What Those Bumps Actually Are
Keratosis pilaris is a follicular condition in which keratin, the protein that forms your hair and nails, builds up inside individual hair follicles and plugs them. The result is a cluster of small, rough bumps, usually on the upper arms, thighs, or cheeks, that feel like sandpaper and look faintly red or skin-coloured. The plugs are not sebum, not bacteria, not accumulated grime. Washing harder does not dissolve keratin. It never did.
