How to Manage Keratosis Pilaris on Your Wedding Day

There are two types of goosebumps you may experience: temporary and permanent. Temporary goosebumps appear during moments of excitement, like when you hear your favorite song or the feeling you get right before you walk down the aisle. The permanent kind is called keratosis pilaris (also known as chicken skin, goose flesh, or sandpaper skin), and it’s a little more stubborn than a passing shiver. 

More specially, if you’re in wedding prep mode, these little rough patches on the backs of your arms and legs can be incredibly frustrating, especially if they’re red and blotchy or have caused visible hyperpigmentation. Don't worry, though, there is good news when it comes to this condition. First and foremost, keratosis pilaris is totally harmless, so you can stop panic-scrolling on WebMD. Second, while it is technically a chronic skin condition and cannot be “cured,” it’s extremely manageable and there are ways to lessen its appearance and even see improvement over time.

Below, we spoke with three skin experts to learn more about what keratosis pilaris is, how you can manage it for your wedding day, and what products to try first. Read on to learn more.

What Is Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris or follicular keratosis is a common condition caused by a buildup of keratin—the protein that makes up hair, skin, and nails—in hair follicles. Keratin generally means well (its whole job is to protect cells from damage), but keratosis pilaris is a classic example of “too much of a good thing.” So, when the opening of a hair follicle is clogged with this protein, it causes a scratchy, sometimes itchy, “gooseflesh” appearance on the surface of your skin. 

Keratosis pilaris doesn’t look the same for everyone, but its hallmarks are generally those rough, bumpy patches of skin on your arms, legs, thighs, buttocks, and sometimes even your face. “It’s not clear yet what causes the buildup, but it’s often associated with eczema or other genetic diseases,” says New York-based dermatologist Dr. Cula Svidzinski. “It can also trigger inflammation, which manifests as redness, or, for darker skin tones, hyperpigmentation.” Additionally, while it does appear to be largely genetic, dry skin tends to exacerbate it.

How to Treat Keratosis Pilaris Before Your Wedding

Since keratosis pilaris is a chronic condition, there’s no real cure. “It’s very hard to ‘get rid of keratosis pilaris,’ but it can be minimized,” says San Francisco-based dermatologist Dr. Tracy Evans. “For many people, time is helpful. Younger patients have more intense KP, in general.” 

However, if you’re battling chicken skin and are looking for ways to smooth everything out (or at least reduce some of the redness) for your wedding day, there are plenty of effective options, as highlighted below.

Use Products With Chemical Exfoliators

“Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), salicylic acid, and urea are gentle chemical exfoliators, often well-tolerated sensitive skin with the right formulation,” says Svidinski. “They cause controlled destruction of the top layer of the skin, leading to increased cell turnover and renewal—which results in smoother skin.” These acids can also help fade hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones over time.

Celebrity aesthetician Renée Rouleau further recommends combining those products with physical exfoliation like a body scrub or a dry brush. “The combination is key,” says Rouleau. “The physical exfoliant breaks through the dead skin on the surface, while the chemical exfoliant works to absorb deeper into the skin and speed up the natural exfoliation process.” To keep dry skin at bay, follow the process with a nourishing moisturizing lotion.

Consider In-Office Chemical Peels

For more stubborn cases, at-home acids might not cut it. “In a dermatologist’s office, we can offer medical-grade skin peels,” says Evans, which work deeper within the skin to remove keratin buildup. “Chemical peels may be done bi-weekly or monthly with dramatic results, and can be done within three weeks of your big day,” adds Svidinski. Simply put, if your KP is marked by hyperpigmentation, you’ll be in better hands with a licensed dermatologist that has experience working with your skin type. 

Try Laser Therapy

The bumps and rough skin caused by keratosis pilaris are best addressed with chemical exfoliation, but redness may still persist. For this, Svidinski recommends in-office laser therapy like Pulsed Dye Lasers (PDL) which destroys visible, damaged blood vessels with heat. It is also great for rosacea, scars, spider veins, and port wine stains. 

Purchase Topical Retinoids

“Prescriptions that contain tretinoin (true retinoids) can be very helpful,” says Evans, as they help to prevent plugged follicles and can help to improve redness for a short period of time. The caveat is that they can lead to excessive dryness and irritation in more sensitive skin types. Evans recommends following retinoids with a ceramide cream, like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream ($20), as ceramides help to restore and retain moisture. 

If you don’t tolerate retinoids well, though, you still have options. “If you’re not pregnant or nursing, over-the-counter Differin is a great alternative and often well-tolerated in people with sensitive skin,” says Svidinski. 

Take Supplements

While not conclusive, some studies have suggested a link between keratosis pilaris and vitamin A deficiency. If your doctor clears it, you can look into adding a vitamin A supplement or multivitamin in the year leading up to your wedding. At best, it helps with the bumpy skin. At worst, you get a whole host of other benefits (a stronger immune system is always a perk). 

As with all skin treatments, stay alert and watch for any side-effects. “Anyone with KP can benefit from treatments, but the key is to pay attention to how the skin reacts,” says Rouleau. “Like with anything, if severe redness or irritation occurs, then discontinue or at the very least, scale back on the usage and frequency.”

Tips for Managing Keratosis Pilaris on Your Wedding Day

On the day of your wedding, and the days leading up to it, don’t wear tight clothing as it can trap dirt and sweat against the skin or cause friction that can irritate keratosis pilaris bumps. Too much sun should also be avoided. “All of the exfoliation may make the skin more susceptible to sunburn and irritation,” says Rouleau. What's more, heat and hot water can cause flare-ups, so on the big day, stick to warm water and only shower for 20 minutes or less to avoid drying out your skin. Last, but certainly not least, avoid using any new or harsh products, as you never know how your skin will react.

Another wedding day tip? Svidinski recommends staying away from any strong, physical exfoliation. A mild exfoliator like the First Aid Beauty Bump Eraser ($30) might be worth a try (as long as you’ve patch tested and used it with success in the past). And, since dry skin will make the keratosis pilaris more noticeable, a humidifier might be a nice addition to your bridal suite, in addition to your favorite glowy moisturizer (especially you, winter brides). Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($11) is a good bet for most skin types, including those more prone to keratosis pilaris due to eczema or psoriasis. It is also unscented, so it won’t compete with your wedding perfume of choice.

“If you still have redness or hyperpigmentation associated with KP on your wedding day, you can consider camouflaging it with make-up as a last resort,” says Svadinski. But remember, keratosis pilaris is extremely common, and while we want you to feel your most beautiful on your wedding day, it’s not likely that people will notice it the way you do. Be patient with yourself and your skin. 

The Best Products for Keratosis Pilaris

• AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion ($12): This fragrance- and paraben-free moisturizer contains a 12 percent lactic acid solution to help exfoliate clogged hair follicles. 
• Glytone KP Kit ($68): Glytone’s KP treatment kit includes all the basics you’ll need to reduce bumpy skin—a chemical exfoliant, a physical exfoliant, and a great moisturizer. 
• Eucerin Roughness Relief Lotion ($10): This body lotion contains urea for exfoliation and ceramides to restore moisture to parched skin.  
• Skinfix Resurface+ AHA Renewing Cream ($48): This AHA and BHA blend unclogs keratin congestion and is gentle enough to be used daily. 
• CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough and Bumpy Skin ($19): Salicylic acid (a common BHA) exfoliates rough skin, while niacinamide and vitamin D nourish the skin.  
• Neostrata Resurface Lotion Plus ($55): This AHA lotion uses glycolic acid to slough away dead skin cells. 
• Renée Rouleau Smoothing Body Serum ($48): Rouleau uses this resurfacing serum on her clients after exfoliation because of its soothing properties like aloe and green tea leaf extract.