Why Does Keratosis Pilaris Look Worse After You Bathe?
As a sufferer of keratosis pilaris, you may find that one of the most common issues with this skin condition is triggering inflammation after taking a shower. What is that all about? Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition characterized by inflamed red bumps on the surface of the skin, and many people don’t realize that taking very hot showers can cause an extreme drying effect in the skin to create even more irritation to the condition.
No, there is no treatment for keratosis pilaris, but there are techniques that you can use to manage this unsightly skin condition.
The first trick to keep in mind is that you must reduce the hot temperature of your shower so that it is only lukewarm. Many people do not realize that very hot showers will severely dry out the surface of the skin, especially in the winter time. If that is the case, you could be further triggering outbreaks of your keratosis pilaris simply by taking showers that are too hot.
In the next step, you will see better results in managing your keratosis pilaris if you moisturize after every time that you shower. This is important to do both in the summer and in the winter season because moisturizing will put the skin in balance. Every time that you bathe, the soap that you use can dry out and further irritate the surface of the skin. Many skin types that suffer from keratosis pilaris are highly sensitive, which means that they are more susceptible to drying and irritation. These sensitive skin types need moisture even more because it will help to soothe and balance inflammation in their skin tone. The important point is to moisturize with natural ingredients that contain antioxidants, which will neutralize free radical damage in the skin.
What is free radical damage? Free radical damage comes from a number of outside sources, like sun exposure, pollution, and smoking. The importance of moisturizing with antioxidants is not to be underestimated when you have keratosis pilaris because it will neutralize these unstable electrons that can cause serious damage underneath the surface of the skin. When you protect the skin from this type of damage, it will further soothe and benefit the condition of keratosis pilaris.
Last of all, consider the products that you are using. Many people do not realize that the majority of over-the-counter products contain harsh chemical ingredients that will only work to further irritate and endanger the skin. Again, skin types with keratosis pilaris are highly sensitive, which is why they must use soothing products made from natural ingredients. Even better, it is important to use products made from ingredients that you can find at home because you can trust that they will be both safe and natural. As a challenge, read your product ingredient labels in detail, and if you find any ingredients that sound chemical or difficult to pronounce, then you are endangering your skin!