Chickens with chicken skin: cute and appropriate. Human with chicken skin: ugly and annoying.

It’s called keratosis pilaris. The hair follicles, in particular those on the backs of the arms, get plugged with keratin causing little raised bumps that give the skin the look of chicken skin. And, if you are a popper (which, ahem, you might imagine some surgeons are) you end up picking when ever you go with shorter sleeves and end up with arms with tiny dark scars. For me, this led to years of poor arm self esteem and self-consciousness in sleeveless styles.  It took a long time of exploring products before I found the a way to cure my keratosis pilaris.

The Dermadoctor brand has KP line of products consisting of a scrub and a lotion. The scrub is both a chemical (Glycolic Acid, Hexyl Laurate, Lactic Acid, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract) and physical exfoliant (rough sand like texture). I use it about twice a week before showering. The lotion has more glycolic acid and urea to continue the smoothing. I use it almost every day (some days you just run too late to have a refreshing beauty regimen).

I wish I had thought to take before and after pictures. The difference is truly remarkable. Now when the weather gets warm I say “Bring on the tank tops!”, my arms are ready.