'I'm a cosmetic chemist and I swear by this $13 product for smoothing bumpy skin.'

If you're one of the darling lambs out there who struggles with keratosis pilaris, also known as 'chicken skin' — you'll know just how frustrating it can be. Fickle to treat, it's one of those misunderstood skin conditions that seems like it'll just never go away — no matter what you try. Gah.

But you're not alone. It affects approximately 40 per cent of adults and 50 per cent of children worldwide — so it's a pretty common skin concern.

Put short, KP is the genetic plugging of the hair follicle with dead skin and most commonly appears on the upper arms (it kind of looks like goosebumps that won't go away). However, it can also be found on both sides of the face, your thighs, and on your bum. Hooray!

If you're not familiar, it kind of has a 'rough' feeling that's actually a build-up of keratin — a protein that has dug into your hair follicle, causing a chicken skin-like appearance.

The good news? While it can sometimes get a bit itchy or annoying, it's pretty harmless. (And no, it's not contagious.)

However, if it's something that bothers you (We get it! The feeling of persistently bumpy skin can suck), we might've just found the easiest hack you've been looking for forever.

Watch: Speaking of hacks, here's Mamamia's Em Vernem trialling the foundation whisking hack. Post continues below.

Courtesy of cosmetic chemist Dr Michelle Wong (also known as 'Lab Muffin' on social media), this hack might just be the easiest and most affordable way to get a handle on rough skin.

"Here's a weird hack for KP that works for me," said Dr Wong in an Instagram post, sharing that "a heel balm with tons of urea" works a dream for stubborn patches of KP.

Yes! A heel balm!

How Dermal Therapy Heel Balm works for keratosis pilaris.

Speaking about her affordable trick over on her YouTube channel, Lab Muffin Beauty Science, Dr Wong shared why heel balm is actually a very good time for the red, bumpy bits on the backs of your arms and legs.

"The new thing I've been doing that's made the biggest difference with my KP is using a heel balm on the really stubborn bits," she said.

"This Dermal Therapy heel balm has 25 per cent urea, which is a chemical exfoliant that can get a little bit deeper into your skin. It stops the clogs from forming in the first place — it isn't just breaking up the existing clogs.

"Urea is also a humectant — it's a natural moisturiser in your skin, so it helps soften the skin as well. This also has lanolin, which is a fantastic moisturiser for hard skin. I found it especially good for chapped lips, and it seems to go really well for KP."

For the uninitiated, the balm Dr Wong is referring to is Dermal Therapy Heel Balm, which you can pick up for $15 (for 75g) at Chemist Warehouse.

Image: Dermal Therapy.

As Dr Wong added, heel balms tend to be a bit stronger in concentration, so just be wary when you start trying it.

"This product is meant for tougher skin, so it can be a bit irritating if you are using it on other parts," she said. "Please be careful, and please slow down if you feel like you've got a bit of stinging or irritation. If you're careful with this, and you can handle it, it just works so well.

"The downside of this one is that it does have a pretty strong fragrance. By Australian standards, it is probably quite light compared to US products and, to be fair, it is designed to be used very far away from your face."

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A post shared by Dr Michelle Wong - Beauty Science (@labmuffinbeautyscience)

On Instagram, the comments section went off, with people sharing their own go-to KP treatments.

One person wrote, "For those looking for high urea cream with no fragrance, Walker's Foot Cream (as used by podiatrists!) comes in 25 per cent urea and has no discernible fragrance."

Ah, foot cream — where have you been all our lives?!

Someone else said, "I like to pair The Ordinary or Pixi Glycolic Acid Toner with urea five to 10 per cent cream a few times per week (I used to put on some Vaseline too, but my new cream is rich and buttery enough)."

Another person added: "My dermatologist told me to use this when I had cracked nipples from breastfeeding — it was brilliant."

If you're quite sensitive to the scent and texture of the product, Dr Wong also said that you can leave it on for a few hours before washing it off.

"With most products, most of the actives will soak into your skin near the start, and they form a little deposit. It's like a buildup of the active ingredients, and they can slowly diffuse from that area over time, so you still get most of the benefit.

"The technical term is 'short contact therapy'. So I apply this a few hours before I shower."

SMART.

Also on Dr Wong's list of suggestions for treating KP? Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $49, and Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA, $49.

Dr Wong also suggested getting on board with a great exfoliating mitt (like The Original: Turkish Exfoliating Glove, $16), to ensure you buff off dead cells and avoid build-up, and a scrub like First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser, $50.

If you're looking for more body hacks (including the skincare ingredient that can get rid of discoloured armpits), you can catch Dr Wong's entire YouTube episode on the best science-based body care hacks here.

Do you have KP? Would you try this hack? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: YouTube/Lab Muffin Beauty Science, Instagram/@dermaltherapy.