Nixing the Chicken

Keratosis pilaris (KP), known commonly as 'Chicken Skin', affects - ready? - nearly 50% of the population. That's half the world, we're talkin' here!

What is it, exactly? Well, the scary scientific definition is that KP is  an incurable and chronic genetic follicular disease. The reality is that it's those ugly but harmless bumpy and/or red patches of skin that run most commonly on the backs of your arms. They're caused by too much skin growing around each of your hair follicles.

Image courtesy of BumpsOnSkin.com

It's something I've dealt with my whole life - Trips to the dermatologist as a kid, lactic acid lotions, oatmeal soap, and, since mine is on my arms, calves, and entire jawline, forever having people ask me if my "bad sunburn" hurts. I have scars all over my arms from picking at these unsightly blights for 25+ years, and it's flat out embarrassing. My friends and I even refer to my jawline as "The Beard" because it becomes so inflamed when I exercise or drink.

Lovely, right? Yeah.

Now after all that depression, here's a ray of light: DERMAdoctor's KP Duty Lotion. I've heard about this magic elixer for a while, but at $36 for 3 ounces.... Ouch. You'd think I would have been desperate enough to bite the bullet, but no... I'm cheap.

I finally did though, and let me tell you: After three days - THREE DAYS - I see a difference. I am significantly less red, and my skin is noticeably smoother. Three frikken' days. Even I can't believe it. I'm not using it on my face (some reviewers say you can), but there is marked improvement on my arms. I plan to give it a go on my calves post-haste.

What makes it work? Basically it combines three acids (don't be scared.): Glycolic and Lactic for exfoliation, and Azelaic for pore refinement. Mixed in with those heavy hitters you've got soothing willow bark and tea tree oil, which also reduce redness, and lastly Dimethicone, which hangs on to moisture like camel in the Sahara.

Sold? Buy it here for $36. Also offered up for sale are a body scrub and wrinkle cream with the same medicinal properties.

I don't know why the chicken crossed the road, but at least now it's taking it's skin with it instead of leaving it with me.

 

Image courtesy of LiveStrong.com

Note: I have extremely sensitive skin when it comes to medicated potions (no benzoyl peroxide, very little salicylic acid, etc.), and this hasn't irritated my skin in any way.