Keratosis Pilaris: What you need to know about this skin condition.

To alleviate the symptoms of keratosis pilaris, it is beneficial to adopt a tailored skincare routine.

• A regular and gentle cleansing.

  While cleansing the skin is essential, it is important to do so using gentle products that do not damage the skin barrier, which is already fragile in cases of keratosis pilaris. To achieve this, we recommend opting for a gentle and hydrating cleansing care, such as our palmarosa hydrating cleansing care. Thanks to its combination of oils and vegetable butters and its high superfat content, this solid soap helps you maintain the hydration of the skin layer and is ideal for skin seeking softness.

• An exfoliation once to twice a week.

  While all skin types benefit from the application of an exfoliating treatment one to two times per week, those affected by keratosis pilaris especially need it. Indeed, these products help toremove dead cells accumulated on the skin's surface, which contribute to the clogging of hair follicles. Moreover, exfoliating treatments assist in softening the epidermis and combating the roughness caused by keratosis pilaris. For a gentle scrub, we recommend our nourishing body scrub. This melting exfoliating gel, enriched with sweet almond oil and super lavandin essential oil, also contains micro grains of apricot kernels and has a triple action on the skin : nourishing, softening, and soothing.

• Daily hydration.

  Daily skin hydration is not exclusively for those with dry skin. In addition to protecting the epidermis from external aggressions and limiting water loss, the application of emollients helps to soften the skin and to reduce roughness. These properties are particularly beneficial in the context of keratosis pilaris.

  The use of plant oils and butters, such as argan oil and mango butter, is highly recommended. Their effects can also be enhanced by our body moisturizing cream, a treatment designed for all skin types using only essential ingredients for its function. If you prefer a richer formulation, you can turn to our lipid-replenishing balm. Suitable for the whole family from birth, this treatment has been designed for dry to very dry and atopic-prone skin. It combines the lipid-replenishing action of ceramides and shea butter with a rebalancing postbiotic to provide a hydration boost and soothe the skin.

There is no need to treat keratosis pilaris as it is harmless to health. Of course, you can certainly seek to eliminate it for aesthetic reasons.

It is important to note that most treatments aim to alleviate the symptoms of keratosis pilaris, without completely eliminating them. Among the active ingredients studied in scientific research for their keratolytic properties, we can notably mention retinoids such as tretinoin and adapalene, azelaic acid, and calcipotriol, a derivative of vitamin D. The topical application of creams containing these ingredients can to some extent improve the appearance of keratosis pilaris but does not eliminate it.

An effective solution for combating keratosis pilaris is laser treatment. However, it's important to note that this technique is not suitable for pregnant women or individuals undergoing photosensitizing treatment. Many aesthetic centers offer laser sessions with the aim of eliminating keratosis pilaris. The type of laser found in these centers can vary, it could be a Nd:YAG laser, a CO2 laser, or even an intense pulsed light laser. These different lasers have comparable effectiveness on keratosis pilaris. While the results after several laser sessions are often satisfactory, they are unfortunately temporary. Indeed, when the sessions are stopped, a relapse is generally observed.

Hair removal and keratosis pilaris do not always mix well, and a poor technique can quickly lead to the formation of ingrown hairs. To prevent this, we advise you to avoid electric epilators and waxing. Although these hair removal methods are convenient and popular for spacing out sessions, they promote the occurrence of ingrown hairs by pulling the hair directly from the bulb. It can happen that, hindered by excess keratin, the hair does not grow straight but curves into the epidermis and becomes ingrown. This then results in inflammation and a small red bump, similar to those caused by keratosis pilaris.

In the case of keratosis pilaris, it is generally recommended to use depilatory cream or laser hair removal.

The depilatory cream and laser are more recommended for people with keratosis pilaris. Indeed, the former neither alters the hair bulb nor the hair growth. The depilatory cream works by targeting keratin and softening the hairs, which fall out after a few minutes. The laser, effective in the long term, operates on the principle of selective photothermolysis. The infrared rays it emits target the melanin concentrated in the hair and transform into heat to destroy the entire follicle. Suitable for all phototypes, laser hair removal is however not possible in cases of very light hair, pregnancy, or if taking a photosensitizing medication.