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General health

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Original poster

Does anyone have Keratosis pilaris? ( little bumps on upper arms)

34 replies

phoenixflower · 16/08/2010 17:56

Any cure? I have had them for 15 years with no chance what so ever. Doctor was no help as told me there was no cure and no amount of washing, exfoliating etc works. Any way to reduce them? Creams to use etc?

OP posts:

Original poster

phoenixflower · 16/08/2010 17:56

change*

OP posts:

Greensleeves · 16/08/2010 17:58

I have it really badly

it has got worse over the last few years as well

not just arms but also face, neck, under jaw, legs and back and even boobs

grim and I hate it - have found nothing really helps and I make it worse by picking it all the time (I have an anxiety disorder as well)

[great-fun-at-parties emoticon]

champagnesupernova · 16/08/2010 17:58

I'm sure I read on MN that flexitol the cracked heel cream works but don't quote me
I'm sure if can't do any harm though.

cyb · 16/08/2010 17:58

I found cutting back on sugar and bread improved my tops of arms dramatically

PositiveVibes · 16/08/2010 17:59

Saw an article on the Daily Mail website about this last week. I'd never heard of it but I think I probably have it! Sorry, i'm a bit rubbish at doing links but if you go on the health section of the DM website you're bound to find it.

bamboobutton · 16/08/2010 17:59

i found exfoliating and moisturising did help but it needed to be done every day.

kayah · 16/08/2010 18:00

I think in my case used to be an allergic reaction to some food I used to eat..

now my daughter has them too

bluebump · 16/08/2010 18:01

Yes I think creams with urea work and that's often found in foot cream.

I found Lush's Vanilla Dee-Lite moisturiser got rid of mine but at £10 a pot I can't afford to use it anymore! Boo. Mind you since using that it hasn't even come back much.

wem · 16/08/2010 18:02

How old are you? I read it's just something you grow out of. I used to have it quite badly but it seems to have disappeared at some point over the last few years without me noticing (I'm 31).

grumblegrumble · 16/08/2010 18:05

I had it on my face when I was a child, now just on the tops of my arms. Exfoliation seems to help make them less noticeable.

Interested in the diet idea, though, my DS seems to be starting to get them on his face (he's 5) so would like to help minimise them for him if possible.

Alouiseg · 16/08/2010 18:06

Mine disappeared when I did a low carb high fat diet.

sapphireblue · 16/08/2010 19:58

I have it too and so does DD1. The only thing that seems to make a difference to mine is sunlight (i.e when I get a tan in the summer). Mine seems to have gotten worse with age too........started off just on my upper arms but has now spread to my forearms.

I've never found a cream that makes any difference to it.

Fontella · 16/08/2010 20:04

I had it for years ... but then it just disappeared, never to return. Noticed the other day that my niece has it quite badly.

moaningminniewhingesagain · 16/08/2010 20:07

I have it too. It got a lot better when I was pregnant, and when on a sunny holiday abroad. Tis back now.

Keep hearing that creams with Urea in, like flexitol, do help but not tried them myself.

YunoYurbubson · 16/08/2010 20:13

My 4yo daughter has this. It noticably fluctuates, but I have not yet managed to peg what it is that makes it worse and better.

Lougle · 16/08/2010 20:19

My DH has it, and DD2 (3.0) has had it since birth. I think it is just part of your genes.

sorrento56 · 16/08/2010 20:22

You need this.

silver28 · 16/08/2010 20:24

I have it, as have my mum, sister and nieces. I read a few years ago that sulphur soap could help. I bought dome over the internet and it was pretty cheap (can't remember where I bought it, prob just googled it) and it really helped. Didn't clear it up completely but vast improvement. Stopped using it a while back and they've gone back to how they used to be - an too lazy to be bothered about it at the mo.

Thandeka · 16/08/2010 20:25

Mine went when pregnant and returned when I gave birth!

Not a long term solution!

PaulineCampbellJones · 16/08/2010 20:25

I have an elemis body brush that I use every morning. No cream needed just a bit on my elbows. had tried all the scrubs and creams in the world and this is the only thing that got rid!

ValiumSingleton · 16/08/2010 20:26

moisturise them every night. it does help. i used to have this, now after putting on face cream I rub the excess on to the tops of my arms.

tethersend · 16/08/2010 20:31

Have been trying soap and glory and flexitol- the flexitol seems to make a tiny difference, but not much.

I have it really badly on my arms- like you greensleeves, I pick; it's like a compulsion. It got a lot worse when I put on weight when pg. GP has now prescribed movelat cream which I think contains salicylic acid or something? I will report back as to whether it makes a difference...

mummynoseynora · 16/08/2010 20:32

my dd (3.5) has it.... been awful as the docs initially diagnosed it as excema and basically told us to bog off! Happened to mention it when we were there with her for something else this year and he took one look and said its not excema - its keratosis pilaris.... in his words there is nothing that will cure it, its like excema but wouldn't respond to a steroid cream.. he also gave us diprobase / diprobath - we stopped using the bath one as it made no difference, the cream we use after every bath / swim... it helps a little but more to soften than get rid... we did find she can't use most normal bubble baths - the only one we have found she is ok with is Vie at home - pretty calm... which I love anyway

for info she has it on upper arms really bad... as well as lower arms, legs and cheeks - poor mite... she knows we put her cream on to help her 'bumpy skin'

Lizzylou · 16/08/2010 20:33

I have always had this on the tops of my arms, now on my thighs/legs.

Sun helps (not sure if it is the sun or the suncream though) and exfoliating then using Astral cream.

BrittanyBeers · 16/08/2010 20:43

I have it, and since being with me so does DH.
I find sunshine works too, but i rarely get my arms out because of the KP, ironically.

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