Do you currently have small, white bumps on your upper arms and legs? If you do then you probably have a skin condition called keratosis pilaris (or KP, for short). Keratosis pilaris is a very skin common condition that is more of an esthetic problem than a health one.

This skin condition is simply a buildup of excess keratin in the hair follicles. Keratin mixes with dead skin cells and results in the characteristic skin bumps. Some people may also suffer from red bumps on their face.

Fortunately, the appearance of keratosis pilaris will subside with age, but you don't have to wait a lifetime to see the end of your KP condition. In fact, this condition reacts quite well to exfoliants, both mechanical and chemical.

Using Mechanical Exfoliants for KP Bumps on Arms and Legs

There are two main reasons that scrubs are the best option for treating KP:

*KP can affect larger areas of skin

*The skin on your face is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body

Unlike most skin care treatments, commercial scrubs are effective, cheap and relatively easy to clean up. You can find a wide variety of them. It all depends on your tastes.

Homemade scrubs are inexpensive, but a mess to work with. Although, if you're personal preference is inclined to using these scrubs, then try using them in the shower to minimize any mess.

Some common homemade scrubs include:

*coffee grinds

*salt or granulated sugar

*sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

*oatmeal

Chemical Exfoliants used to Treat Keratosis Pilaris

You can find keratosis pilaris lotions that contain AHAs, salicylic acid or vitamin A. These types of products are best for the facial area, but keep in mind that they can cause irritation. In order to avoid this problem you should proceed with caution, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin.

Other natural scrubs, such as AHAs or alpha hydroxy acids are derived from different types of foods. The most common AHAs are glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid and mandelic acid.

AHAs are beneficial to proper skin care because they are capable of helping moderate the formation of the outer most layer of the skin by helping to reduce the cohesion of skin cells. This means that the stratum corneum can slough off at a higher rate than before which also means that it becomes less difficult for keratin and dead cells to clog the hair follicles.

Salicylic acid is very special keratosis pilaris treatment that produces a double effect on KP. It acts on the surface in the same way as AHAs, but it can also penetrate the hair follicle and help regulate the rate of shedding from within.

Vitamin A can help treat keratosis pilaris because it makes the outer layer of the skin grow more rapidly, which therefore, helps decreases the amount of keratin in the skin. As a result, the skin's surface becomes thinner and pores are less likely to get clogged.