What are the signs and symptoms of keratosis pilaris (KP)?

Answer

Keratosis pilaris (KP) patients often report a rough texture (gooseflesh appearance) and overall poor cosmetic appearance of their skin. Eruptions are usually asymptomatic, except for occasional pruritus. Many people with keratosis pilaris are unaware the skin condition has a designated medical term or that it is treatable. In general, keratosis pilaris is often cosmetically displeasing but, medically, is completely harmless. Keratosis pilaris is frequently noted in otherwise healthy, asymptomatic patients visiting dermatologists and other physicians for unrelated skin conditions.

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Media Gallery

Close-up view of keratosis pilaris. Keratotic follicular-based erythematous papules are noted on upper arm.
Keratosis pilaris in characteristic location on outer upper arm of a 30-year-old woman.
Classic skin-colored bumps on upper arm of young white female twin. Image courtesy of The Skin Center of Laguna.
Keratosis pilaris on the upper arm of a twin female. Image courtesy of The Skin Center of Laguna.
Keratosis pilaris bumps on arm of a white female twin. Image courtesy of The Skin Center of Laguna.
Keratosis pilaris on upper arm. Image courtesy of The Skin Center of Laguna.
Keratosis pilaris on upper arm of twin. Image courtesy of The Skin Center of Laguna.

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Author

Ally N Alai, MD, FAAD Medical Director, The Skin Center at Laguna; Former Professor, Department of Dermatology, Clinical Faculty and Preceptor, Department of Family Practice, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine; Former Professor and Preceptor, Department of Family Practice Residency Training, Downey Medical Center; Expert Medical Reviewer, Medical Board of California; Expert Consultant, California Department of Consumer Affairs; Expert Reviewer, California Department of Registered Nursing

Ally N Alai, MD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for MOHS Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Steven R Feldman, MD, PhD Professor, Departments of Dermatology, Pathology and Public Health Sciences, and Molecular Medicine and Translational Science, Wake Forest Baptist Health; Director, Center for Dermatology Research, Director of Industry Relations, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Steven R Feldman, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, North Carolina Medical Society, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Received honoraria from Amgen for consulting; Received honoraria from Abbvie for consulting; Received honoraria from Galderma for speaking and teaching; Received consulting fee from Lilly for consulting; Received ownership interest from www.DrScore.com for management position; Received ownership interest from Causa Reseasrch for management position; Received grant/research funds from Janssen for consulting; Received honoraria from Pfizer for speaking and teaching; Received consulting fee from No.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD Professor and Chairman, Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Arash Taheri, MD Research Fellow, Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

We authors appreciate the clinical photos supplied as a courtesy of The Skin Center at Laguna.

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors, Dena Thompson, MS, and Arash Michael Saemi, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

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