Keratosis Pilaris Symptoms
Though keratosis pilaris is not a condition that can be cured, it is important for you to be aware that you have it. This will affect your skincare regimen and there are steps you can take to improve the situation, which is why it’s so important for you to be aware of the symptoms. Furthermore, keratosis pilaris can be confused with other conditions, such as acne, and treatment for these skin conditions could actually aggravate your keratosis pilaris.
Since there are multiple variants of keratosis pilaris, we’ll be looking at the general symptoms of keratosis pilaris as well as those associated with each variant of this condition.
General Keratosis Pilaris Symptoms
Though keratosis pilaris is quite common in children and teens, it can occur at any age, though it is fairly rare among the elderly. The general signs and symptoms of this condition include:
- Red, skin-colored or white bumps the size of a grain of sand, present especially on the upper arms, buttocks, cheeks or legs;
- Patches of dry, rough skin where the bumps are, which can sometimes be itchy;
- Skin looks like goose-flesh or sandpaper;
- Bumps become more pronounced during the winter, when humidity is low.
Keratosis Pilaris Rubra
Alongside the general keratosis pilaris symptoms, this variant presents as follows:
- Extensive erythema – red patches on the skin caused by increased blood flow to superficial capillaries;
- Larger areas of skin are affected than in regular keratosis pilaris.
Keratosis Pilaris Atrophicans Faciei
In the case of keratosis pilaris atrophicans, the condition progresses to the point where acne-like scars form.
Ulerythema Ophyrogenes
Ulerythema ophyrogenes is a sub-variant of keratosis pilaris atrophicans that affects the outer half of the eyebrows. It is characterized by:
- Scars;
- Atrophy of the skin;
- Alopecia or hair loss in the affected area;
Keratosis Follicularis Spinulosa Decalvans
Keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans is relatively rare and affects the face, neck and forearms most often. Symptoms besides general keratosis pilaris symptoms include:
- Thickened skin;
- Loss of eyebrows;
- Loss of eyelashes,
- Loss of facial hair;
- Bald patches on the scalp;
- Reduced tolerance to light;
- Inflammation of the cornea;
- Allergic reactions.
Atrophoderma Vermiculata
Another variant of keratosis pilaris, atrophoderma vermiculata also presents the following symptoms:
- Honey-combed reticular atrophy, i.e. depressions in a honeycomb pattern that are generally found on the cheeks, temples and preauricular areas;
- General redness of affected facial areas.
Lichen Spinulosus or Keratosis Spinulosa
Lichen spinulosus, also known as keratosis spinulosa, is a distinctive variation of keratosis pilaris. The symptoms include:
- Minute bumps with a horny spine in the center;
- Can appear on any region of the body;
- Patches and plaques of the bumps can grow up to 2.5 inches in diameter;
- Patches tend to appear symmetrically, i.e. developing on both sides of the neck, on the buttocks, thighs, abdomen, knees and on the outside of the arms.
