What are these bumps on the backs of my upper arms? Keratosis pilaris is a common condition seen in younger children and adults. In this condition, there is thickening of the skin around the hair follicle causing a goosebump or prickly feeling. Sometimes the bumps are red or have acne involving them in the puberty years. In addition to children and teenagers, there is another surge of occurrence of this condition in post-partum women. It is most commonly seen on the back of the arms in the tricep area, but is also often seen on the cheeks, front of the upper thigh, and buttocks.
Can I get rid of it? Not really. Some people are just genetically pre-designed to have this condition. We see it most commonly in those with sensitive skin and eczema, but anyone can have this condition. It is not contagious or infectious. It cannot be cured, but most people grow out of it in early adulthood.
What can I do for it? Using gentle soaps, cleansers and moisturizing creams is a good first step. The first big key is to avoid further irritating it by scrubbing, picking and using harsh cleansers. I recommend the Cetaphil Restoraderm wash and lotion for general cleansing and moisturizing for those with this condition. For those with acne, cetaphil antibacterial bar soap is a good choice as well. In cases where the skin is very thick, often we will recommend creams with salicylic acid, lactic acid or urea. Examples include Cerave SA cream or lotion, AM Lactin and ZO Body Emulsion. Less commonly, some patients with eczema will require topical hydrocortisone cream to help calm down any associated redness and rash.
Photos from Biocutis.com, emedicine.com