AboutKidsHealth

 

 

Keratosis pilarisKKeratosis pilarisKeratosis pilarisEnglishDermatologyChild (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)SkinSkinConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2015-05-06T04:00:00Z9.6000000000000053.8000000000000523.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Keratosis pilaris is a common rash that results in bumps on the skin. Learn what causes keratosis pilaris and how it is diagnosed and treated.</p><figure><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/PMD_keratosis_pilaris_EN.jpg" alt="Skin affected by keratosis pilaris" /> </figure> <h2>What is keratosis pilaris?</h2><p>Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a very common skin rash that affects at least one in five children around the world. The rash consists of many rough follicular papules (small bumps in the hair follicles) that look like “goose flesh”. Usually the bumps are skin colour, but they can sometimes have a blotchy appearance or a white top that make them look like “white heads”.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>Keratosis pilaris is a very common and harmless skin condition that occurs when there is too much protein in the hair follicles.</li> <li>It is usually inherited from one or both parents.</li> <li>Keratosis pilaris causes the skin to appear blotchy and bumpy and can be itchy if it occurs with dry skin.</li> <li>Moisturizers and special creams may improve the appearance of keratosis pilaris and ease any discomfort, but they cannot cure it.</li> </ul><figure><span class="asset-image-title">Areas of the body affected by keratosis pilaris</span><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/IMD_keratosis_pilaris_sites_EN.jpg" alt="Girl with markings on cheeks, upper arms, buttocks and thighs" /> </figure> <h2>How does keratosis pilaris affect the body?</h2><p>Keratosis pilaris is harmless. It usually appears on the upper arms and thighs, but it sometimes affects other parts of the body such as the buttocks and cheeks.<br></p><p>Most people are not bothered by keratosis pilaris, but some might be bothered by the skin’s appearance. Most of the time, the skin only becomes irritated if it is very dry and becomes itchy or if your child picks at the bumps. Keratosis pilaris usually resolves with time or improves during summer, but, in some people, it remains the same for many years.</p><p>Very few children have keratosis pilaris as a sign of an underlying genetic disease or have severe keratosis pilaris across their body.</p><figure> <span class="asset-image-title">Keratosis pilaris</span> <img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/IMD_keratosis_pilaris_EN.jpg" alt="Cross section of skin affected by keratosis pilaris" /> <figcaption class="asset-image-caption">An excess of keratin in the hair follicles forms a hard plug that feels like a bump.</figcaption> </figure> <h2>What causes keratosis pilaris?</h2><p>Keratin is a protein that makes up a big part of our skin. Keratosis pilaris occurs when there is too much keratin in the hair follicles. The excess keratin forms hard plugs, which in turn create the skin bumps.</p><p>Keratosis pilaris is a genetic condition. This means that it can be inherited from one or both parents.</p><h2>How is keratosis pilaris diagnosed?</h2> <p>A doctor can diagnose keratosis pilaris simply by looking at your child’s skin and asking about their medical history.</p><h2>How is keratosis pilaris treated?</h2> <p>Keratosis pilaris does not need to be treated unless it causes a lot of trouble. Unfortunately, no treatment can completely resolve keratosis pilaris, but moisturizers and special creams with urea and lactic acid may improve how it looks. These creams can sometimes irritate the skin, however, and are not recommended for small children.</p> <p>Laser treatment has been used lately to treat severe cases of keratosis pilaris, but its main success has been in reducing the redness of the skin, not the bumpiness.</p><h2>When to see a doctor for keratosis pilaris</h2> <p>See your child’s doctor if your child’s keratosis pilaris is itchy or if it affects many parts of their body (including their eyebrows, knees or elbows, for example).</p>
Kératose pilaireKKératose pilaireKeratosis pilarisFrenchDermatologyChild (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)SkinSkinConditions and diseasesAdult (19+) CaregiversNA2015-05-06T04:00:00Z10.000000000000054.0000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>La kératose pilaire est une éruption cutanée courante qui se manifeste par la formation de bosses sur la peau. Apprenez quelle est la cause et le traitment.</p><figure><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/PMD_keratosis_pilaris_EN.jpg" alt="La peau touchée par la kératose pilaire" /> </figure> <h2>En quoi consiste la kératose pilaire?</h2><p>La kératose pilaire (KP) est une forme d’éruption cutanée très courante qui touche au moins un enfant sur cinq à l’échelle mondiale. Elle se manifeste par la formation de nombreuses papules folliculaires rugueuses (petites bosses dans les follicules pileux) qui rappellent la « chair de poule ». En général, les bosses sont de la couleur de la peau. Toutefois, elles peuvent parfois ressembler à des taches ou leur sommet peut être blanc de sorte qu’elles ont l’apparenc​e de « points blancs ».</p><h2>À retenir</h2><ul><li>La kératose pilaire est une dermatose très courante et bénigne qui survient quand il y a surproduction de la protéine kératine dans les follicules pileux.</li><li>La kératose pilaire est habituellement transmise aux enfants par un ou les deux parents.</li><li>La kératose pilaire provoque la formation de taches ou de bosses qui peuvent être accompagnées d’une démangeaison lorsque la peau est sèche.</li><li>L’application de crèmes particulières et d’hydratants peut améliorer l’apparence de la peau et atténuer l’inconfort de la kératose pilaire, mais ce traitement ne possède aucune vertu curative.</li></ul><figure><span class="asset-image-title">Parties du corps touchées par la kératose pilaire</span><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/IMD_keratosis_pilaris_sites_FR.jpg" alt="Une fille avec des marques sur les joues, la partie supérieure des bras, le fessier et les cuisses" /> </figure> <h2>Quelles sont les incidences de la kératose pilaire sur le corps?</h2><p>La kératose pilaire est bénigne. Elle se présente habituellement sur la partie supérieure des bras et des cuisses, bien qu’elle puisse parfois toucher d’autres parties du corps comme le fessier et les joues.<br></p><p>La kératose pilaire n’ennuie pas la plupart des gens qui en sont atteints, mais elle peut gêner certains sur le plan esthétique. En règle générale, la peau ne devient irritée que lorsqu’elle est très sèche et démange ou si la personne gratte les bosses. L’affection disparaît normalement au fil du temps ou s’atténue durant l’été. Toutefois, chez certaines personnes, elle persiste pendant de nombreuses années.</p><p>Très peu d’enfants souffrent de kératose pilaire à caractère génétique ou en présentent une forme sévère sur tout le corps.</p><figure><span class="asset-image-title">Kératose pilaire</span><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/IMD_keratosis_pilaris_FR.jpg" alt="Coupe transversal de la peau touchée par la kératose pilaire" /></figure> <h2>Quelle est la cause de la kératose pilaire?</h2><p>La kératine est une protéine qui est l’un des principaux constituants de la peau. La kératose pilaire survient quand il y a surproduction de kératine dans les follicules pileux. L’excédent de kératine forme des bouchons durs qui créent les bosses sur la peau.</p><p>La kératose pilaire est un trouble génétique, ce qui veut dire qu’elle peut être transmise par un ou les deux parents.</p><h2>Comment la kératose pilaire est-elle diagnostiquée?</h2><p>Un médecin peut diagnostiquer une kératose pilaire chez votre enfant simplement en lui examinant la peau et en posant des questions sur ses antécédents médicaux.</p><h2>Comment la kératose pilaire est-elle traitée?</h2><p>Il n’est pas nécessaire de traiter la kératose pilaire à moins qu’elle soit très gênante. Il n’existe malheureusement aucun traitement qui permet de faire disparaître totalement la kératose pilaire, quoique l’application d’hydratants et de crèmes particulières à base d’urée et d’acide lactique puisse améliorer l’apparence des zones atteintes. Ces crèmes peuvent cependant irriter la peau et leur emploi n’est pas recommandé chez les jeunes enfants.</p><p>Un traitement au laser a récemment été utilisé pour traiter des cas graves de kératose pilaire, mais il a avant tout été efficace dans la réduction des rougeurs de la peau, mais non pas dans l’atténuation de son aspect bosselé.</p><h2>Quand consulter un médecin pour la kératose pilaire</h2><p>Consultez votre médecin si la kératose pilaire entraîne des démangeaisons chez votre enfant ou si elle se manifeste sur de nombreuses parties de son corps (par exemple, sur la zone sourcilière, les genoux ou les coudes).</p>

 

 

 

 

Keratosis pilaris2297.00000000000Keratosis pilarisKeratosis pilarisKEnglishDermatologyChild (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)SkinSkinConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2015-05-06T04:00:00Z9.6000000000000053.8000000000000523.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Keratosis pilaris is a common rash that results in bumps on the skin. Learn what causes keratosis pilaris and how it is diagnosed and treated.</p><figure><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/PMD_keratosis_pilaris_EN.jpg" alt="Skin affected by keratosis pilaris" /> </figure> <h2>What is keratosis pilaris?</h2><p>Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a very common skin rash that affects at least one in five children around the world. The rash consists of many rough follicular papules (small bumps in the hair follicles) that look like “goose flesh”. Usually the bumps are skin colour, but they can sometimes have a blotchy appearance or a white top that make them look like “white heads”.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>Keratosis pilaris is a very common and harmless skin condition that occurs when there is too much protein in the hair follicles.</li> <li>It is usually inherited from one or both parents.</li> <li>Keratosis pilaris causes the skin to appear blotchy and bumpy and can be itchy if it occurs with dry skin.</li> <li>Moisturizers and special creams may improve the appearance of keratosis pilaris and ease any discomfort, but they cannot cure it.</li> </ul><figure><span class="asset-image-title">Areas of the body affected by keratosis pilaris</span><img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/IMD_keratosis_pilaris_sites_EN.jpg" alt="Girl with markings on cheeks, upper arms, buttocks and thighs" /> </figure> <h2>How does keratosis pilaris affect the body?</h2><p>Keratosis pilaris is harmless. It usually appears on the upper arms and thighs, but it sometimes affects other parts of the body such as the buttocks and cheeks.<br></p><p>Most people are not bothered by keratosis pilaris, but some might be bothered by the skin’s appearance. Most of the time, the skin only becomes irritated if it is very dry and becomes itchy or if your child picks at the bumps. Keratosis pilaris usually resolves with time or improves during summer, but, in some people, it remains the same for many years.</p><p>Very few children have keratosis pilaris as a sign of an underlying genetic disease or have severe keratosis pilaris across their body.</p><figure> <span class="asset-image-title">Keratosis pilaris</span> <img src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/IMD_keratosis_pilaris_EN.jpg" alt="Cross section of skin affected by keratosis pilaris" /> <figcaption class="asset-image-caption">An excess of keratin in the hair follicles forms a hard plug that feels like a bump.</figcaption> </figure> <h2>What causes keratosis pilaris?</h2><p>Keratin is a protein that makes up a big part of our skin. Keratosis pilaris occurs when there is too much keratin in the hair follicles. The excess keratin forms hard plugs, which in turn create the skin bumps.</p><p>Keratosis pilaris is a genetic condition. This means that it can be inherited from one or both parents.</p><h2>How is keratosis pilaris diagnosed?</h2> <p>A doctor can diagnose keratosis pilaris simply by looking at your child’s skin and asking about their medical history.</p><h2>How is keratosis pilaris treated?</h2> <p>Keratosis pilaris does not need to be treated unless it causes a lot of trouble. Unfortunately, no treatment can completely resolve keratosis pilaris, but moisturizers and special creams with urea and lactic acid may improve how it looks. These creams can sometimes irritate the skin, however, and are not recommended for small children.</p> <p>Laser treatment has been used lately to treat severe cases of keratosis pilaris, but its main success has been in reducing the redness of the skin, not the bumpiness.</p><h2>When to see a doctor for keratosis pilaris</h2> <p>See your child’s doctor if your child’s keratosis pilaris is itchy or if it affects many parts of their body (including their eyebrows, knees or elbows, for example).</p>https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/akhassets/IMD_keratosis_pilaris_EN.jpgKeratosis pilarisFalse

Thank you to our sponsors

AboutKidsHealth is proud to partner with the following sponsors as they support our mission to improve the health and wellbeing of children in Canada and around the world by making accessible health care information available via the internet.

Our Sponsors

Find and follow us online
Monthly newsletter sign-up

*By subscribing to the AboutKidsHealth newsletter, you agree to the Legal terms below.