Keratosis pilaris, you don’t say
Keratosis is a growth of keratin (keratin is a protein that makes up nails, hair, and the outer layer of skin).
Pilaris comes from the word pilar which means hair.
Keratosis Pilaris aka KP aka chicken skin. Keratosis pilaris is a harmless skin condition caused by a build-up of keratin or dead skin that block a hair follicle. Keratosis pilaris is seen as rough, dry bumps and the owner usually finds them to be quite annoying. These bumps are felt, sometimes they are noticeable to the eye but they do not cause discomfort or itch. These bumps cannot be picked away (no matter how much you try!), they will not become a pimple that can be expressed, they will not become infected cysts. They may cause flares at which time they may become pink to red, slightly larger, during flares they may itch. There is no known cause of keratosis pilaris but is common in individuals with atopic dermatitis and/or eczema,
KP looks like the skin of a chicken, or goosebumps that do not go away. KP bumps appears anywhere there are hair follicles, so they can occur anywhere on the body except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; the most common areas KP presents is the upper arms, back of the thighs, buttocks, and sometimes the face but it can also appear on lower legs, feet, forearms, back, chest, abdomen.
There is no cure for keratosis pilaris but you can improve the appearance of and maintain that result with daily care. KP sometimes resolves on its own. A standard recommended regimen consists of a gentle cleanser, exfoliating, products that contain: urea, lactic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s), sometimes retinols, and a hydrator/moisturizer.
Keratosis pilaris most commonly has a hair underneath each bump, but unfortunately since it is blocked these hairs cannot be treated with electrolysis. These hairs underneath are not the same as ingrown hairs, they usually cannot be picked at and expressed plus the quantity present will make this an impossible task.
If you experience KP, know that you are not alone. KP is usually felt and you may experience flares with hormone changes and/or weather changes. KP may resolve on its own over time. You may need to experiment with different products to see what works best for you. It is a lifelong regimen to maintain, and if you are not bothered by it then you do not need to treat it at all. And know that some people, myself included, find it cute. And yes I do have some mild KP which appears with cold, dry weather usually.