A whopping 50-80% of you know exactly what this “chicken flesh” skin disorder is, because that’s how many of us are afflicted with it at some point in our lives. They say it usually resolves by age 30, but that has not been the case for me. I remember having these “picks”, (as my dad would call them because he had them too and thus named them because he always picked at them) since I was about 10 years old.
These bumps feel awful to the touch and look even more unappealing, but that is the worst of it. They are worse in the winter, when your skin is dry, and often more prevalent on overweight folk (which I am not). They have NO idea what causes it, they only know that it is genetically passed on.
In my opinion, this is some sort of food allergy reaction. Your skin is your last line of defense, so anything that your gut and immune system can’t filter out gets manifested on the dermis. That’s why there are so many peculiar skin conditions they can’t figure out. Makes sense, right? So diet changes may play a large role in resolving this. I have found a few blogs over the years that have insisted it is a dairy intolerance. I did cut out dairy for a few months but didn’t notice a drastic improvement. You know when these bumps DID completely disappear without a trace? When I was pregnant. Gone. Only to return a few months after giving birth. So let’s give some thought to hormonal imbalances (which, btw, are often affected by diet as well).
The truth is, it may take an exorbitant amount of effort to pin down the root cause of this affliction, and almost as much to try to resolve it. But some of the suggestions below might improve things enough to make you feel more confidant. I tried coconut oil as a moisturizer for awhile but didn’t notice a difference. I’m going to give Apple Cider Vinegar a try because it has worked for so many other things! Please let us know if you have figured out anything else that has eliminated or diminished your keratosis pilaris!
