Condition guide

Keratosis Pilaris ('Chicken Skin'): Calm the Bumps Gently

Those rough little bumps on arms and thighs are keratosis pilaris. Here's what actually helps, what to avoid, and realistic expectations for sensitive skin.

What it is

Keratosis pilaris is very common and completely harmless: small rough bumps, often on the backs of the upper arms, thighs and cheeks, sometimes with a little redness. It happens when keratin builds up around hair follicles. It is not an allergy, and it tends to improve with age.

What actually helps

What to avoid

Aggressive physical scrubs, very hot water, harsh soaps and fragrance if your skin is also sensitive. If an exfoliating acid stings or reddens the skin, drop the strength or frequency.

Sensitive-skin caveat

If you also have eczema or reactive skin, introduce any acid slowly and keep fragrance out, since the goal is smoother skin without triggering irritation.

When to see a doctor

It rarely needs medical care, but if you are unsure of the diagnosis or the redness is significant, a GP or pharmacist can confirm it and suggest suitable products.

Tools that help

To check a product, a free browser extension like Clearya flags ingredients of concern automatically as you shop online, and a free analyser like Skincarisma lets you paste a product at your desk and see the ingredients you are avoiding flagged in the ingredient list. These rate a product on general criteria rather than against your own list.

Once you know what you are screening for, a personal-list app like ClearaScan lets you save the ingredients you react to once and scan any product to flag only your triggers. It also keeps a Reaction Journal for flare-ups, a shared Care Circle so family or carers can scan for you, and a Trusted Products list for items you have cleared, and it is currently in early access. (Disclosure: our editor co-founded ClearaScan, and we are not paid to mention the others.)

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Seborrhoeic Dermatitis: Managing Flaky, Red, Greasy Patches

Seborrhoeic dermatitis causes flaky, red patches on the scalp, face and chest. Here's what helps, what to avoid, and when to get treatment.

A note on this content. The Sensitive Skin Lab publishes general educational information, not medical advice. If you suspect you have an allergy or sensitivity, consult a qualified dermatologist or allergist. Product formulations and labels change without notice, so always check the ingredients on the product itself.