Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition often called “chicken skin” due to its unique appearance that manifests as many small rough bumps, mainly on the arms, legs, or butt.
This condition is caused by a buildup of keratin in the pores. Keratin is a tough protein naturally found in the body because it is responsible for building our nails and hair.
However, keratin can sometimes accumulate in the opening of your pores, which may lead to certain areas being covered in dry, rough patches, tiny bumps, and uneven skin, leading to the condition we know as keratosis pilaris.
Keratosis pilaris isn’t a dangerous condition that should concern you, and although there isn’t a permanent solution to get rid of it, you can easily maintain it with skincare products.
The main two things you should focus on when dealing with keratosis pilaris are exfoliation and hydration.
You should look for products containing ingredients such as lactic, glycolic, and salicylic acid, as well as urea, a special emollient that breaks down keratin.
And if you don’t know where to start, below you will find a list of the ten best products for keratosis pilaris.
CeraVe – SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin – $16
CeraVe’s SA Lotion for Rough and Bumpy skin is a lightweight moisturizer that exfoliates, moisturizers, and helps restore the protective skin barrier.
It contains exfoliating agents such as salicylic acid to dissolve the gunk inside the pores, as well as lactic acid to soften and smooth rough skin.
Besides that, it also contains CeraVe’s signature three essential ceramides that help fortify the skin barrier and help it retain moisture better.
The gentle, non-irritating formula is free of fragrance and alcohol and can be used on all skins, including sensitive skin that deals with body breakouts.
Best for dry and rough skin dealing with keratosis pilaris and body acne.
Amlactin – Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion – $16
Amlactin’s Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion is a silky, lightweight moisturizer that aims to hydrate, soften, and gently exfoliate the skin.
It contains 12% lactic acid, an AHA that works on the skin’s surface to very gently unclog superficial clogs that cause skin issues such as bumpiness, dryness, and uneven texture.
Along with unclogging the pores and evening out skin texture, lactic acid can also help treat superficial hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, discoloration, and sun damage.
Besides that, the Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion also contains humectants and heavier emollients to soften the skin and relieve dryness and discomfort immediately.
Lastly, the formula is free of fragrance and alcohol and is most suitable for extremely dry skin.
Best for extremely dry, rough skin and keratosis pilaris.
Alpha Skincare – Renewal Body Lotion 12% AHA – $18
Renewal Body Lotion 12% AHA by Alpha Skincare is similar to the above-mentioned Daily Moisturizing Lotion by Amlactin.
However, instead of lactic acid, which is a gentler AHA, this one contains glycolic acid, which is a bit stronger and more suitable for tougher, more resilient skin.
Similar to lactic, glycolic acid also works on the skin’s surface to unclog pores and dissolve the buildup of keratin and gunk stuck inside, but it can also brighten hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone and texture.
Over time, the skin will become smoother, softer, and more uniform.
Best for normal to dry skin and keratosis pilaris.
Eucerin – UreaRepair PLUS 10% Urea Lotion – $20
Eucerin UreaRepair PLUS 10% Urea Lotion gives very dry, rough skin the love and care it needs.
The formula contains a unique combination of ingredients – urea, lactic acid, ceramides, and other natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) such as mannitol and fatty alcohols to bind moisture in and strengthen the skin’s natural protective barrier to prevent further moisture loss.
Best for extremely dry, eczema-prone skin and keratosis pilaris.
First Aid Beauty – KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub – $23
KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub by First Aid Beauty is a body scrub that contains a 10% blend of glycolic and lactic acid to gently exfoliate dead skin cells, unclog pores, and improve hyperpigmentation, as well as pumice buffing beads to further help buff away dead skin cells and excess keratin.
Besides that, the product contains moisturizing and antioxidant vitamin E as well as other emollients that will keep the skin soft and smooth.
It is formulated without harsh surfactants, and it also doesn’t contain mineral oil, if that’s something you are picky about.
Mineral oil is not necessarily bad for the skin, but many people prefer products without it for different reasons.
The only thing I need to point out is to avoid using this product if you are dealing with body acne because scrubbing active pimples is never a good idea as it can rupture them and allow the bacteria to spread.
Best for dry skin and keratosis pilaris.
Paula’s Choice – Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA – $28
The Skin Revealing Body Lotion with 10% AHA by Paula’s Choice is a leave-on exfoliating treatment that helps remove built-up layers of dead skin to reveal a smoother, softer layer of healthy skin from underneath.
The high concentration of glycolic acid also unclogs pores and helps dissolve any impurities that could be leading to rough, bumpy, and uneven texture.
Due to constantly shedding dead skin layers, glycolic acid is also incredibly useful for brightening hyperpigmentation and evening out uneven skin tone.
Due to the thick emollients and silicones, Skin Revealing Body Lotion with 10% AHA is an ideal option for dry to extremely dry skin.
Best for dry, keratosis pilaris skin.
Paula’s Choice – Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA – $28
The Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA is a very similar product to the one mentioned above, with the only difference being in the main active ingredient and texture.
The Weightless Body Treatment contains 2% salicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory agent best suited for oily, acne-prone skin.
The treatment also has a lighter texture, making it more suitable for skins that are on the oilier side and are also dealing with acne besides keratosis pilaris.
Best for acne-prone, keratosis pilaris skin.
Glytone – Exfoliating Body Lotion – $43
Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion is a smoothing moisturizer that contains a high concentration of glycolic acid to even out the skin’s texture and purge clogs responsible for dry, rough bumps on the skin.
The lotion contains a whopping 17% glycolic acid that can also help with hyperpigmentation, discoloration, and sun damage.
Besides that, the lotion also contains moisturizing and antioxidant vitamin E to soften the skin and promote healthy radiance.
You can buy the Exfoliating Body Lotion on its own or as a part of a set specially put together for people dealing with keratosis pilaris and rough skin.
Best for all skin types with keratosis pilaris.
NeoStrata – Lotion Plus AHA 15 – $55
NeoStrata’s Lotion Plus AHA 15 is another great lotion that contains high concentration glycolic acid to gently slough off dead skin cells and roughness and refine the skin surface while promoting a nice glow.
The lightweight lotion doesn’t leave a greasy residue, and it can also be used on the face. It is exceptionally good to deal with closed comedones that usually manifest themselves as small bumps under the skin.
Best for aging, dry, dull skin with keratosis pilaris and closed comedones.
Jan Marini – Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub – $60
Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub is a beautiful product that offers superb retexturizing benefits for all skin types, especially dry and rough skin with keratosis pilaris.
The formula combines glycolic acid and polished granules that work together to improve skin radiance and rejuvenation and promote brightness, even skin tone, as well as soft and smooth skin.
The product has a mild, fresh scent due to the botanical extracts, which make using the Bioglycolic Resurfacing Scrub a pleasant experience.
The only thing I would like to point out is to avoid using it on active acne, as scrubs could potentially rupture the pimples and cause the bacteria to spread.
Best for dry skin with keratosis pilaris.
My name is Simone and I am a certified skin specialist. I created this website to teach my readers how to take great care of their skin and I also like to occasionally share my honest opinions on skincare products I’ve tried. You can learn more about me here.
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