"Chicken Skin": Acne or Not?

Whenever a little bump or blemish appears on your face, it's easy to blame it on that scapegoat, acne. However, the P. acnes bacteria is not always the culprit. Take the following condition, for instance:

You run your hand along your cheek or on the underside of your upper arm. It feels like sandpaper, rough and scratchy to the touch.

What is it? This is a fairly harmless—but somewhat unsightly—skin condition called keratosis pilaris. It occurs when your body produces too much of protein called keratin. Normally, keratin helps protect skin, but in large quantities, it plugs up your follicles, resulting in that mysterious "chicken skin."

What can you do about it? 

Treating "KP" is difficult, but there are a few things you can try.

1. Exfoliation by using a lactic acid-based product (These exfoliate gently while hydrating.)
3. Hydrate using a vitamin A-based product (This helps increase cellular turnover and regulate sebum production.)
3. Increase omega 3s in diet and through supplements.
4. Have a light, chemical exfoliation (peel) in the winter months.

Do you suffer from KP? Send us your before-and-after photos!