Most every bride-to-be asks about them: the tiny, fleshy to red colored bumps on the outer, upper arms. How can they get rid of them before the wedding?  The official name for these bumps is: Keratosis pilaris or KP. Up to 40% of women and men have KP.

Keratosis pilaris are plugs in hair follicles caused by keratin, a hard skin protein. These plugs create patches of bumpy skin typically on the outer arm or upper thigh. Dry skin can make the bumps worse, and KP is more noticeable on darker skin.  Treatment regimes include topicals and in-office peels. Effective topical treatments are:

1) Ammonium lactate. (available as Lac-hydrin.) Lactic acid reduces roughness. In fact, it is rumored that Cleopatra bathed in spoiled milk (lactic acid) to give her skin softness.

2) Urea (available as Carmol) to help soften skin.

3) Retinoids (available as Retin-A) which promote surface cell turnover.

Now you can look forward to having bump-free arms on your special day!