What Keratosis Pilaris Is, and How to Keep the Bumps Down
About 4 in 10 adults have these rough, harmless bumps. With urea or lactic acid used steadily, skin usually feels smoother in four to six weeks.
The Skin Texture Report
Bumpy skin, explained from the follicle up.
Latest reports
- Ingredients & Exfoliation
Why Korean Body Care Treats Texture First
- Ingredients & Exfoliation
What a Korean Scrub Can and Can’t Do for Rough Skin
The evidence
What the studies found on keratosis pilaris
Small studies, real numbers. Every figure comes from a trial cited in our full report.
Read the full reportLactic acid 10%
Randomized split-body trial, 50 people, twice daily for 12 weeks
66%fewer lesions on average
More mild stinging
Salicylic acid 5%
Same trial, applied to the other arm
52%fewer lesions on average
Slightly better tolerated
Urea 20%
Open-label study, 30 adults, once daily for 4 weeks
Smoother texture from week 1
No comparison group
Glycolic acid peels
In-office peels repeated over about 80 days
Better during treatment, no difference at five years
Long-term benefit unclear
Shaving and ingrown hairs
All shaving reports
Does Laser Hair Removal Stop Ingrown Hairs?
Fewer, finer hairs mean far fewer bumps, and studies in darker skin found big drops after a few sessions. Few people end up completely bump-free.
Folliculitis
All folliculitis reports
Scalp Folliculitis and the Itchy Bumps Along Your Hairline
Small pustules that itch and crust along the front hairline are the classic sign. Gentle washing helps; scarring or hair loss calls for a doctor.
- Fungal Folliculitis
Malassezia Folliculitis: Why Your “Acne” Won’t Clear
Ingredients and exfoliation
All ingredient reports
Lactic, Glycolic or Salicylic Acid? Choosing an Acid for Body Bumps
Lactic acid beat salicylic acid for KP in a head-to-head trial. Salicylic suits clogged follicles; glycolic goes deepest but stings the most.
- Strawberry Legs
Chemical or Scrub? Picking an Exfoliator for Strawberry Legs
- Ingredients & Exfoliation
Why Harsh Scrubbing Makes KP Worse, and What to Use Instead
How this site works
Each report lists its sources
We cover one subject: skin that feels rough or bumpy. Each report is built from published dermatology guidance and peer-reviewed studies, lists its sources and says plainly when a bump needs a doctor. The Report is published by a company that also makes body care products.