The Best Ways to Get Rid of Hard, Red Bumps on Arms and Legs
Areas of small, reddish and hard bumps on the arms and legs are the hallmark of a common skin problem often referred to as “chicken skin.” The bumps aren’t harmful, but they’re certainly not pretty!
Getting these annoying bumps under control starts with knowing what to do and what you absolutely must not do.
The best way to get to the root of the problem is to use an extremely gentle, leave-on exfoliant that contains the ingredient salicylic acid (BHA) on your body. BHA is an amazing multi-tasking ingredient because it gets beyond the skin’s surface to exfoliate inside the pore, removing the hard clog that causes the problem. Clog gone, problem relieved!
BHA can also diminish the appearance of redness and soften your skin, making your arms touchable and presentable at the same time (hello, sleeveless tops!). One great option is our Paula’s Choice Skincare Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA, a gentle leave-on exfoliant that’s a customer favourite. While alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) also exfoliate, they work primarily on the skin's surface, unlike BHA, which can penetrate and improve the pores.
Think of AHAs as an option if the red, hard, bumps on your arms and legs do not respond to BHA. In cases like these, Paula’s Choice Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA can be the ideal solution, and is even suitable for those with keratosis pilaris.
Many people tell us that they get the best results for their hard, red bumps using a combination of an AHA product during the day and a BHA product at night. If this condition has become a stubborn problem for you, try alternating the use of these two types of exfoliants—it provides many benefits and might finally get you the results you’re trying to achieve!
What Else Works?
Here are some other essential tips to keep these bumps from coming back:
- Understand that you cannot scrub the bumps on your body away; scrubbing will just make the bumps look worse than they already do.
- Make sure everything you do to take care of your skin is gentle.
- Avoid abrasive scrubs, loofahs, and cleansing brushes with stiff bristles. They damage the skin and will make skin redder, not better.
- Avoid bar cleansers and soaps because the ingredients that keep them in bar form can clog pores, leading to more bumps.
- A gentle water-soluble body cleanser and a soft washcloth will work wonders.
- Finally, ensure skin is hydrated with lightweight, nourishing lotions that won't clog pores. Look for skin-restoring ingredients like retinol, such as in our Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment, for amazing results.
Many people will find that the above options work perfectly to reveal smooth, flawless skin on their arms and legs. However, if you still find yourself struggling with these body bumps and suspect you might be dealing with keratosis pilaris, consult your dermatologist for advice and treatment options.
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