A great example of not knowing what they are talking about.” Making it up as they go along – experts that they see themselves to be.
This plagued my early life – purple tinged on the back of my legs, and always visible on back of arms. Until I fixed it – diet. Eventually iodine – as in body warning you – not able to work properly – MAL-nutrition again . .
NONE of what is said below is needed to know – they are ‘expertly’ guessing
How to fix this and what causes it is under all of this.
A doctor explains why you have ‘chicken skin’ and how you can treat it
‘About 40 per cent of adults suffer from “chicken skin” or permanent goosebumps. Dr Sneha Wadhwani answers: “What are these bumpy little dots on my arms?” Dr Sneha Wadhwani
“What are these bumpy little dots on my arms – is something wrong with my skin?”
‘This one lands in my consult room more often than you’d think, usually murmured while a sleeve gets tugged down self-consciously. So let me give you my honest answer straight away: you are nowhere near alone, and no, this doesn’t mean your skin is somehow failing you. Let’s talk about it properly, out loud, the way we should have been all along.
The “chicken skin” bumps: keratosis pilaris
‘Those small, rough, sometimes red-tinged bumps that cluster on the upper arms and thighs have a proper medical name – keratosis pilaris (KP) – and an image problem, because “chicken skin” is not exactly a confidence-booster. What’s actually happening underneath is much less dramatic than it looks: a build-up of keratin, the same tough protein that makes up your hair and nails, plugging up individual hair follicles.
‘Keratosis Pilaris causes small red bumps to appear places like the arms and thighs.
Essentially, KP comes down to an excess accumulation of keratin, a protein whose whole job is to protect your skin, hair and nails. When too much of it collects around a hair follicle, it forms a small, hard plug, and the skin around it responds with those rough bumps that look a bit like permanent goosebumps or “chicken skin”. Why some people overproduce keratin and others don’t isn’t fully understood, but the process itself is harmless. It tends to favour the upper arms, thighs and buttocks, and sometimes turns up on the face too.
‘Here’s the bit that should genuinely make you feel better: KP is really common. It’s estimated to affect up to 50 per cent of adolescents and around 40 per cent of adults, and plenty of researchers suspect the true figure is higher still, largely because so many people simply don’t realise they have it and never think to mention it. This is not a rare skin failure it’s closer to a variation of normal that most of us have simply never been told has a name.
Why does it happen?
‘KP is largely written into your genes. One gene in particular, filaggrin, has a starring role – it’s essential for maintaining the skin’s outer barrier, and loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene are strongly associated with keratosis pilaris, alongside dry skin and a rougher, hyperlinear texture on the palms. This is also why KP shows up more often in people whose skin already runs dry or reactive: filaggrin mutations are the single biggest genetic risk factor for childhood onset eczema, and atopic dermatitis and if your skin barrier is already compromised by eczema or another atopic condition, it’s simply harder for your skin to keep keratin production in check.
‘Some research has also pointed to a possible role for vitamin A deficiency in KP, though this link is less firmly established than the genetic and hormonal drivers. Speaking of which, hormones are a well-known accomplice. Symptoms tend to flare during puberty, when androgen levels climb, and can shift again with the natural rises and falls of oestrogen and testosterone across your menstrual cycle, in pregnancy, or through perimenopause. Conditions like PMOS and an underactive thyroid can turn up the volume further.
Keratosis Pilaris is harmless and genetic.
HEATHER’S NOTE – rubbish – it is a body telling you to fix it.
To be clear: even though hormonal shifts clearly influence KP, there’s no strong evidence that hormonal treatment fixes it on its own. This isn’t a “go on the pill and it’ll vanish” situation. What you can control is the keratin build-up and dryness that actually make it visible.
HEATHER’S NOTE: DO NOT DO THIS – CLEAR THE UNDERLYING MALNUTRITION that sets up the low thyroid and the VIt A depletion . .
What actually helps – acc to the ‘expeerts’ . . .not water the plant – but prop it up =- give it architecture to lean against . .
1. Chemical exfoliation – over-the-counter lactic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid or urea-based lotions dissolve dead skin cells and unblock follicles
2. Deep moisturisation – a thick moisturiser applied straight after bathing, ideally containing urea, softens hardened keratin plugs and eases itch. HEATHER’S NOTE – it does not itch, Is cold, and often purple on legs – that was my early life.
3. Topical retinoids – prescription vitamin A creams speed up skin cell turnover, so follicles are less likely to clog in the first place
4. Avoid irritants – skip the harsh loofah scrubbing and tight clothing, both of which just add friction and redness to skin that’s already sensitive
None of these “cure” KP overnight; it tends to ebb and flow with your hormones and your skin barrier over a lifetime, but consistent, gentle care makes a real, visible difference for most people. The takeaway – “Bumpy arms are not a sign your skin is going wrong. They’re a common thing I see in clinic, genetic, mostly harmless, and very manageable once you know what you’re actually dealing with. The only thing rarer than the condition itself is women feeling comfortable enough to ask about it. So ask. That’s exactly what we’re here for”.
WHAT TO DO? FIX why . . .
May not be supplements but undoing why they are not being well absorbed – and invariably we are back in gut not happy territory – this is why my courses are so vitally important – teaching you to fish, not giving you the fish . .
Courses to begin with Reset Your Metabolism – pull out the stored cold, so the Yang Qi can do its job. Iodine use and peristeaming included, plus new uses of real moxa. SORT OUT THE METABOLISM /THYROID. .and as well – nutrients –
Where found?
Why needed?
Where to get? and
How to help your gut do its job well.
LIFE Essentials – with Love Your Body – to understand how to feed yourself and heal your gut – both are in Nourishing YOU course
