Does Keratosis Pilaris Go Away with Age?

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If you have keratosis pilaris on the visible spots (such as on face or eyebrows), watchful-waiting until it goes away with age is not easy to follow. On the other hand, treating it is difficult, too.

Although typically it improves as you age, but sometime it may get worse and involve severe inflammation. For severe condition of this skin disorder, the treatment may be necessary.

There are some treatment options to ease the problem. These may include:

1. Topical retinoids! These medications (derived from vitamin A) work by stimulating ‘cell turnover’ and inhibiting the plugging of the hair follicle. They may work effectively, but they carry the risk of skin irritation, too. So, use the medication as well as directed!
2. Topical exfoliants creams. These medications contain some active ingredients that can help loosen and get rid of dead skin cells. They can help soften dry skin, too. Some are available without prescription, depending on the strength of the creams. But generally, young children are not allowed to take these creams due to the risk of skin irritation, stinging, or redness.
3. Laser therapy that involves transmitting intense bursts of light into the affected skin. Typically, you need to take it for several times. It usually needs repeat sessions over the course of a few weeks or even months.

Some home remedies and lifestyle approaches are also helpful for coping with the problem:

1. Go gently on the skin! Avoid vigorous scrubbing, because it can irritate your skin which then can worsen the problem.
2. Dry skin can make keratosis pilaris get worse! Even dry skin may have contribution to trigger the problem. Therefore, take a bath wisely, don’t take it too long! Use also humidifier to maintain and add moisture to the air inside your room!
3. Go gently on drying off! After bathing, you may want to dry off your skin quickly. But it’s better to do it gently! Slowly and gently blot /pat your skin with a towel. This can help some moisture remain on your skin.
4. Apply some lubricating cream to give extra moisture to your skin! Apply the cream or moisturizing lotion after bathing, the time of when your skin is still moist.
5. If necessary, you can try an over-the-counter product containing lactic acid or urea. This product is usually suggested to be applied twice a day, follow the instructions properly! Either urea or lactic acid can help remove excessive keratin.

These self-help measures and lifestyle approaches will not cure the disease, but they are helpful to ease the problem and improve the appearance of the affected skin.

Even medical treatments usually provide temporary result. If you stop taking the treatment, the problem may return.