Keratosis pilaris guide

Keratosis pilaris treatment online in Virginia and West Virginia

This guide is for classic, benign keratosis pilaris (fine rough bumps on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, or cheeks), not for a painful, pus-filled, or spreading rash, or a rash that does not clearly fit keratosis pilaris.

Start online

Start a $59 online review for Keratosis pilaris.

Keratosis pilaris is a very common, harmless build-up of keratin at hair follicles that causes fine, rough, painless bumps, often described as "chicken skin", on the upper outer arms, thighs, buttocks, or cheeks. It is often drier or more noticeable in cold weather. It is a good online-photo condition when the appearance is typical; painful, pus-filled, or spreading bumps suggest infection and should be seen in person.

If treatment is appropriate, your physician can send a non-controlled prescription to your pharmacy and provide portal instructions for the next step.

Start this visit See response times

Quick facts

You must be physically located in Virginia or West Virginia at the time of request.
Starts at $59
No insurance needed
No app download
Physician review around the clock
Non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy when appropriate
A work or school note can be included when medically appropriate
Response times apply 24/7, every day

Common symptoms

Fine, rough, painless bumps at hair follicles
On the upper outer arms, thighs, buttocks, or cheeks
Skin-colored or slightly red
Rougher or worse in cold, dry weather

May fit online care

Adults & children 4+ (with a parent or legal guardian)
Typical rough, painless follicular bumps
No pain, pus, spreading redness, or fever
Able to send a clear photo

Look for another care setting

Painful, pus-filled, or draining bumps, or spreading redness
Fever or a rapidly changing/blistering rash
A single changing, growing, or bleeding spot or an irregular mole

What to have ready

A clear, well-lit photo of the affected skin
How long it has been there
Any treatment already tried and current skin-care products

What happens next

Standard

$59

Within 6 hours

Priority

$99

Within 3 hours

Rush

$149

Within 1 hour

Start the request on the website, answer a few questions to check that this visit fits you, and choose how fast you want an answer (the response window). If your concern still fits this service, a physician reviews it and sends you a secure update after you sign in. When appropriate, non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy, and a basic work or school note can be included at physician discretion.

Your physician

Every visit is personally reviewed by Ankur Fadia, MD. He is board-certified, has extra training in heart care (a cardiology fellowship), and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical honor society. He is licensed in Virginia and West Virginia, and your care is never handed off to someone else.

Verify Virginia medical license Verify West Virginia medical license Verify board certification

Is keratosis pilaris harmful?

No. It is completely harmless and very common. Treatment is cosmetic, to smooth the skin and reduce roughness.

Can it be cured?

It usually cannot be fully cured. Keratolytic creams (creams that soften and smooth rough skin, with urea, ammonium lactate, or salicylic acid) and regular moisturizing reduce the roughness, and it often gets better with age and in humid weather.

How long until it improves?

It gets better gradually (little by little), usually over several weeks to months of consistent (regular) use of moisturizer and the keratolytic (skin-smoothing) cream.

Other conditions we treat

Not quite what you have? Here are other conditions we treat.

Acne keloidalis nuchae Acne or breakouts Cold sores Dandruff or itchy scalp Eczema flare Eyelash growth