Clinical reference

Keratosis Pilaris

Treatment options, dosing, cautions and Egyptian brands from the shipped Dawaa Reference card.

Evidence status

Checked against the sources named below

Sources2 sources

Dampa E. The Effectiveness of Topical Keratolytics (Alpha Hydroxy Acids/Beta Hydroxy Acids/Urea) in Treating Keratosis Pilaris: A Review of the Literature. Cureus 2025;17(12):e100507 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12860576/): "In a randomized clinical study (split-side design) comparing 10% lactic acid to 5% salicylic acid applied twice daily for 12 weeks, both agents produced significant lesion reductions, with greater mean lesion reduction for lactic acid (66%) than salicylic acid (52%) by the end of treatment." · Dampa E. The Effectiveness of Topical Keratolytics (Alpha Hydroxy Acids/Beta Hydroxy Acids/Urea) in Treating Keratosis Pilaris: A Review of the Literature. Cureus 2025;17(12):e100507

Verified against3 documents

Dampa E. The Effectiveness of Topical Keratolytics (Alpha Hydroxy Acids/Beta Hydroxy Acids/Urea) in Treating Keratosis Pilaris: A Review of the Literature. Cureus 2025;17(12):e100507 (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12860576/): "In a randomized clinical study (split-side design) comparing 10% lactic acid to 5% salicylic acid applied twice daily for 12 weeks, both agents produced significant lesion reductions, with greater mean lesion reduction for lactic acid (66%) than salicylic acid (52%) by the end of treatment."
Dampa E. The Effectiveness of Topical Keratolytics (Alpha Hydroxy Acids/Beta Hydroxy Acids/Urea) in Treating Keratosis Pilaris: A Review of the Literature. Cureus 2025;17(12):e100507
Keratosis Pilaris - disease-level clinical article (keratosis-pilaris-clinical.txt)

Verified date2026-08

Presentation reference

Is it this?

Reference only, to read alongside your own examination.

Symptoms — what the patient reports (6)

Patients present with red, bumpy skin that is neither painful nor itchy
The condition most often shows up in teenagers and tracks with atopic dermatitis
Patients often seek care more because of how the lesions look than because of any symptoms they cause
It begins in early childhood and is at its most widespread through the teenage years
It is harmless and so common it counts as a normal variant, and it is the commonest follicular keratosis there is
It usually settles with time, and emollients, exfoliants, anti-inflammatories, phototherapy and laser are the options if it does not

Signs — what you find (3)

The asymptomatic eruption typically involves the outer surfaces of the upper arms and thighs, plus the buttocks, though the face, trunk, and lower arms/legs can be involved too [rash]
Exam shows numerous small inflammatory bumps centered on hair follicles in the typical distribution
Redness and swelling can appear around lesions if the patient has been picking at them to squeeze out the keratotic plug [redness]

Tests (3)

Diagnosis rests on history and physical exam alone
Biopsy is not usually needed to make the diagnosis
Dermatoscopy can help confirm the diagnosis by showing follicular hair-shaft abnormalities - thin, short, coiled, or buried shafts - along with scaling and redness

If not this — what else fits (2)

Keratosis pilaris is distinguished from folliculitis, atopic dermatitis, milia, acne vulgaris, and scurvy
It keeps company with atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis vulgaris, obesity, diabetes and malnutrition, and with Down and Noonan syndromes

SourceStatPearls "Keratosis Pilaris" - disease-level clinical article

Presentation findings are traced to the source above.

Rx: Main treatment | Lactic acid | Salicylic acid

MAIN TREATMENT

UREA

1st line

Formtopical

Adult dose and duration

Urea 20% cream applied once daily to affected areas. Improvement in skin texture is typically visible within 1 to 4 weeks of once-daily application. - Continuous / maintenance as needed

Paediatric dose

Not established in paediatric patients; use under medical advice.

Dose source

Dampa E. The Effectiveness of Topical Keratolytics (Alpha Hydroxy Acids/Beta Hydroxy Acids/Urea) in Treating Keratosis Pilaris: A Review of the Literature. Cureus 2025;17(12):e100507

Why

The review reports 10-30% urea in common clinical use, 10% for mild disease and 20-30% for pronounced hyperkeratosis, with 20% once daily improving texture by one week and holding at four. Urea is both keratolytic and a humectant, which is why it suits a condition that is dry skin plus a plugged follicle.

Cautions

NOTHING CURES IT. The review is explicit that treatment is cosmetic, has to continue, and does not alter the natural course - it commonly improves by itself with age.
This is the entry's main use: it is extremely common and extremely over-treated. Antibiotics, strong steroids and acne treatments do not help it.
Mild stinging is the usual side effect, and higher strengths sting more, especially on broken or eczematous skin.
Scrubbing and picking make the redness worse, not better.

Egyptian brands

Egyptian brand	Manufacturer	Indicative price
URECARE 10% CREAM 30 GM	EGPI	23.00 EGP
UREMEL 100ML CREAM	MELANO PHARMA FOR COSMETICS > MELANO PHARMA	240.00 EGP
UREPAR 10% FOOT CREAM 200 ML	EGYPTIAN CO. FOR COSMETICS (E.C.C.) > HAYAH LAB.	264.00 EGP
UREPAR 10% BODY CREAM 200 ML	EGYPTIAN CO. FOR COSMETICS (E.C.C.) > HAYAH LAB.	357.00 EGP

LACTIC ACID

Lactic acid

2nd line

Formtopical

Adult dose and duration

Lactic acid 10% cream applied twice daily to affected areas for 12 weeks (produced 66% mean lesion reduction at 12 weeks versus 52% for salicylic acid 5%). x 12 weeks, then ongoing maintenance as needed

Paediatric dose

Many individuals experience partial improvement with age. Paediatric safety and specific concentration guidance are not established in this review.

Dose source

Why

An alpha hydroxy acid, and the better performer of the two keratolytics compared head to head in the review. Both showed improvement by week 4 continuing to week 12.

Cautions

Same rule as urea: cosmetic, ongoing, and it does not change the natural course.
Alpha hydroxy acids increase sun sensitivity - sun protection while using it.
Avoid on broken, inflamed or freshly shaved skin.
The one Egyptian topical product, CLEAR FACE 10%, has no route recorded in the register, so it shows a route warning. The pack itself says topical solution and the strength is the one the review studied.

Egyptian brands

Egyptian brand	Manufacturer	Indicative price
CLEAR FACE 10%W/W TOPICAL SOLUTION? different route - not topical	ALEXANDRIA > MILLENIUM PHARMA-EGYPT	5.00 EGP

SALICYLIC ACID

Salicylic acid

2nd line

Formtopical

Adult dose and duration

Apply salicylic acid 6% lotion topically to affected areas

Paediatric dose

Adults, children and the elderly: apply twice daily to the affected area.

Dose source

Keratosis Pilaris - disease-level clinical article (keratosis-pilaris-clinical.txt)

Why

Topical keratolytic agent used to exfoliate and improve skin texture in keratosis pilaris.

Cautions

Strictly contraindicated in diabetic patients, peripheral vascular disease, or peripheral neuropathy due to risk of tissue necrosis and foot ulceration.
Protect surrounding normal skin with petroleum jelly or zinc oxide ointment prior to application.
Do not apply on broken, inflamed, or infected skin.
Collodion is flammable - no smoking or naked flame until it has dried.

Egyptian brands

Egyptian brand	Manufacturer	Indicative price
SALICYLIC ACID COLLODION 12% PAINT B.P.2001? different route - not topical	UNIPHARMA CO. > UNIPHARMA	3.00 EGP
SALICYLIC ACID SOAP (WEISER) 45 GM? different route - not topical	WEISER	15.00 EGP

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.