How to Get Rid of Bumps on your Upper Arms

Many of us have been or are plagued with small rough bumps on our skin usually appearing on the sides or backs of the upper arms, the thighs, the buttocks or even the cheeks. In some, these bumps resemble goose bumps and in others they are tiny red spots. These spots are usually only comedic in nature and are neither sore nor itchy. Although in winter with most of us experiencing dryer skin, the bumps can increase slightly in size and texture and may become itchy. What these likely are is “keratosis pilaris”. This is a usually hereditary condition that is incredibly common affecting 50-70% of children and adolescents worldwide and up to 40% of adults (it does subside in many of us).
Keratosis Pilaris is caused by excess amounts of keratin, a natural protein in our skin. The keratin and dead skin cells don’t slough off (get removed) from our skin like they do in normal skin. This mixture gets mixed with natural oils in our skin and blocks up the hair follicles which forms little hard plugs trapping the hair follicle and causing the bump. The bump usually gets red with the hair is trapped under the skin because of this plug.
The good news is that while we can’t get rid of it, it is treatable and you can reduce its appearance and severity with a few easy steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. The good news is that there are many over the counter creams and lotions that will help reduce the appearance of the bumps. These creams focus on helping your skin slough off dead skin more quickly (as healthy skin does) to help new bumps from forming and softening hardened keratin to remove the bumps you already have. Your pharmacist should be able to recommend lotions to help smooth the skin by softening the keratin and lotions to help your skin slough off the dead cells more quickly. Lac-Hydrin worked very well for me.

2. Treat your skin gently. It may be tempting to scrub at your skin with exfoliants to smooth the bumps. Your skin is likely sensitive and this will cause irritation and actually may aggravate the condition. Avoid prolonged superheated baths or showers as hot water dries out your skin. After showering or bathing, apply a moisturizing lotion that contains chemicals that soften dry, rough skin. Lac-Hydrin works well for this. A lactic acid based lotion will work well too and your pharmacist should be able to show you several affordable options.

3. If the bumps appear on your face and you just can't stand them, see your dermatologist. Lotions created for the skin on your body will likely be too harsh for the sensitive skin on your face. Your dermatologist or general practitioner may also prescribe topical steroid creams to reduce the redness and inflammation, and/or topical retinol based lotions to help improve your skin’s cell-turnover which will help clear new plugs from forming.

4. Remember, over half of kids and adults have this condition somewhere on their body. You can't get rid of it but you can treat it. It's your body - love it as much as you can because it's yours, bumps and all.

Resources

• The definitive website for this condition

[tamsceo]

on 3/17/2009 Here is a good helper with the bumps, I have had it for ten years before someone told me about this. In the shower of bath, after your arms have been wet for a little bit, take a pumice stone and gently scrub the area. I do this about twice a week and it has DRASTICALLY reduced the bumps, I still get a few, but not the hundreds I had before. Be sure to use lotion as my arms have gotten very dry from this...now if I could figure out how to get rid of the redness...

[tamsceo]

on 3/17/2009 Here is a good helper with the bumps, I have had it for ten years before someone told me about this. In the shower of bath, after your arms have been wet for a little bit, take a pumice stone and gently scrub the area. I do this about twice a week and it has DRASTICALLY reduced the bumps, I still get a few, but not the hundreds I had before. Be sure to use lotion as my arms have gotten very dry from this...now if I could figure out how to get rid of the redness...

[pixiemama]

on 10/14/2008 wow i have lived with this for about 15 years and every doctor has told me just to get sun and it will go away, of course it doesn't. thank you.