Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common skin condition that affects over 3 million people. KP causes small, hard bumps on the skin, typically on the back, upper arms, thighs, face, and buttocks. Although these bumps may look similar to pimples, they have a different texture and composition (like chicken skin). Acne papules and pustules contain a fluid mixture of sebum (oil), blood, white blood cells, and debris. Whereas, KP papules contain hardened keratin. Keratin is a fibrous protein that makes up the upper layers of skin, hair, and nails. With KP, excess keratin is trapped within the pore, forming a hardened plug. Sometimes a hair follicle becomes trapped within the KP bump and continues to grow, forming an ingrown hair.

Medically, KP is harmless; however, visually, these bumps may be unappealing and frustrating. Luckily, KP can be easily treated with products that contain keratin-dissolving compounds such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, urea, and retinoids.

At S4 Skincare, we recently launched our new Ingrown Hair Solution which blends salicylic and glycolic acid to dissolve excess dead skin and oil. It is a powerful toner that encourages skin to exfoliate more quickly than it normally would. You can use it anytime, but most clients have mentioned using it after a shower. Applying the solution on a flat cotton or alternative pads (found here) may be easier than a cotton ball since you can cover more surface area. The Ingrown Hair Solution can also be used in the same manner for ingrown hairs anywhere you shave or wax. Alternatively, we sell a sprayer head that you can use to spritz your body (not face).

Note: For unwanted acne lesions, you can also use Ingrown Hair Solution with a cotton-tipped applicator to spot-treat blemishes and blast them!

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