What Are The Risk Factors For Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris seems to be a common condition that affects the skin. Excessive keratin building on the skin appears to cause it. Keratin, a protein, can protect the hair and skin from infection. However, this may only happen when it is delivered in proper amounts. Keratosis pilaris may cause dry patches and small, red bumps to appear. Thankfully, it appears to be a fairly harmless condition, though compromise the skin's appearance. Many patients may also find keratosis pilaris irritating. This condition seems to be common on the face, legs, and arms.

Patients may apply moisturizing lotion for keratosis pilaris. They may use skin products like retinol as another keratosis pilaris treatment option. Patients may need to see a dermatologist to get a glycolic acid peel for keratosis pilaris. Dermatologists may also provide keratosis pilaris laser treatment. However, certain risk factors may cause the best treatment for keratosis pilaris to change. Thus, patients may want to understand theirs first.

Eczema

Eczema appears to cause itchy and painful rashes. If they are left untreated, the rashes may swell, fill with pus, and crack. Unfortunately, more research may need to be done to determine the exact cause of this condition. There seem to be many potential risk factors for it. However, eczema patients do appear to be at a much higher risk of keratosis pilaris. This may be because their skin is compromised already. The combination of these two conditions may be hard to spot. Thus, keratosis pilaris may go unnoticed for some time. Regardless, individuals may want to treat any rash as soon as possible. Doing so may clear up other symptoms.

Continue reading to learn more about possible risk factors for keratosis pilaris now.

Hay Fever

Hay fever may be called allergic rhinitis as well. This condition seems to be the result of a reaction to airborne allergens. Pollen may be an example of such an allergen. Patients with hay fever may experience watery eyes and nasal congestions. A runny nose, sneezing, and sinus pressure also appear to be common warning signs.

This condition may put individuals at a higher risk of developing keratosis pilaris. Unfortunately, the reason for this does not seem clear. Some experts believe it is connected to the body trying to fight off the allergens. It appears that the body may create more keratin to protect the skin. Extra keratin, as discussed, may trigger keratosis pilaris.

Get more information on conditions that may increase an individual's risk of keratosis pilaris now.

Dry Skin

It seems that dry skin can be a major risk factor for many skin conditions. One of the conditions may be keratosis pilaris. The increased risk may be because an individual's skin may not be able to protect itself without enough moisture. It appears that the longer individuals have dry skin, the more their risk of keratosis pilaris may increase. Not adding moisture may trigger the bumps and rough patches first. However, patients may be able to treat dry skin and keratosis pilaris at the same time. This may require a carefully chosen treatment plan, which can include a rich moisturizer.

Discover additional potential keratosis pilaris risk factors now.

Ichthyosis

Ichthyosis seems to be another condition that can increase a patient's risk of keratosis pilaris. This one may stop the patient's skin from shedding dead skin cells. Thus, it can make dry patches appear on their skin. Some patients say that their skin looks similar to fish scales.

As mentioned, patients with ichthyosis may have trouble shedding dead skin cells. They also appear to struggle with getting rid of excess keratin. If this happens, keratin may be trapped under the patches of dry, dead skin. This may eventually trigger keratosis pilaris and its symptoms, including red bumps.

Reveal more factors that may make individuals more likely to develop keratosis pilaris now.

Gender And Age

Gender and age appear to be significant risk factors for keratosis pilaris. It seems that individuals produce more keratin when they are younger. Thus, this condition may affect more teenagers and children. It may also start to clear when they are adults and disappear after they reach thirty years old. Thirty seems to be the age at which an individual's body stops making extra keratin.

Women seem to develop keratosis pilaris more than men. This may, in part, be due to pregnancy. During pregnancy, a woman's body may produce more keratin than normal. Since men do not experience this, their risk may be lower as adults. However, other skin conditions like eczema may change this.