You know what looks perfectly acceptable when it has chicken skin?
Chicken.
But chicken skin — also known as keratosis pilaris — on a human being is less than optimal.
Is keratosis pilaris dangerous? No. Not at all.
Is it unsightly? Perhaps … depending on its location, which is generally on the upper arms, legs or buttocks.
Is it embarrassing?
And how! I recently learned that the daughter of one of my students — let’s call her Theresa — suffers from chicken skin on her upper arms. At her middle school tender age, she is more than embarrassed about the lumps and bumps on her arms. She’s downright mortified.
Theresa won’t wear sleeveless tops (a distinct disadvantage in Florida’s scorching summer heat). She’s afraid to wear a bathing suit, fearful that the “cool girl” clique will make fun of her. And she’s dreading the day that a boy asks her out, as she knows that her bumpy arms will feel rough and unpleasant to the innocent touch of an arm around her shoulders.
What Is Keratosis Pilaris (Chicken Skin)?
The Cleveland Clinic reports that an astounding 50% to 80% of teenagers and 40% of adults experience chicken skin at one time or another.
Keratosis pilaris (KP) results when excess keratin clogs hair follicles in our skin, causing a build-up of tiny red, white or flesh-colored bumps.
A Two-Pronged Approach to Resolution: Diet
My first thought with skin conditions, such as this, is diet. Perhaps the sufferer does not eat much protein and animal fat. Let’s face it, animal fats work wonders for healthy, supple skin. That’s why I prefer to use tallow as my skin care regimen rather than the synthetic cream concoctions women spend hundreds of dollars on.
I discuss my usage of tallow in Podcast 135 (also found on all your favorite podcast apps). I also wrote about the success another young lady had with her atopic dermatitis after switching to tallow as her moisturizer. The homeopathic medicine, naturally, had a significant impact on the condition, and eliminating synthetic creams and lotions played a supporting role in her recovery.
However, as good as animal fats are when applied topically, they also provide nutrients and necessary fats when consumed. In my clinical experience, I have observed a correlation between chicken skin and excessive consumption of carbohydrates and sweets in teenagers.
Are the carbs and sugary treats causative? I don’t believe so. It would seem to me that they undermine a person’s diet by filling them up, leaving little or no room for the healthier animal proteins and fats that might assist their body’s metabolism.
There has long been speculation that a vitamin A or B12 deficiency may contribute to the development of keratosis pilaris. Whether that is legitimate or not is a question for researchers, but a better diet would certainly eliminate that concern. (You know I don’t particularly value synthetic vitamin supplementation.)
A Two-Pronged Approach to Resolution: Homeopathic Thuja
Of course, if the sufferer deems chicken skin to be an intolerable pathology, then homeopathy may be considered.
There is no specific protocol for KP; however, I automatically think of Thuja occidentalis for most kinds of keratosis. For this condition, one of my top considerations would be Thuja 30C, twice a day, for a couple of weeks. Then observe.
If the condition is very much better, it’s time to halt. If the condition is beginning to show improvement — no matter how slight — then continue with Thuja. However, if the condition has made no change whatsoever, then it’s time to pivot to a different medicine.
Skin Conditions and Homeopathy
Again, there are several different medicines that may be employed for this condition. In fact, I discuss a different homeopathic remedy for keratosis pilaris in my course, “Skin: The Ugly Truth – Safe, Effective Treatment of Skin Ailments, Chronic or Acute, with Homeopathy.”
If skin issues are a concern for you or your family, this course is jam-packed with education, protocols, and remedy considerations for many varied conditions. Learn about homeopathy for specific skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, melasma, rosacea, ringworm, vitiligo, urticaria, warts, fungal infections, herpes and diaper rash, just to name a few.
And remember, all of Joette’s Mighty Members qualify for a 10% discount on course purchases. If you need assistance getting your discount, email [email protected] for more information.
Pass on the good news of Practical Homeopathy®!
Warmly,
