Photo Credit: Dr Chris Tomassian
Have you ever wondered what the small bumps on your skin could be? It could be keratosis pilaris. Completely harmless, keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition that can last a long time. Even with this skin condition being mild, often people wish to reduce the look of the bumps.
To gain a better understanding, we spoke with the dermatologist Dr Chris Tomassian. He answered all our burning questions surrounding keratosis pilaris. He defines what exactly keratosis pilaris is and how to reduce the appearance of the bumps. Not only this but, he provides his trusted recommendations for which products will ease the symptoms of this skin condition. The dependable Dr Tomassian explains all there is to know about keratosis pilaris.
During the pandemic, @dr.tomassian took to Tik Tok and Instagram to educate and help others with their skincare engagingly and positively. Fun and easy to watch, Dr Tomassian will solve all your skin problems and concerns.
How did you get into skincare?
When I was in medical school, I learned about Dermatology and was very drawn to it. Helping patients with their skin was not only physical but also emotional. It’s hard to hide skin diseases, acne and other dermatology-related diagnosis. I wanted to dedicate my practice to helping cure skin diseases while also empowering my patients to love their skin and learn how to best take care of their specific skin needs. I especially love cosmetic dermatology and that’s how I found myself creating content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
What influenced your decision to help others with their skincare on social media?
I started creating content on TikTok and Instagram at the peak of the pandemic, April 2020. I realized a lot of patients were unable to go see their dermatologists and I wanted to be an easy resource. Additionally, self-care, especially skincare, became a huge trend during the pandemic. Whether it was people having more time to dedicate towards their skincare routines or finally had the courage to start testing products, skincare was trending, and it was important that these trends were not harmful to consumers. I took it as a responsibility to educate my followers on ingredients, trending products, mixing active ingredients and more to make sure they were not harming their skin. At the end of the day skincare needs to be simple to be effective and it needs to be tailored to your skin’s needs.
What is keratosis pilaris? What causes keratosis pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris is a super common skin condition characterized by these red to pink bumps on the upper arms, thighs, butt, and occasionally the face. These bumps are due to retained skin cells (keratin) that are trapped in your hair follicles. Keratosis Pilaris has a genetic predisposition and typically runs in family. It is also more common in people with a history of eczema or dry skin.
Is it possible to get rid of keratosis pilaris?
Unfortunately, there is no cure to KP as this a genetic condition, but rather treatments that can limit their appearance.
What are the best products that you recommend to help alleviate keratosis pilaris?
To alleviate KP you have to gently exfoliate the retained skin cells in the follicles and to limit dry skin. I recommend using lotions with chemical exfoliants such as alpha hydroxy acid (lactic acid, glycolic acid) as well as beta hydroxy acids (Salicylic acid). Consistency is key with any product you use as if you stop, it will definitely become more noticeable.
Are there any professional treatments that can help?
Though there is no cure to KP, there are several treatments that can help improve its appearance that you can talk to your provider about including medical grade chemical peels (Glycolic acid), prescription grade retinoids (tazarotene, tretinoin), as well as several laser treatments (PDL, Alexandrite, C02, and Nd:YAG)
Where do people usually go wrong when trying to treat keratosis pilaris?
Over exfoliation, trying to scrub their skin smooth, and manipulating individual lesions. This typically will lead to excessive dryness and irritation leading to more noticeable lesions and potential scarring from manipulation.
For more reliable skincare advice, head over to @dr.tomassian on Instagram and Tik Tok.
Words By Eleanor Coleman
