This is facial keratosis pilaris, which is given various names depending on the appearance and subsequent atrophy. These include keratosis pilaris atrophicans faciei, ulerythema oophyrogenes (when eyebrows are affected), and atrophoderma vermiculata (when honeycomb scarring arises).

The upper arms and thighs are the most common sites to be affected by keratosis pilaris. Horny keratinous plugs surround vellous hairs in these areas. There may be surrounding erythema.

There appears to be no very successful treatment. Various keratolytic regimes have been recommended but are generally disappointing. Topical tretinoin or oral isotretinoin are occasionally helpful but may also aggravate keratosis pilaris.