How I Accidentally Healed That Annoying Bumpy Skin on the Back of the Arms (Keratosis Pilaris AKA KP Arms)
Keratosis pilaris, often referred to as "chicken skin" or "KP arms", can be an incredibly annoying little situation. KP occurs when the skin produces an excess of keratin, blocking the hair follicles, causing the skin to form bumps. I've been hyper aware of the condition since high school because nothing seemed to work, ironically a few days ago I noticed it was gone.
There is something to the notion that problems resolve themselves once we stop paying so much attention to them. Which is the least helpful thing to hear when you are staring at the problem. It's like telling someone ''don't think about a pink elephant" odds are the first thing that popped into your head was a pink elephant. I think my KP disappearing is less due to "ignoring the problem" and more so due to letting natural remedies work over time instead of trying to fix the problem overnight.
So what do I actually think corrected the KP? I used to use First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser for years, which is a cult classic for a reason, but it turned out to be more of a quick fix. It leaves your arms baby soft but did nothing to get rid of the KP long-term.
I started using the Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil a few months ago because I moved to a dryer climate and wanted to give my skin a little extra love. Fast forward two months and the Keratosis Pilaris has completely disappeared off the back of my arms.
I think the difference must be the oil softened the skin over time while the exfoliant fixes it for the day. I have to imagine that using a combo of the two would be extremely effective. After the shower I like to use the body oil generously on my arms and chest, then lock it in with Cetaphil moisturizing cream.
I feel like Osea has just started to pop off everywhere but they are actually a family business that has been making seaweed based products for over 100 years. You know I'm a sucker for a natural product so that is what initially drew me to this oil. I do a lot of shopping around and research when I'm looking for a new product and the Osea oil was a 3 on Think Dirty and rated Excellent on Yuka.
My support for the brand developed because of the unintentional effects, I used it because I wanted my chest and arms to be glowy and hydrated, it was only two months later that I noticed the KP was gone . I will say after being a massage therapist for the better part of a decade you get very picky about the oils and lotions you will use and this one soaks in so nicely without getting sticky. I think the main take away here is consistent, high quality hydration will do more for KP arms than any kind of harsh exfoliators. As always I would love to hear from you, let me know if it works for you too!
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