On this page
Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes. Keratosis pilaris is recognised by how it looks and where it sits, and a doctor can recommend or prescribe creams that smooth the skin.
- What it is: a harmless build-up of keratin that blocks hair follicles, leaving small rough bumps; it is not infectious.
- How common: it affects 50 to 70% of teenagers and about 40% of adults, often runs in families and is more common with eczema.
- Usual course: it can last for years, is often better in summer and worse in winter, and often clears during adult life.
- Emergency: keratosis pilaris is harmless, but call 112 for any rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it, especially with a fever.
Keratosis pilaris is harmless and never urgent. A new rash that spreads quickly, comes with a fever, or does not fade when you press a glass against it is something else: call 112 for a rash that does not fade, and get prompt in-person care for skin that is hot, painful and spreading.
Can an online doctor treat keratosis pilaris?
Yes. Keratosis pilaris is recognised by how the bumps look and where they sit, and that shows well on camera. There is no cure, but the right routine and creams make the skin smoother and less noticeable. The doctor confirms the diagnosis, rules out look-alikes such as folliculitis or acne, and recommends or prescribes treatment that suits your skin.
How an online consultation helps with keratosis pilaris
- A clear diagnosis: On camera, the doctor checks that the bumps are keratosis pilaris and not folliculitis, acne or eczema, which need different treatment.
- A routine that works: Gentle washing, regular moisturising and the right kind of exfoliation, without the scrubs and hot showers that make it worse.
- The right cream: Creams with urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid soften the bumps; a doctor can prescribe a retinoid cream, or a short steroid course for itchy, inflamed patches.
- Realistic expectations: Treatment improves the skin but does not cure the condition, and it needs to continue to keep working.
What the doctor checks in an online consultation
The doctor asks about:
- The bumps: where they are, whether they itch or look red, and how long you have had them.
- Your skin: dry skin, eczema or asthma, and whether family members have similar bumps.
- What you have tried: moisturisers, scrubs, acids and anything that made the skin worse.
- Infection signs: pus-filled spots, pain or spreading redness, which point to something else.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and medicines: which change the creams that suit you.
Before the call, find a spot with good light so you can show the bumps on camera, close up and from a little further away.
Keratosis pilaris symptoms
Keratosis pilaris, sometimes called chicken skin, is a very common, harmless condition in which small bumps appear on the skin. You may notice:
- patches of small, rough bumps, like goosebumps that do not go away; each bump is a plug about 1 to 2 mm across
- bumps that are usually skin-coloured; on white skin they can be red, and on brown or black skin they can look darker
- a little redness around the bumps, and skin that feels rough, dry and sometimes itchy
- an ingrown hair inside many of the bumps
- bumps that are better in summer and worse in winter
The usual places are the backs of the upper arms and the fronts of the thighs, and it often affects the bottom too. It can also appear on the lower back and chest, and some forms affect the face, with redness on the cheeks. The bumps are painless, and the diagnosis is made by looking at them: no test is needed.
What causes keratosis pilaris?
The bumps form when keratin, a protein in the outer layer of the skin, builds up and blocks the openings of hair follicles. Why this happens is not fully known, but it is thought to run in families.
- It is very common: it affects 50 to 70% of teenagers and about 40% of adults.
- It usually starts in childhood and becomes more noticeable in the teenage years.
- It often runs in families: in many families, each child of a parent with it has a 1 in 2 chance of having it too.
- It is linked with atopic eczema and with ichthyosis, a condition that causes very dry, scaly skin, and with genes that affect the skin barrier.
- It is not infectious: you cannot catch it or pass it on.
Types of keratosis pilaris
Most people have the common form on the arms and legs. A few less common forms mainly affect the face:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Form | What you notice | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Keratosis pilaris | Small rough bumps, skin-coloured, red or darker than the skin | Outer upper arms, thighs, bottom |
| Keratosis pilaris rubra faciei | Redness with small bumps | Cheeks |
| Ulerythema ophryogenes | Redness and bumps, with thinning of the eyebrow hair | Outer eyebrows |
| Atrophoderma vermiculatum | Small, pitted, slightly sunken patches | Cheeks |
The facial forms are worth showing to a doctor, because pitting or eyebrow hair loss can be permanent, and early advice helps.
Is it keratosis pilaris or something else?
A few other conditions cause small bumps. The pattern helps tell them apart:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | What it looks like | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Keratosis pilaris | Small, rough, even bumps, sometimes red or darker than the skin | Outer upper arms, thighs, bottom |
| Folliculitis | Itchy or sore spots around hair follicles, sometimes with pus | Shaved areas, or after sweating or a hot tub |
| Acne | Blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed spots | Face, chest and back |
| Eczema | Dry, itchy, inflamed patches | Skin creases, hands and face |
Painful spots, pus or redness that spreads are not keratosis pilaris, and a doctor should look at them.
Does keratosis pilaris go away?
Often, but slowly. Most people have keratosis pilaris for years, and for many it fades gradually during adult life, even without treatment. It does not always clear, and no one can predict who it will clear for.
- No cure: creams and exfoliation make the skin smoother, but the effect is temporary, and the bumps come back when you stop.
- Keeping it smooth: once the skin improves, a lighter routine often keeps it that way, such as using a prescription cream less often, or a moisturising cream with urea or lactic acid.
- Facial forms: the pitting and eyebrow hair loss of the rarer facial forms can be permanent.
Because it is harmless, treatment is optional. It is worth it when the roughness, itch or look of the bumps bothers you.
How to treat keratosis pilaris at home
Self-care is the basis of treatment, and it works best when you keep it up:
Do
- Moisturise every day; a pharmacist can suggest a cream that suits your skin.
- Use mild, unperfumed soaps and bath products.
- Exfoliate gently with a washcloth or an exfoliating mitt.
- Have cool or lukewarm showers and baths.
A simple daily routine
- Shower or bathe once a day at most, for no longer than 20 minutes, in cool or lukewarm water, with a mild, unperfumed wash.
- A few times a week, rub the bumpy areas gently with a washcloth or an exfoliating mitt.
- Pat the skin dry rather than rubbing it.
- Apply a moisturiser within 5 minutes, while the skin is still damp, ideally a thick cream with urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid rather than a thin lotion. Moisturise again whenever the skin feels dry, 2 to 3 times a day.
- Keep the routine going in summer as well as winter, because the bumps return when it stops.
What makes keratosis pilaris worse
- dry air in winter, and rubbing from thick clothing
- hot water, and long baths or showers
- bar soap, which dries the skin
- scrubbing hard, or using exfoliating acids more often than directed
- shaving or waxing, which can cause more bumps
- self-tanning products, which make the bumps more noticeable
A humidifier helps when the air indoors feels dry.
Don’t
- use perfumed soaps or bath products
- use harsh scrubs
- have hot baths or showers
- scratch, pick or rub the bumps
Creams that help keratosis pilaris
Moisturisers that loosen the build-up of keratin work better than plain ones. Look for creams containing:
- urea, which softens rough skin
- lactic acid, glycolic acid or other alpha hydroxy acids, which loosen dead skin cells
- salicylic acid, which helps clear the blocked follicles
Use them regularly for 4 to 6 weeks before judging the effect. If the skin becomes too dry or irritated, stop for a few days.
Which keratosis pilaris treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment depends on how much the bumps bother you and whether the skin is itchy or red. This is the framework the doctors use, in line with NHS and dermatology guidance.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rough bumps that bother you | A daily routine and a cream with urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Bumps that have not improved with these creams | A prescription retinoid cream | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Itchy, inflamed patches | A short course of a steroid cream | Yes | If it keeps coming back |
| Redness on the cheeks or arms that bothers you | Advice on laser or light treatment | Yes, to advise | Laser and light treatments are done in person |
| Painful spots, pus or spreading redness | Assessment for an infection | Yes | If you have a fever or feel unwell |
Not sure if your bumps are keratosis pilaris? A doctor can tell you in one consultation.
See available times →Treatment options for keratosis pilaris
What you can do yourself
- Moisturise daily with a cream containing urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid.
- Exfoliate gently, a few times a week, with a washcloth or mitt.
- Keep showers short and lukewarm, and pat the skin dry.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. If pharmacy creams are not enough, the doctor may prescribe a retinoid cream, which can reduce redness and roughness and is not suitable in pregnancy, or a stronger urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid cream. For itchy patches, the doctor may suggest a short course of a steroid cream. Once the skin is smoother, the prescription cream can often be used less often to keep it that way. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
No treatment cures keratosis pilaris, and harsh scrubs, hot showers and picking make it worse. Laser and light treatments can reduce redness, but they are done privately in person, can be expensive, are not proven to clear the bumps, and results vary. Laser hair removal can help where shaving or waxing keeps causing bumps.
Special situations
Keratosis pilaris on the face
Some forms affect the face, with redness and small bumps on the cheeks, and occasionally thinning of the outer eyebrows. Facial redness has other causes too, such as rosacea, so it is worth showing to a doctor.
Brown and black skin
The bumps can look darker than the surrounding skin rather than red, and brown spots can appear as the bumps clear. If they stay, a laser treatment in person may reduce them.
Keratosis pilaris and eczema
Keratosis pilaris is more common in people with eczema and very dry skin. Treating the dry skin and eczema with regular emollients helps both.
Pregnancy
Tell the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding: retinoid creams are avoided, and the doctor suggests creams that suit you.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When keratosis pilaris is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: confirming the diagnosis, a skin-care routine, pharmacy creams, prescription retinoid and steroid creams, and advice on laser and light treatment.
In-person care: laser or light treatment, which is done privately in person, and any rash that does not behave like keratosis pilaris, such as painful, spreading or pus-filled spots.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it, especially with a fever
- a rash with swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing
Get medical advice the same day for:
- skin that is hot, painful and red, with the redness spreading
- pus-filled spots with a fever or feeling unwell
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about keratosis pilaris: show the bumps on camera in good light, and say what you have already tried.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to use and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure it’s keratosis pilaris? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Dry skin can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about keratosis pilaris
What is keratosis pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris is a very common, harmless condition in which keratin builds up and blocks hair follicles, leaving small rough bumps, usually on the upper arms, thighs and bottom. It is not infectious.
What are the small rough bumps on my arms and thighs?
Small, rough, painless bumps on the backs of the upper arms, the fronts of the thighs or the bottom, like goosebumps that do not go away, are usually keratosis pilaris. They are plugs of keratin in the hair follicles, about 1 to 2 mm across, and they are harmless.
Is keratosis pilaris contagious?
No. Keratosis pilaris is a harmless build-up of keratin in the hair follicles, not an infection, so you cannot catch it or pass it on by touch, towels or clothing; it runs in families because the tendency is inherited, not because it spreads. It also does not spread from one part of your own body to another.
Does keratosis pilaris go away?
Keratosis pilaris often lasts for years, but it is usually better in summer, and it often clears during adult life. Treatment makes the skin smoother while it lasts, but it needs to continue to keep working.
How do I get rid of keratosis pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris cannot be cured, but a daily routine smooths it: lukewarm showers, gentle exfoliation with a washcloth, and a moisturiser with urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid applied to damp skin. Give it 4 to 6 weeks, and keep it going, because the bumps return when you stop.
What is the best cream for keratosis pilaris?
For keratosis pilaris, moisturisers containing urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid usually work better than plain ones, because they loosen the keratin that blocks the follicles. If they are not enough, a doctor can prescribe a retinoid cream.
Should I exfoliate keratosis pilaris?
Gently. A washcloth, a soft exfoliating mitt or a wash with lactic or salicylic acid used two or three times a week lifts the plugs of keratin, but harsh scrubs, loofahs and daily scrubbing inflame the follicles and make keratosis pilaris redder and rougher. Moisturise straight afterwards on damp skin, because exfoliation without moisturiser dries the skin and the bumps return.
Why is keratosis pilaris worse in winter?
Dry, low-humidity air in winter dries the skin, and thick clothing rubs against it, so the bumps of keratosis pilaris become more noticeable. Daily moisturising, lukewarm showers and a humidifier indoors help through the colder months.
Can keratosis pilaris be prevented?
The tendency is inherited and cannot be prevented, but the bumps can be kept away: moisturise every day, especially after showering, with a cream containing urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid, keep showers short and lukewarm, use a soap substitute, exfoliate gently rather than scrubbing, run a humidifier in winter, avoid tight clothing that rubs the upper arms and thighs, and do not pick the bumps, which causes marks. Keratosis pilaris comes back within weeks when the routine stops.
What is keratosis pilaris rubra faciei?
A form of keratosis pilaris on the face, with redness and small bumps on the cheeks. It is harmless, but facial redness has other causes, such as rosacea, so it is worth showing to a doctor.
Can a doctor prescribe treatment for keratosis pilaris?
Yes. When pharmacy creams are not enough, a doctor can prescribe a retinoid cream for keratosis pilaris, or a short course of a steroid cream for itchy, inflamed patches. Retinoid creams are not used in pregnancy.
Can an online doctor treat keratosis pilaris?
Yes. A doctor can confirm the diagnosis on camera, rule out look-alikes such as folliculitis, and recommend or prescribe the creams that suit your skin. Keratosis pilaris itself is never an emergency.
- Keratosis pilaris, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 4 July 2024.
- Keratosis pilaris, DermNet, New Zealand, 2022.
- Keratosis pilaris: patient information leaflet, British Association of Dermatologists, updated November 2021.
- Keratosis pilaris: self-care, American Academy of Dermatology, updated 23 June 2021.
- Keratosis pilaris: diagnosis and treatment, American Academy of Dermatology, accessed 15 October 2026.
- Keratosis pilaris, Australasian College of Dermatologists, A–Z of skin, 2019.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
Related conditions
Related reading from the Mobi Doctor blog
Speak to a doctor about keratosis pilaris over video, usually within 15 minutes
Licensed doctors · open daily 7am–11pm CET · exact price before payment
See available times →