Keratosis pilaris treatments?

[CarpeJugulum]

Via another thread, I have now googled and I have this on my upper arms (and upper legs to a lesser extent).

Dr google also seems to suggest that creams with urea in them seem to be a topical solution.

Does anyone else have this, and what do you use to sort it out?

I had asked a derm consultant recently and he said that all urea cream does is moisturise, so you can basically use a good moisturiser, my ds now uses shea butter.

Cracked heel balm - high urea

I have this and had no idea it was a condition until reading this thread - is the only answer to moisturise? I do that anyway and it doesn't seem to make any difference

Have this too. It sucks. I used urea ages ago and it made my skin feel yuck.

I have this as does my DS1 (aged 7) - he struggles with it on and off with inflamed patches of skin and little crops of spots. A dermatologist prescribed something called Calmurid HC but it was horrid to use and made him cry because he said it stung (he was only about 2 then) so our GP prescribed Eucerin cream and lotion (the cream is thicker but otherwise they are the same thing) and I can honestly say it has made a huge difference to him and if he is itchy he asks to have the cream applied. It is a 10% Urea cream/lotion and you can buy it over the counter, but it is expensive - if you can persuade someone to prescribe it that'll save you a few pounds! Hope that helps. MPD

I have this pretty badly and have researched it a lot. It takes lots of work to get rid of it, but this is what I do (when I can be bothered!). This is NOT FOR CHILDREN though - it's way too harsh.

1. Exfoliate. But not just with some normal scrub, I used micro-dermabrasion crystals (you can buy them online) and you make a paste with them and some water and moisturiser. It will be pretty thick and you use it kind of like sandpaper. It's much more abrasive than normal exfoliation so be careful.

do this for a while until the big lumps are gone. Moisturise a lot too - it's a condition that's exacerbated by dryness so that's why they recommend urea cream as it's highly moisturising.

1. Once the big bumps are gone, use AHA cream. It's better to do this after the lumps are gone but skin is still red otherwise you irritate your skin to much. I use the 15% cream (you can buy NeoStrata 15% on amazon). It is HARSH so be careful. You apply it day and night.

My skin clears after a few weeks.

Warnings:

1. This is all TOO HARSH FOR A CHILD'S SKIN. They almost always grow out of it.

1. Use sunscreen as skin burns really easily when you use AHA on it.

Nothing will make it go away for good, but once you get it in a better condition, you can maintain by using lower % AHA cream, moisturising and less harsh exfoliation.

Hope that helps.