Part of the reason I deal with rough skin on my thighs is because I have a mild case of keratosis pilaris (KP), which some refer to as “chicken skin.” The normal skin conditions is simply a buildup of keratin within the hair follicles, which causes them to bulge and become irritated and inflamed1, giving your skin a bumpy texture. It’s a chronic condition, meaning that it can’t be “cured” but can certainly be managed.
Typically, I’m able to deal with it just with a combination of regular exfoliation and daily hydration. But when my skin is experiencing flare-ups, it tends to come in a bit stronger.
The good news is that there are a growing number of body serums hitting the market that can help address KP, crepey skin, dark spots, and so on. Body serums function much similarly as they do on the face. Meaning, they’re more targeted formulas with more potent actives (and usually, are more expensive.)
I have a few in my arsenal that I spot treat certain areas on my body, thighs included. For example, U Beauty’s Resurfacing Body Compound or Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Body Serum. Or Kopari Beauty KP Bumps Be Gone is specifically made for KP using 10% AHA.
Like I noted, these are usually more expensive than your standard body products, so I don’t slather them head-to-toe, but they’re excellent options for localized issues.