Females may be more frequently affected than males. However, keratosis pilaris may start at any age and is common in young children. Patients often complain of rough texture, gooseflesh, and overall cosmetic appearance of their skin. Eruption is usually asymptomatic except for occasional pruritus. Often there is a small, coiled hair beneath the papule.
Symptoms generally tend to worsen in winter and improve in summer.
Common associations include family history of KP, ichthyosis, or atopic dermatitis. There are no specific laboratory tests that aid in diagnosis. Skin biopsy with histopathological examination may be useful in atypical cases. Imaging studies are not indicated. Papules are thought to arise from excessive accumulation of keratin at the follicular orifice.