The best products for treating keratosis pilaris

NBC Select independently determines what we cover and recommend. When you click on or buy through our links, we earn a commission. Learn more .

If you’re struggling with rough and bumpy skin from keratosis pilaris, you’re not alone: The skin condition affects about 50 to 80 percent of teenagers and 40 percent of adults at some point in their lives, according to the Cleveland Clinic . It’s so common, in fact, that most dermatologists don’t consider keratosis pilaris — often referred to simply as “KP” — a condition or disease at all.

Although keratosis pilaris is a chronic condition with no known cure, experts recommend using over-the-counter treatments to help in treating roughness, dryness and bumps. I spoke to dermatologists about what causes keratosis pilaris and what ingredients to look for when treating symptoms. I also compiled a list of products that align with expert guidance.

Selected. Our top picks

Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.

Best keratosis pilaris treatments

Listed below are products recommended by dermatologists to treat KP symptoms. NBC Selected editors have also tried many of the below treatments for KP bumps and dry, itchy skin.

Best overall lotion

CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin

Our experts collectively recommend Cerave's SA Lotion as solid pick for helping to reduce keratosis pilaris symptoms. Dr. Michael Cameron , a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Cameron Dermatology, often recommends this cream to his patients because of its exfoliating and moisturizing benefits. It’s also a great over-the-counter salicylic acid and lactic acid treatment that’s readily available, according to Sami.

“I like this product because it has lactic acid and salicylic acid to smooth; niacinamide to decrease inflammation and help the skin barrier; and glycerin and ceramides to hydrate and seal in moisture,” says Dr. Robyn Gmyrek , a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York City. The formula is noncomedogenic and can gently smooth the look and feel of the skin’s texture, according to CeraVe.

Most intensive cream

Ebanel Urea Cream

Urea cream is a great option to treat and prevent dry, rough and scaly skin, according to our experts. “If somebody wants to be a little bit more aggressive with their treatment, then they can add urea to their regimen,” says Sami. This Ebanel cream has 40% urea — the highest potency, though a lower concentration works just as well, according to Dr. Naveed Sami, a board-certified dermatologist and professor of medicine at the UCF College of Medicine. It also has 2% salicylic acid that exfoliates while also moisturizing, softening and smoothing out the skin, according to our experts. The cream is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and can reduce redness and inflammation with ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil and green tea leaf extract, according to the brand.

Best overall exfoliating lotion

AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion for Dry Skin

This moisturizing lotion from AmLactin has 12% lactic acid to gently exfoliate the skin. “It has the benefit of having both an exfoliating component and serving as a daily moisturizer,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick , a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York City. It can reduce the spiky texture associated with keratosis pilaris by encouraging skin cell turnover, which replaces existing skin cells and helps keep the skin smooth, says Bordone. The lotion has a non-greasy, fragrance-free formula, and it’s suitable to use as a face moisturizer , hand lotion or body lotion, according to the brand. AmLactin recommends applying this lotion twice daily, or as directed by your dermatologist.

Best overall cream

Gold Bond Rough & Bumpy Daily Skin Therapy Cream

Gold Bond's daily cream , another recommendation from Cameron, is formulated with salicylic acid, lactic acid and gluconolactone (a type of poly hydroxy acid, a gentler category of chemical exfoliants) to gently remove dead skin cells and smooth rough skin. It has moisturizing ingredients like shea butter to keep the skin hydrated, too, according to the brand. Gold Bond recommends you use this fragrance-free, hypoallergenic cream as you need or as directed by your dermatologist.

Best cream for very dry skin

Eucerin Roughness Relief Cream

Eucerin's Roughness Relief Cream helps minimize the appearance of bumps and smooths out texture thanks to a combination of urea, ceramides and sunflower seed oil, according to Cameron. The fragrance-free cream is suitable for daily use on sensitive skin , and it helps lock-in moisture for up to 48 hours, according to the brand.

Best body scrub for physical exfoliation

First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub

If you prefer a physical exfoliant to scrub away dead skin cells, First Aid Beauty's body scrub has 10% alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid, which help improve the skin’s texture and smooth away bumps and roughness, says Farber. First Aid Beauty recommends gently massaging the product on wet skin and using one to two times per week, as tolerated.

Most gentle cream

Cerave Moisturizing Cream

You can moisturize your skin with a non-exfoliating cream like this CeraVe option to help reduce symptoms of dryness and itchiness in cooler climates, Sami says. This is a mild, fragrance-free moisturizer that contains ceramides to keep the skin hydrated for up to 24 hours and is suitable for all skin types, according to the brand.

Best splurge-worthy lotion

Skinfix KP+ Psoriasis Smoothing Treatment Body Lotion

This lotion has a blend of chemical exfoliants like AHAs, BHAs and urea, as well as soothing ingredients like niacinamide that improve symptoms of keratosis pilaris and psoriasis, according to the brand. It’s also free of essential oils and fragrances.

How I picked the best treatments for keratosis pilaris

If you are dealing with keratosis pilaris, a well-balanced routine using exfoliating products and moisturizing regularly can help, according to dermatologists. Here are the expert-approved factors I kept in mind to curate our list:

What is keratosis pilaris and what causes it?

Keratosis pilaris causes bumps on the skin that are commonly described as goosebumps, “strawberry skin” or “chicken skin” due to their small, rough and scaly appearance, according to experts. These bumps come from dead skin cells building up and clogging hair follicles, which creates a roughness on the surface of the skin. They can appear as red, white or skin-colored bumps, and they’re typically found on the upper arms, thighs and buttocks of both adults and children (often worsening around puberty), dermatologists told me.

KP occurs when “there’s an abnormal, higher production of keratin within the hair follicle — it accumulates and forms those bumps,” says Sami. KP bumps aren’t usually painful or itchy, and concerns surrounding keratosis pilaris are usually aesthetic, he says.

There isn’t necessarily a cause of keratosis pilaris. Instead, dermatologists say it’s mostly hereditary and more likely to occur among people who are prone to eczema . “It’s usually present when people are younger, and sometimes it naturally goes away,” says Dr. Michele Farber , a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group.

For many people, keratosis pilaris can flare up with hormonal fluctuations, like around the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy or puberty, says Dr. Lindsey Bordone , a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at ​Columbia University Medical Center. Symptoms also typically flare up during the wintertime when the humidity is low and the skin is the driest, says Sami.

How do you treat keratosis pilaris?

Though it may naturally go away as you get older, keratosis pilaris isn’t a curable skin condition, experts say. Still, you can reduce the appearance of bumps and smooth out the skin’s texture with the right treatments.

“We consider [keratosis pilaris] to be manageable as opposed to curable,” says Garshick. “Because some people are genetically predisposed to it, they may be more likely to always experience it at a baseline level.”

A balance of exfoliation and moisture is the best way to reduce symptoms of keratosis pilaris, according to Garshick. The most effective treatment is using keratolytics — also known as chemical exfoliators — that remove the build up of dead skin cells. There are a few main types of keratolytic agents to consider:

These ingredients are usually found in cleansers , body washes and daily moisturizers, says Garshick. Since most of these exfoliants also include hydrating ingredients, they're also easier to use in your daily routine. “When you’re using other ingredients that moisturize and hydrate [the skin], you’re protecting it from becoming damaged or irritated,” says Garshick.

To keep symptoms at bay, consistency is key: You can apply exfoliating keratosis pilaris treatments once or twice per day, as long as your skin tolerates, and pair it with a gentle moisturizer, according to our experts. If you have very sensitive skin, you can limit your exfoliation to one or two times per week. But once you step out of that routine, keratosis pilaris symptoms usually come back, says Bordone.

Gentle physical exfoliants can also be helpful in removing dead skin, but make sure to not overdo it: You should limit your physical exfoliation to once or twice per week, says Garshick. Also, avoid using harsh scrubs with beads, which can actually exacerbate the issue, according to our experts.

Meet our dermatology experts

At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Why trust NBC Selected?