Chicken skin appears as goosebumps to the untrained eye, but on a closer look, they actually appear to be red (usually) little bumps around one’s hair follicles on the upper arms, cheeks, thighs and hips. Also known as keratosis pilaris, chicken skin is another form of eczema and it’s usually genetic in nature. It occurs when little clusters of skin cells occur around one’s hair follicles. The hair on one’s body then gets trapped beneath these cells, which in turn form red or brown bumps on the skin. The condition is usually aggravated by dry weather, but humidity and heat have also shown to trigger the development of chicken skin. So if you’re suffering from this condition, don’t worry. Here is a varied list of home remedies for chicken skin from which you will definitely find a remedy that works the best for you.

Home Remedy for Chicken Skin

1.      Apple Cider Vinegar

Yes, that innocuous little bottle sitting quietly on your kitchen counter shelf is actually very useful when it comes to treating chicken skin. The acidity in it acts as an exfoliant that helps get rid of the excess/dead skin cells that have formed a clump near your hair follicles. All you have to do is to pour a little ACV on a damp clean cotton ball and apply it evenly on your skin. Let it remain there for 15 minutes and then wash off with warm water.

2.      Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a one-stop-shop for your skin. Not only do its anti-inflammatory properties help with your itching and chicken skin, but it greatly moisturizes your skin, leaving it deeply hydrated. Use the 100% organic kind and you can apply it on your skin as many times a day as you want!

3.      Aspirin

Now an aspirin is not exactly the mental image one creates when thinking up of whipping a home remedy for chicken skin, right? But don’t be fooled by its appearance – it’s more than capable of getting rid of redness, irritation and itching. All you have to do is crush a couple of aspirin tablets, add a few drops of water to them and create a paste. Apply it on the affected areas and massage for a minute or two. Clean with a damp towel after 5 minutes.

4.      Sea Salt

Not only do the minerals present in sea salt help remove toxins from your skin and encourage the growth of new skin cells, but gritty particles unclog your skin’s pores, thus loosening up the bumps formed around your hair follicles. All you have to do is use sea salt and olive oil in a 2:1 ratio. Mix, create a paste and gently rub it on your skin for a minute or two. Clean with a damp towel. This is a great home remedy for those with dry or sensitive skin.

5.      Milk

The lactic acid present in milk help helps reduce the bumps by softening them, thus making them easier to remove by cleansing or exfoliating. All you have to do is dip a clean cotton ball into a teaspoon of milk, and dab it all over your skin. Let it sit there for 20-30 minutes, and wash it off with warm water if necessary. You can use yoghurt in exactly the same way.

6.      Tea Tree Oil

The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of this home remedy for chicken skin ensures that the itching, redness and tiny bumps caused by your chicken skin will disappear in no time! All you have to do is add a few drops of concentrated tea tree oil for a tsp. of any career oil (coconut, jojoba, grapeseed, carrot, and almond), mix the oils and apply it on the affected area. Let it be absorbed by your skin completely.

7.      Vitamin E Oil

The super hydrating properties of vitamin E ensure that it encourages skin repair while simultaneously softening the bumps on your skin. All you have to do is pop a capsule in half and massage it on the affected area till it’s completely absorbed by the skin.

8.      Other Remedies for Chicken Skin

Now that you know the kind of home remedy for chicken skin you can whip up at home, here are certain other things to keep in mind so that you do not unknowingly trigger your condition:

• Choose the right cleansers: Make sure your cleansers have ingredients like ammonium lactate, glycolic acid, urea or salicylic acid. These help with the exfoliation of your skin while hydrating it at the same time.
• Say no to products with fragrance: Opt for fragrance free lotions, soaps, creams, and body washes, because sometimes the ingredients responsible for fragrances in these products can act as a trigger for your chicken skin.
• Bathe in warm water: Not hot, but lukewarm water. And also keep your showers short – 5 minutes or less. This will ensure minimal loss of hydration from your skin.
• Sunscreen: The sun’s rays cause great damage to our skin, and one of those damages is the aggravation of your condition. So application of a good sunscreen/sunblock will definitely help you avoid unnecessary triggers.
• Vitamin A treatments: There are several over-the-counter retinols that are available which can help soothe your chicken skin. It is especially helpful for those who are suffering from chicken skin that has been made complicate by acne.