP) supplement range alongside a healthy diet. Traditional skincare is turned inside out with the innovative, award-winning range of evidence-based skincare supplements. While topical skincare only treats 50% of the skin on the surface, ANP potent nutritional blends feed your skin from within for a proven, 100% skincare approach, your skin will certainly thank you for it. Following your consultation we can advised a complete nutritional approach to optimise your skin health.