The 3 simple ways to get rid of 'chicken skin' - and how it can be a sign of serious illness

CHICKEN SKIN – as vile as it sounds – is one of those things most people don't notice.

That is, if you don't have it yourself.

The common skin condition, medically known as keratosis pilaris, causes dry skin and tiny raised spots, usually on the arms, thighs or bottom.

According to the British Skin Foundation it affects up to 40 per cent of adults and over half (60 per cent) of teens.

"It happens when your hair follicles become blocked which causes scaling and bumpiness," consultant dermatologist Dr Firas Al-Niaimi, told the Sun.

"It can be genetic and often associated with people who have eczema or asthma," he added.

1. Use an emollient

Emollients are moisturising treatments applied directly to the skin to soothe and hydrate it.

A cheap emollient is Vaseline, which for a 50ml pot will set you back just £1.80 in Boots.

The popular cream can help soften the flaky skin by trapping in water, the expert said.

You can rub off these dead cells and unblock hair follicles gently with a mild exfoliative.

Dr Firas suggested using Eucerin 10 per cent Urea Body Lotion, which costs £15.49 in Superdrug.

It's a chemical exfoliatent, which works by gently dissolve away dead skin – but it only works temporarily.

If at-home creams don’t do the trick, you may want to try out laser hair removal.

The treatment works by sending wavelength of light through the outside layers of skin.

This treatment can eliminate bumps, rough patches, and brown spots, Dr Firas said.

According to the NHS, single treatments for laser hair removal may range from around £80 – £250.

However, there are always deals on, so it's worth having a google to see what you can find.

It's important to make sure the person doing your laser hair removal is experienced and suitably qualified, the NHS says.