Keratosis pilaris (chicken skin): causes and what helps

Keratosis pilaris, often called chicken skin, is a harmless build-up of keratin around the hair follicles. Dead skin cells clog the follicles, and small, rough bumps form, usually on the upper arms, thighs and bottom. It cannot be cured. What helps: gentle exfoliation, lukewarm showers and a daily cream with urea or lactic acid.

The skin on your upper arms feels rough and bumpy like sandpaper, and the small bumps are still there weeks later. Keratosis pilaris is common. It shows up most often in children and teenagers. Women get it slightly more often than men.

What is keratosis pilaris (chicken skin)?

Keratosis pilaris is a keratinisation disorder of the skin. Around the hair follicles, the skin produces too much keratin. Dead skin cells do not shed properly and clog the openings of the follicles. Each bump is a small plug of keratin around a tiny hair. The name chicken skin comes from the goose bump look and the rough feel when you run your hand over it.

Typical signs are:

• lots of small, skin-coloured or reddish bumps close together
• a dry, rough skin surface like fine sandpaper
• a look like goose bumps that does not go away
• sometimes a red ring around individual bumps, rarely mild itching

Typical areas are the outer upper arms, the thighs and the bottom. In children it also appears on the cheeks. The bumps don't hurt and are not contagious.

What causes keratosis pilaris?

The exact cause is not known. Genetics often play a part, and parents or siblings frequently have keratosis pilaris too. It has nothing to do with poor hygiene.

Keratosis pilaris is more common with:

• dry skin and atopic eczema
• asthma or hay fever
• ichthyosis vulgaris, an inherited tendency to severely dry, scaly skin
• a higher body weight

The bumps often appear for the first time in childhood or puberty. If they start in puberty, they fade for many people by their mid-twenties. For some, they stay into adulthood. You can find care for young skin in our skin care during puberty collection.

Keratosis pilaris often gets worse in winter. Cold air outdoors and central heating indoors dry out your skin. In summer it often improves. Our guide Dry skin in winter explains how to get your skin through the cold season.

What helps with keratosis pilaris?

With the right care, your skin becomes smoother and the bumps are less noticeable. Four habits help. You can find a scrub, body wash and lotion in our Clear Body routine.

Exfoliate gently one to three times a week

Exfoliating loosens the flakes of keratin on the surface. Fruit acids (AHA) such as lactic acid work well, combined with fine exfoliating grains. The 2in1 AHA Body Scrub combines both. Gentle exfoliating grains made from natural volcanic rock free your skin's surface from hardened skin, sebum and dirt. Lactic acid and mandelic acid (AHA) effectively remove dead skin flakes.

Apply the scrub in the shower with a little water in circular movements and rub gently. If needed, leave it on for a few minutes as a mask, then rinse it off. Scrubbing hard irritates the skin, and the bumps tend to get redder.

Fruit acids such as lactic acid make your skin more sensitive to the sun. This applies to both scrubs and creams. During the day, use at least SPF 30 on the treated areas if they are exposed to the sun.

Moisturise daily with urea or lactic acid

Skin with keratosis pilaris is often dry as well. Creams and lotions with urea or lactic acid bind moisture in the skin and loosen flakes of keratin. Apply them straight after showering, while your skin is still slightly damp. On badly affected areas, a second application in the evening helps. Creams with urea or lactic acid often sting on the skin of young children. For children, ask your paediatrician or dermatologist first.

Salicylic acid also loosens flakes of keratin and works inside the pores as well. The Clarifying Body Lotion combines salicylic acid (BHA) with an AHA complex. The AHA complex of 5 highly effective acids cleanses the pores, removes dead skin flakes and leaves a long-lasting smooth skin feel. You get the lotion together with the Clarifying Body Wash in the Clarifying Body Duo.

Take short, lukewarm showers

Hot water and long baths strip oil and moisture from your skin. Take short, lukewarm showers instead, with a mild shower gel. Afterwards, pat your skin dry with a towel and don't rub.

Don't scratch or squeeze

The bumps are filled with keratin, so squeezing does not remove them. It irritates the skin and makes redness or dark marks more likely.

Keratosis pilaris on your legs: how should you shave?

On your legs, especially your thighs, the blade glides over the bumps. This irritates the keratinised hair follicles even more, and razor bumps form easily. How to protect your skin:

• Exfoliate before shaving so the blade glides over a smooth surface.
• Always shave with shaving oil or shaving gel on damp skin.
• Use a sharp blade and shave with light pressure in the direction of hair growth.
• Care for your skin after shaving with a mild cream.

The Body Shaving Oil is made for shaving your underarms, legs and arms. Just a few drops form a protective film between your skin and the razor blade. You get the scrub and the shaving oil together in the Body Crush Duo. It preps your skin for shaving and cares for it while you shave.

If small red spots still appear after shaving, our guide on how to get rid of razor bumps explains what helps.

Keratosis pilaris or pimples: how can you tell the difference?

Keratosis pilaris mainly feels rough. The bumps are small, sit close together and look alike. They don't form pus. Pimples develop from pores clogged with sebum and dead skin cells. They are often bigger and inflamed, and sometimes have a white head. Our guide Pimples on the back and body explains what helps with pimples on the back, décolleté and upper arms.

Both can appear on the bottom. Rough, dry bumps point to keratosis pilaris. Inflamed pimples after sitting for a long time or after exercise are usually irritated hair follicles. You can find the causes and the right care in our guide Pimples on the bottom.

Can you get rid of keratosis pilaris?

For many people, keratosis pilaris fades with time, often gradually over many years. For some, it stays for life.

Expect a few weeks before you notice a difference. If you stop your routine, the bumps usually come back. A fixed routine in the shower helps you stick with it.

When should you see a dermatologist?

Keratosis pilaris is harmless. Still, have a doctor look at your skin if:

• the bumps are bright red, inflamed or painful
• your skin itches a lot
• the patches spread quickly or appear suddenly for the first time in adulthood
• your face is also noticeably red
• your skin still bothers you after six weeks of care

Your dermatologist will check whether it is keratosis pilaris. Atopic eczema and inflamed hair follicles, for example, can look similar. If needed, she will prescribe stronger creams, for example with retinoic acid (vitamin A acid). Laser treatments are available for stubborn redness.

You can find all products for smooth skin on your body in the Body care category.

Sources: MSD Manual, Consumer Version, Keratosis pilaris (as of February 2025). American Academy of Dermatology, Keratosis pilaris: Who gets and causes and Keratosis pilaris: Diagnosis and treatment.