The Skincare Routine That Helps Our Son Keep Chicken Skin At Bay
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Hi friends! If you’re reading this post, then you’re searching for a solution to dreaded “chicken skin”. Fortunately, I have some great tips for you because my 9 year old has had this issue for years, and I finally found a regimen that works for him.
In this blog, l’ll share our journey in tackling our child’s keratosis Pilaris. We took a two-pronged approach, addressing it from both inside and outside. It was a challenge, but we were determined to find a solution.
KP can be a real pain, but taking care of what you put in your body and how you or your child care for your skin can make a huge difference. Read on to see what we did, below!
A Little Background
When my son entered toddlerhood, we noticed that the back of his arms were developing tiny little rough patches. And as he grew, those little rough patches started developing more pronounced little bumps that resembled tiny white pearls.
The bumps didn’t appear to bother him, they weren’t itchy, and during those early years, they weren’t very visible. However, I was still concerned, and addressed the issue with his pediatrician during every well check.
Unfortunately, I received the same answer at every visit: “They’re just harmless little cysts that’ll go away on their own”. That answer always frustrated me because the pediatrician could never give me an exact time line, and told me to just “exfoliate and moisturize” my son’s arms as part of his bathing routine.
Well, I did that for years and nothing changed. In fact, when my son turned 8 earlier this year, the Keratosis Pilaris started to grow out of control. The tiny white pearls on his upper arms had become enlarged and very visible.
They also started to sporadically spread down his arm toward his wrist, and tiny ones began to appear on his cheeks—but the worst ones were in the region above his elbow (see image below).
The Keratosis Pilaris doesn’t cause him any discomfort and they don’t itch. But, my son is at the age where he’s noticing that they are present, and that his friends don’t have them.
So a few months ago I decided to have him see his pediatrician again in an effort to obtain a referral to a dermatologist—someone who would take his condition seriously and give us a real sustainable solution.
Thankfully, his referral was approved and we were able to be seen by a local skincare professional.
Diagnosis And Treatment Plan
Upon examining his arms, the dermatologist confirmed that my son had a pretty bad case of Keratosis Pilaris, and gave us a skincare routine to follow as well as a prescription for a retinoid cream called Tretinoin (a compound made from vitamin A).
And since those who suffer from Keratosis Pilaris are said to have a vitamin A deficiency, it makes perfect sense that this cream is prescribed to treat this condition, and in our case, it has been pretty darn successful.
Another cream that our dermatologist recommended along with the Tretinoin is the Cetaphil Rough and Bumpy daily smoothing moisturizer, which can be purchased at any store. This cream contains 20% salicylic acid, and we have been using it in combination with the Tretinoin, which helps keep his skin from drying out from the retinoid.
If you’d rather take a more non-toxic approach when it comes to lotions, Evereden makes a wonderful organic eczema cream that I‘ve started using on my son when there are no flare ups, and his KP is very minimal.
Unfortunately, his keratosis Pilaris was so aggressive in the beginning that we absolutely had to try tretinoin and Cetaphil to get everything under control.
A word of caution: if you or your child ends up using Tretinoin or any other retinoid, definitely make sure to have them wear sun screen when going outside as it might make them burn faster.
Along with the creams, the Dermatologist instructed my son to gently scrub his skin with a bristle brush during his bathing routine, so I purchased a full sized dry-brush from Amazon that came with a strap. The strap allows him to to easily hold on to the brush while using it in both the bath and shower (it’s also eco-friendly).
The dermatologist also said to use any kind of body wash that contains salicylic acid, so we went with the Cetaphil brand again. Now that that my son’s arms are a lot smoother, we alternate with other, more gentle body wash for kids.
So just to recap, after my son’s shower, we apply Tretinoin, followed by Cetaphil Rough and Bumpy Skin (or Evereden). The prescription Tretinoin goes on first, and after allowing it to dry, we apply the Cetaphil Rough and Bumpy smoothing moisturizer.
After a few weeks of treatment, my son’s skin isn’t perfect, but the improvement is drastic! (See image below). We are going to keep at it, and I’m excited to see what the results will be in a few months.
What If I Can’t Get A Tretinoin Perscription?
A lot of families have limited or no health insurance, and aren’t able to see a professional dermatologist. If you’re one of those people, I have good news for you!!
You can actually purchase a similar cream called Adapalene (0.1%), also a topical retinoid cream, on places like Amazon without a prescription for around $30.
My dermatologist said that they both work the same, and that both are highly effective for Keratosis Pilaris. It’s funny because my copay for my son’s Tretinoin prescription was actually $30 as well, so I could have just purchased the Adapalene gel.
Did Diet Cause My Child’s Keratosis Pilaris?
I asked our dermatologist the very same question because I read online that Keratosis Pilaris may be cause by a gluten allergy. She stated that there are no proven studies which warrant this, and that diet has nothing to do with this condition.
However, a diet consisting of too much sugar and processed foods can contribute to the problem because it causes inflammation. I’ve actually noticed that when my son eats too much junk food, his arms will product more cysts.
Lastly, the dermatologist also stated that many people with this condition have a vitamin A deficiency, and giving a supplement or increasing foods high in vitamin A wouldn’t hurt.
Hence, I went ahead and purchased 3 supplements to help combat the skin issue from the inside out (and they are all formulated specifically for children).
I was able to find a K2 vitamin which does all sorts of wonderful things to the skin like reducing inflammation, combating acne and even helps heal scars. It’s a chewable, easy on the belly, and tastes like berries which my son loves. It’s also combined with D3 which helps calcium absorb better so that’s a plus!
Another supplemented that I purchased is an Omega-3, DHA for kids by Nordic Naturals made from the oil of wild arctic cod. Omega-3s help fight inflammation and help even out skin tone from within. My son takes 4 little chewable gel capsules each morning with his breakfast and they taste like strawberries—no fishy taste whatsoever!
Lastly, another great supplement that I added to this skincare routine is vitamin C gummies by Burt’s Bees. Vitamin C is great for the skin, helps new collagen to grow, and allows other vitamins to be absorbed better. My son takes two in the morning, and since they’re made with Manuka honey, they also double as an immune booster.
Is There A Difference Between Keratosis Pilaris And Milia?
Keratosis Pilaris and milia (or milk spots) are two skin conditions that are often confused with one another.
Milia are small, white, hard bumps that form on the skin, usually around the eyes, nose, and cheeks and caused by a buildup of keratin, which is a protein found in the skin. Milia is most common in babies and young toddlers.
Keratosis Pilaris (or chicken skin), on the other hand, is a common skin condition that causes small, rough bumps to form on the skin, usually on the upper arms, thighs, and buttocks. This condition is more common in older children and adults.
Keratosis Pilaris is likewise caused by a buildup of keratin, which can block hair follicles and cause the bumps to form.
Final Thoughts
I sincerely hope that our experience with Keratosis Pilaris helps you find answers that you have been seeking.
Prior to finding treatment for my son, I have never been able to find anything online about adolescents dealing with this issue (other than WebMD), so I was determined to share our journey with other parents whose child is struggling with this condition.
While we haven’t been able to completely eradicate my child’s Keratosis Pilaris, we’ve certainly been able to keep it at a minimum with proper nutrition and a consistent skincare routine.
If you have any other questions, please reach out in the comments!
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