Understanding Keratosis Pilaris

Keratosis pilaris, KP or also follicular keratosis, is genetic in origin but the precise causes of keratosis pilaris have not yet been determined. Still, many doctors believe that the cause of Keratosis pilaris is the overproduction of keratin inside the skin. This excess gets trapped inside the follicle, developing a bump.

In a medical sense there is no keratosis pilaris cure but the good news is most people present benign symptoms that can be relieved and treated. For many the condition is not a problem during most of the year but may relapse in winter if it is not taken care of with a good emollient product.

Keratosis pilaris is a genetic or hereditary skin disorder associated with excess keratin inside the hair follicle. The condition manifests by the appearance of coarse bumps on the skin and hence colloquially referred to as "goose bumps".

There are several different types of keratosis pilaris:

• Keratosis pilaris rubra: red, inflamed bumps - Keratosis Pilaris Rubra
• Keratosis pilaris Alba: rough, white, bumpy skin - Keratosis Pilaris Alba
• Keratosis pilaris rubra faceii: reddish rash over the cheeks - Keratosis Pilaris Rubra Faceii
• Keratosis pilaris atrophicans a genetic clogging of the pores and follicles with keratin, which leads to the death of the follicle. After the follicle has died the hair falls down leaving behind an unsightly scar. - Keratosis Pilaris Atrophicans
• Ichthyosis vulgaris, also known as common ichthyosis or fish scale disease, is a skin condition resulting in scaly skin, especially on the arms and legs, in overgrowth (hyperkeratosis) of the skin on the palms and soles (sometimes the skin creases may crack during dry weather) It also results in keratosis pilaris (follicular hyperkeratosis) on the side of the neck, back of the upper arms, buttocks and/or thighs. Ichthyosis Vulgaris
• Keratosis follicularis, characterised by scaly, warty, crusted papules distributed mostly on the seborrheic areas of the body. Nail involvement is characterised by V-shaped nicking at the distal aspect of the nail bed, longitudinal red and white alternating bands, and subungual hyperkeratosis (build up of scales underneath the nail plate). Mucosal membrane involvement may occur as white papules on the buccal mucosae, palate, and gingiva with a cobblestone appearance. Keratosis Follicularis
• Familial keratosis palmaris et plantaris is characterised by extreme keratinization and desquamation of the skin of the palmar and plantar surfaces of the hands and feet or thickening of the palms and soles as a result of excessive keratin formation leading to hypertrophy of the stratum corneum. Keratosis Palmaris

Other skin disorders related to keratosis of the skin are:

Inverted follicular keratosis - a benign usually solitary epithelial tumour originating in a hair follicle and occurring as a flesh-coloured nodule or papule. Inverted follicular keratosis is believed to be an inflammatory variant of seborrheic keratosis. It commonly is found on the faces and sun-exposed areas of elders. Typically, this lesion is located on the upper eyelid. The lesions tend to be single and presents as a papule or nodule.

Seborrheic Keratosis. Seborrheic means greasy and keratosis means thickening of the skin. There may be just one or clusters of dozens. They are usually start off light tan, and then may darken to dark brown or nearly black. They may be oval spots a fraction of an inch across, or form long Christmas tree like patterns on the torso inches long. The consistent feature of seborrheic keratosis is their waxy, pasted-on or stuck-on look. The look is often compared to brown candle wax that was dropped onto the skin. They may be unsightly, especially if they begin to appear on the face. These are not contagious and do not spread. They have no relationship to skin cancer and do not pose a risk to health.

Treatment aims

Aknicare Purifies the cells & decongests the hair follicles as it helps to eliminate keratin plugs, debris, toxins, and all damaged skin tissues.

Hydratime/ Nutritime Improves regeneration of skin cells and improves skin lipid balance and also calms and soothes and improves hydration levels