#keratolytics

cerave is a good brand, no doubt, but i feel like places such as SCA on reddit kind of treat it as a panacea of sorts, when in reality all it is is a very basic and affordable good moisturizer, no more, no less.

for KP (keratosis pilaris), the best way to address it at home is to use keratolytics. to put it plainly, keratosis means an excess accumulation of the dry, tough upper layer of skin cells (keratinocytes), and the pilaris part of the name means this happens in the hair follicles of your body, which is what causes that typical “permanent goosebumps” appearance. to counteract it, you need to use ingredients that can break down that dead cell cement; typically, these include exfoliating acids like AHAs and BHAs, and topical retinoids. all of these cause the bonds between keratinocytes to dissolve and the bumps to break down — therefore they are collectively known as keratolytics.

where a basic moisturizer comes in handy is in keeping your skin soft and, well, moist, which may help prevent further KP from forming and also ensures the skin stays comfortable and healthier. besides, keratolytics can be pretty irritating, so it’s good to have a nourishing cream to apply afterwards that can soothe your skin. you want to skip very rich and occlusive creams, though — although what constitutes a comedogenic/problematic occlusive varies from person to person, they can contribute to the plugging of your hair follicles.

so, if you already have KP, your best bet is to invest in a toner, mist or cream with glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, or retinoid(s). some are formulated specifically for use on the body, and those tend to be available in larger, more cost-effective packaging, too (ameliorate, pixi, paula’s choice all offer that sort of thing, and some of the ordinary’s products are suitable too). if you’re looking to prevent more KP and/or soothe irritation and discomfort, you may give cerave a try, but in and of itself it isn’t likely to make the bumps go away.