Feeling tiny rough bumps on the outer-upper arms and thighs is not entirely unique to certain individuals.
In fact, a large percentage of people, mostly adolescents, experience such a skin condition called keratosis pilaris.
This skin condition might be mistaken for other skin conditions especially during the winter season.
But, keratosis pilaris is actually a genetic disorder that involves the keratinization that occurs in the hair follicles.
As keratin or protein reaches the roots where hair follicles are to grow from, it hardens and forms tiny bumps that resemble goosebumps.
Other skin conditions that may be associated with keratosis pilaris include atopic dermatitis, xerosis, and ichthyosis.
While it could be quite irritating to feel the roughness of these keratotic papules, these papules are medically harmless.
There are, in fact, home remedies for keratosis pilaris that anyone who has this skin condition could turn to for relief of their discomfort.
The most common advice given to those with keratosis pilaris is to expose the skin to sunshine for about fifteen to thirty minutes.
Breakouts of this kind of keratosis are usually worse during the winter seasons.
It is highly recommended to get a little more sun whenever possible.
Be careful, though, not to overexpose the body so as to dry it out too much.
Keeping the skin hydrated is still very important.
Using a humidifier to increase humidity levels while indoors is also recommended for adequate skin hydration.
Another good way to keep the skin moisturized is to use only mild soap.
Using soaps that contain urea, propylene glycol, and lactic acid, as well as other emollients have been found to soften the hardened tiny bumps on the skin.
Avoid using soaps with harsh chemicals and anti-bacterial additives.
Some advocates of natural remedies also advise an exfoliating scrub made of equal parts of olive oil and sugar to gently scrub off the keratinized skin.
Applying moisturizers after bathing is also a good way to keep the moisture in.
One other natural way by which keratosis pilaris can be treated is through a few simple dietary adjustments.
For one, staying away from foods that have been known to cause allergic flare-ups is a good start.
Some people who might not know which foods they are allergic to could start a food diary and mark off those that result in allergic reactions.
Including healthy servings of fruit and vegetables in everyday diet is always a good practice for anyone.
Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids such as flax hemp seed, walnuts, salmon, and tuna are highly recommended.
Drinking ample amounts of water is always advised as the body functions better when it is properly hydrated.
Following a healthy balanced diet, regular exfoliation, and moisturizing are just some of the home remedies for keratosis pilaris.
Treating this skin condition does not happen overnight.
It often takes some time for the skin bumps to disappear.
As this skin condition is not really dangerous or life threatening, most people simply wait for the condition to disappear on its own.
In a number of cases, the appearance of these skin bumps eases from age 30 onwards.